Player ratings: South Africa

OPINION: South Africa continued their build-up to the Rugby Championship with an emphatic 55-10 demolition of a willing Georgian side at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday.

Outscoring the Lelos by nine tries to one in front of 36,842 spectators, the Springboks showed they are making progress.

However, 22 turnovers and 20 missed tackles showed there remains work to be done.

@king365ed rates the Springbok players!

15 Aphelele Fassi
Once he got into his game, he was a menace on attack, but he also went AWOL at times.
6/10

14 Edwill van der Merwe
Incredible workrate and good kick-chasing, taking his chances to challenge the incumbents and getting rewarded with two tries.
8/10

13 Canan Moodie
Some solid hits and great reads on defence. He is making a massive play to be the starting No.13.
7/10

12 Damian de Allende
Doing some amazing work at the breakdowns, to go with his well-documented carries and for a match-high 14 carries.
7/10

11 Kurt-Lee Arendse
Great work and some good reads on defence, getting a match-high 100-odd metres for his 10 carries.
7/10

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
His kicking game was not on par. He missed the first three conversions, one from virtually in front, eventually kicking just one from five. Then there was a clearance kick charged down, while his passes often went into space, ending on the grass instead of hands. His worst Bok performance.
5/10

9 Grant Williams
Had a nervous start, with his first up-&-under going out directly. It resulted in a Georgian try after three minutes. He settled and produced a sublime break for Boks’ third try and his passing was great at times.
7/10

8 Cobus Wiese
Some powerful runs, to go with a high workrate and physical performance. He is the answer to the Boks’ No.8 poser.
8/10

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
Not flawless, with his hands letting him down at times. However, it was an all-action performance that left his stud marks all over the field and 11 of his trademark tackles.
8/10

6 Siya Kolisi
Went off in the second minute for an HIA. Returned 10 minutes later and then did some great work in the mauls and the breakdown. Showed he can also play a tighter game and enjoy moments out in the open.
8/10

5 Ruan Nortje
His value in the line-outs now makes him an integral part of the matchday 23 and challenging Lood de Jager as a starter. Add his team-high 12 tackles.
9/10

4 Eben Etzebeth
Slowly working his way into some good form, but still needs minutes on the field.
6/10

3 Neethling Fouché
Good first-half scrums, but his workrate in open play was lacking.
6/10

2 Marnus van der Merwe
Good first-half scrums and even won a turnover penalty. Some good control at the back of mauls and rewarded with two tries. Put his hand up to be the third hooker in the Bok pecking order.
7/10

1 Boan Venter
Good first-half scrums and won a couple of set-piece penalties. He also scored Boks’ opening try. Solid debut.
7/10

Replacements:

16 Bongi Mbonambi (on for M van der Merwe, 44th min)
His line-out throwing was again questionable and the scrum not as dominant as the first half.
5/10

17 Thomas du Toit (on for Venter, 44th min)
Struggled in the scrums and was penalised on occasion. Worked hard in the mauls and breakdown.
6/10

18 Vincent Koch (on for Fouche, 44th min)
His scrumming power was not on display in this game.
5/10

19 RG Snyman (on for Etzebeth, 44th min)
Overdoing the offload game and got pinged for holding on once. Still great value as a Bomb-squad member.
7/10

20 Kwagga Smith (on for Kolisi from min two to 13 for HIA & on for Wiese in 44th min)-
Massive impact from the outset, which included a turnover. He just continued when he returned in the second half and showed his value as an original Bomb-squad member.
8/10

21 Faf de Klerk (on for Williams, 59th min)
Snappy service, managed to speed up the game and a sublime chip-kick for Edwill van der Merwe’s second try. Even won a breakdown penalty for his team.
8/10

22 Handré Pollard (on for Feinberg-Mngomezulu 54th min)
Sublime offload for Damian Willemse’s try minutes after coming on. Marshalled the team well and put the seal on it with a try.
8/10

23 Damian Willemse (on for Fassi, 54th min)
Steady, but nothing spectacular. Probably still short of a gallop or two.
6/10

@king365ed
@rugby365com

* Picture credit: Johan Orton