Player ratings: South Africa
OPINION: South Africa set their stall at the top of the Rugby Championship standings with back-to-back wins in Australia.
The comprehensive 30-12 drubbing in Perth completes the Springboks’ first whitewash Down Under in the professional era.
It is also the first time since the country’s return from isolation in 1992 that the Boks have won four in a row against the Aussies.
In Perth, with teeming rain and strong wind – not to mention the very wet underfoot – the Boks were too good for their hosts.
Jan de Koning rates the South African players!
15 Aphelele Fassi
Showed his finishing ability, was good under the high ball and made some good reads on defence.
7/10
14 Cheslin Kolbe
Show how dangerous he can be on the counter, produced a crucial intercept on defence and some great cover. One of the Boks’ most valuable players.
9/10
13 Jesse Kriel
Did not have much time with the ball in hand this week, but provided stability in the midfield. Now settled as the premier outside centre in the Republic.
6/10
12 Lukhanyo Am
Looked comfortable as an inside centre and showed the real depth the Boks have in the midfield.
6/10
11 Makazole Mapimpi
Lost the ball with the tryline at his mercy, caught out of position on occasion and struggled with the high ball. Produced a sublime grubber for Fassi’s try. Some great kick-chasing.
6/10
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Out-of-hand kicking and restarts a bit iffy, but settled down. There was some great reading of Aussie kicks and did not shirk his defensive duties and took on the big boys.
7/10
9 Morné van den Berg
He was a bit too frantic at times and conceded a silly penalty with an early tackle. Not his best day at the office.
5/10
8 Elrigh Louw
Dropped the first kick-off and also lost possession in a couple of carries by not protecting the ball. Did his best work on defence.
6/10
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
Not just a tackle monster (his 13 tackles were joint highest of the Boks), but solid on the restarts, made second-most carry metres of the Boks and won some breakdown penalties like an openside flank.
8/10
6 Marco van Staden
Did the hard yards in the dark places, had some handy carries and second-most tackles completed by the Boks.
7/10
5 Ruan Nortje
He did the basics well and chased hard on defence, but coughed up a potential try with a silly penalty at a ruck on the line and a neck-roll penalty. Alongside Du Toit the Bok with the most tackles made.
6/10
4 Salmaan Moerat (captain)
He struggled in the first line-out and left the field on the quarter mark. His influence was very limited – one carry for no reward, made one tackle and missed one tackle before leaving the field with concussion.
4/10
3 Thomas du Toit
Gave big Angus Bell plenty of problems in the scrums. Worked hard in the close exchanges and his tackle count was into double digits.
6/10
2 Johan Grobbelaar
Conceded an early ruck penalty and his first line-out throw was off-target. However, his breakdown work was immense and won a breakdown penalty.
6.5/10
1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Penalised in the first scrum, but then got the better of his opponent as the Bok scrum dominated. His overall workrate can improve.
6/10
Replacements:
16 Malcolm Marx (on for Grobbelaar – 44th min)
Still brought his power game and with uncontested scrums he played a more open game – getting reward with a try after a powerful surge from a maul.
6.5/10
17 Ox Nche (on for Wessels – 44th min)
May not have had any scrum to impress in, but his support in general play – especially Malcolm Marx’ try – was from the top shelve.
6/10
18 Vincent Koch (on for Du Toit – 50th min)
Worked hard with a handful of carries, for little reward. His workrate was a bit low.
5/10
19 Eben Etzebeth (on for Moerat – 18th minute)
Line-outs improved after he took to the field and won some steals on opposition throws. Some great maul defence and took over the captaincy.
7.5/10
20 Kwagga Smith (on for Louw – 57th min)
Brought immediate energy and had some handy carries – bouncing off defenders like a pinball.
7/10
21 Grant Williams (on for Van den Berg – 49th min)
Brought stability behind the pack with a swift service and some great kicking.
7/10
22 Manie Libbok (on for Am – 70th min)
Not enough time to be rated.
23 Handré Pollard (on for Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 59th min)
Provided stability at a crucial stage in testing conditions. Move to the inside centre when Libbok came on and showed he is a trusted soldier for the Boks.
7/10
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