Player Ratings: South Africa

OPINION: A powerful performance by the forwards laid the platform for the Springboks’ emphatic 48-7 victory over Argentina on Saturday.

It was also a match where Eben Etzebeth became the most-capped Springbok of all time with 128 caps.

He delivered the goods during the 80 minutes to mark the occasion, but he was not the only one who starred on Saturday.

Check out the Player Ratings below:

15 Aphelele Fassi
The fullback is growing with each opportunity he gets on the Test stage and Saturday’s performance was another box ticked. He ran a great line on attack for the opening try of the game and he scored a second in the 33rd minute. The speedster also provided an assist for Cheslin Kolbe’s try. Kurt-Lee Arendse nearly scored one himself after Fassi’s pinpoint crosskick in the 71st minute.
9/10

14 Cheslin Kolbe
The man terrorised Argentina every time he ran at them. He showed off his skills with a great interception in the 10th minute and was only stopped from scoring after some great cover defence. His speed and power kept the Pumas’ defenders busy before offloading the ball to Fassi for his second try. He then produced a great step to score his team’s fourth try.
9/10

13 Jesse Kriel
He is known for his outstanding defensive work, but against Argentina, he showed how valuable he can be on attack when given enough ball. He probably made more metres than any other player on the field and was powerful in contact. The midfielder also capped off a fine performance with a try when he pounced on the ball after a Handre Pollard grubber kick.
9/10

12 Damian de Allende
The big bruiser showed why he is one of the best in his position. He was powerful in contact when he had the ball and made some serious metres. The double World Cup winner produced a no-look pass in the build-up to Fassi’s first try. He then broke through Argentina’s defence again before producing a great offload in the build-up to the fullback’s second try.
8.5/10

11 Kurt-Lee Arendse
It was somewhat of a quiet first half for the speedster. However, he came to life in the second half and he nearly caught the Pumas off guard in the 35th minute with a great chase after a clearance kick. He produced a great weaving run in the build-up to Pieter-Steph Du Toit’s second try and he was just a constant threat whenever he had the ball in the second 40. He nearly scored a try in the 71st minute, but he couldn’t get downward pressure on the ball after a great crosskick from Fassi.
7.5/10

10 Manie Libbok
With a powerful forward pack in front of him, Libbok flourished on attack with some great flat passes and some accurate kick passes. He gave the final pass to Fassi for the opening try of the game and he produced an excellent pass to put the fullback into pace in the lead-up to Cheslin Kolbe’s try.
8.5/10

9 Jaden Hendrikse
The Sharks scrumhalf took over the goal-kicking duties to take some pressure off Libbok and it was a mixed bag. However, he was great on attack, especially in the first half. His service was crisp to his outside backs.
7.5/10

8 Jasper Wiese
A powerhouse with ball in hand, especially in that opening quarter of the second half. He seemed unstoppable when he gathered momentum and the Los Pumas’ defenders certainly found that out.
8.5/10

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
The best player in the world at the moment. His workrate on the field was incredible once again. In the first half, he showed his determination by diving over a ruck to score his team’s second try. He scored another try in the 73rd minute after playing a big role by drawing defenders on attack. He was also one of his team’s top tacklers in the match.
9.5/10

6 Siya Kolisi (captain)
A lot of the work he does around the park sometimes goes unnoticed by fans and the media, but it just lifts his teammates. He was aggressive with his defensive play and a colossus at the breakdowns, which put the Argentinians under pressure.
8/10

5 Ruan Nortje
Another player who is grabbing his opportunities with both hands. He worked hard in the line-outs and physical exchanges. The Bulls captain is also an asset in open play when he does get an opportunity to run into space.
8/10

4 Eben Etzebeth
It was a great 80-minute effort by South Africa’s most-capped Springbok. He worked tirelessly around the park and gave his all for his team. He was colossus with his defensive work and one of his carries gave the Boks the momentum they needed before Kolbe’s try. He is a legend of the game.
9/10

3 Frans Malherbe
Once again he was a force in the scrums, and he helped his team get the momentum they needed in the first half. He also made his presence felt in the physical exchanges on defence.
7.5/10

2 Bongi Mbonambi
His line-out throwing was exceptional in this match and he was in the middle of two powerful props in a dominant scrummaging performance in the first half.
8/10

1 Ox Nche
Incredible performance in the scrums. He destroyed his opponent on several occasions which put Los Pumas under pressure and his own team on the front foot. He also carried the ball powerfully in open play.
9.5/10

Replacements:

16 Malcolm Marx (On for Mbonambi, 44th minute)
As he had done on numerous occasions, he applied plenty of pressure at the breakdowns and he added to his impressive try-scoring tally with a great maul try in the 68th minute.
7/10

17 Gerhard Steenekamp (On for Nche, 53rd minute)
He produced the goods in the scrums when he came on and contributed to a dominant physical performance by the pack in the closing stages.
7/10

18 Vincent Koch (On for Malherbe, 44th minute)
His scrumming opponent had no answers to his brutality in that area of the game.
7/10

19 Elrigh Louw (On for Wiese, 60th minute)
He had a few powerful carries with ball in hand and he was aggressive on defence as well.
7/10

20 Kwagga Smith (On for Kolisi, 60th minute)
The loose forward tried to speed things up, but he didn’t get a lot of opportunities to stamp his authority on the game.
6/10

21 Cobus Reinach (On for Hendrikse, 57th minute)
He took advantage of the tired legs in the Argentinian team with some sniping runs and quick passing.
7/10

22 Handre Pollard (On for Libbok, 67th minute)
Not enough time to be rated. However, he produced a great grubber kick for Jesse Kriel’s try.

23 Lukhanyo Am (On for De Allende, 57th minute)
A silky runner when given enough time and space and he showed that in the final quarter of the second half. He also added some more defensive stability.
7.5/10

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