Player ratings: Magic subs
South Africa will know they have a lot of room for improvement, but they will also celebrate the impact of the replacement in their 22-6 win over Italy in Padua on Saturday.
It didn't help the Springboks that French referee Jérôme Garcès appeared to be looking everywhere but at the action on the field. How else can you explain some of the calls he made?.
However, the arrival of Willie le Roux, Nizaam Carr, Handré Pollard and Francois Hougaard – as second-half replacements – was just the tonic the Boks needed.
It was Le Roux and Pollard that combined to send Bryan Habana away for the third and decisive try.
However, long before that they had already made their presence felt.
Jan de Koning rates the South African players!
15 Johan Goosen:
Struggled with an early high bomb, although the setting sun may have contributed. Looked nervous, but got himself into the game the longer it went on and made a great break late in the first half.
6/10
14 JP Pietersen:
Did great work off the ball, but his hands let him down on occasion. Had a few good runs.
6/10
13 Jan Serfontein:
Powerful with ball in hand, as always, even if he is a touch predictable. Was solid on defence.
6/10
12 Jean de Villiers (captain):
Looks to be regaining some of his best form – a few nice runs and some invaluable work on defence, even if he did slip a couple of tackles.
6/10
11 Bryan Habana:
Still tend to crab too much across the field with ball in hand, but showed his finishing ability when given space in the dying minutes.
5/10
10 Pat Lambie:
Some great tactical appreciation, but also a few poor options. Did get the Boks out of trouble with some great kicking and took the ball to the line, but threw a couple of sloppy passes. Not his most consistent performance.
5/10
9 Cobus Reinach:
Real mixed bag – some moments of sublime skills, mixed with a number of unforced errors and wasted time over the ball – overall a satisfactory day.
6/10
8 Duane Vermeulen:
Pure power – his face-off with Sergio Parisse was worth the entry fee alone – even won a line-out steal.
9/10
7 Teboho Mohoje:
His best work was in support of his teammates, but has played much better in previous Tests.
6/10
6 Marcell Coetzee:
His powerful surges with ball in hand often got the Boks on the front foot and even won a line-out steal.
7/10
5 Victor Matfield:
Did his usual monumental work in the line-outs, but also impressed with some of his ball-in-hand work.
7/10
4 Eben Etzebeth:
He is slowly getting some form back, but still way off his best. Conceded a couple of penalties, although on of them was questionable.
6/10
3 Coenie Oosthuizen:
Held his ground in the first couple of scrums, then collapsed in a heap and was penalised, but finally settled down and did some great work with ball in hand -scoring a crucial try.
6/10
2 Adriaan Strauss:
Did not always find his jumpers in the line-outs, but his ball-in-hand work was invaluable.
6/10
1 Trevor Nyakane:
Not only passed the Castro test, also did some great work with ball in hand and made all his tackles. Still wondering why he was replaced so early?
7/10
Replacements:
16 Bismarck du Plessis (on or Strauss, 50th min):
His line-out throwing remains a problem. He needs to channel that anger and frustration he is showing. Was penalised three times.
4/10
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp (on for Nyakane, 56th min):
People will continue to question his selection – given his obvious shortcomings – looks like a player well past his best.
3/10
18 Julian Redelinghuys (on for Oosthuizen, 60th min):
Showed that he is up to international standards. Will be around for a long time to come if given the opportunities.
6/10
19 Lodewyk de Jager (on for Etzebeth, 70th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Nizaam Carr (on for Coetzee, 56th min):
Would have been more than just satisfied with his impact on debut. Pure Bok!
7/10
21 Francois Hougaard (on for Reinach, 60th min):
Made an immediate impact – snappy service, which gave his outside backs more time with the ball and took those offside defenders out the game.
7/10
22 Handré Pollard (on for Lambie, 57th min):
Showed he is willing to fight for the Bok starting berth and made a brilliant break to set up Habana's try.
7/10
23 Willie le Roux (on for Goosen, 57th min):
His impact was immediate and decisive. Showed why he is SA's best option at No.15.
9/10
