Player ratings: South Africa
From the sublime to the bizarre.
That, in a nutshell, describes South Africa’s 67-30 rout of Argentina in an exhilarating Rugby Championship outing in Durban.
It was the first back-to-back wins of the tournament this year, after the Springboks’ rout of New Zealand in Wellington a fortnight ago. It put the Boks back at the top of the table and ended Los Pumas’ challenge.
After leading by only two points, 25-23, at half-time, the Boks dominated the second half to run away with the game.
Then there was Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s record-breaking 37-point haul – three tries, seven conversions and two penalties. He displaced Percy Montgomery at the top of the points-scoring totem pole.
Jan de Koning rates the South African players!
15 Damian Willemse
There were those monstrous clearance kicks and he was great in the air. Another accomplished display.
8/10
14 Cheslin Kolbe
Massive goalline mistake that gifted Argentina a try, arguably one of the most bizarre try-assist ever.
6/10
13 Canan Moodie
Not only was he brilliant with his reads on defence, but his kick-chases and game in the air was from the top shelve.
8/10
12 Damian de Allende
It was a solid day at the office and he even helped out on the flank.
7/10
11 Ethan Hooker
The most impressive was his work off the ball, with great kick-chasing. There were some impressive carries as well, as he grows into his role in the Bok set-up.
8/10
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
It was not flawless, but we’ll forgive him those errors. He was looking to make magic from the outset and his box of magic tricks included a sublime kick-a-chase try from inside his half, after Kolbe’s bizarre mistake and a crucial second try just before half-time. The cherries on top was the sublime cross-field kick for Kolbe’s try and that audacious dummy for his hat-trick try.
9.5/10
9 Cobus Reinach
His clearances from the base not always the best and his service not always accurate.
6/10
8 Jasper Wiese
His 13 carries delivered 50-odd metres, especially powerful from the restarts.
8.5/10
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
His insane workrate, on and off the ball, is what sets him apart. His tackles, as we have come to expect, was again well into double digits. He thoroughly deserved his two tries.
9/10
6 Siya Kolisi (captain)
In a game as wild as this, it may appear that he had a quiet game. However, someone had to do the dirty work.
7/10
5 Ruan Nortje
It is not just his line-out work, but his work off the ball – including a team-high 16 tackles.
8/10
4 Eben Etzebeth
Another player who was solid and did the basics well.
7/10
3 Thomas du Toit
He conceded a scrum penalty and a breakdown penalty. Some impressive work on defence.
6/10
2 Malcolm Marx
He received a yellow card and conceded a penalty try conceded. Then there was a crucial missed tackle in an Argentina try. He is struggling with form
5/10
1 Boan Venter
There was that offside penalty he conceded, but he was a rock in the scrums and made 10 tackles. …
7/10
Replacements:
16 Marco van Staden (on for Marx, 72nd min)
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (on for Venter, 53rd min)
He is a hard-working tight forward that will become a monster as he matures. Added great value.
7/10
18 Wilco Louw (on for Thomas du Toit – 45th min)
He missed a crucial tackle and his workrate outside the scrums leave something to be desired.
6/10
19 RG Snyman (on for Etzebeth, 48th min)
Put his full array of attacking skill on display and even added a line-out steal.
8/10
20 Kwagga Smith (on for Kolisi, 61st min)
He is the Boks’ energy man, having increased the tempo when it was needed.
8/10
21 Morné van den Berg (on for Reinach, 57th min)
Made an impact immediately after he came on with a crisp service and good game management.
8/10
22 Manie Libbok (on for Willemse, 61st min)
Added his skill when the Boks needed that extra fizz and scored a sublime chip-a-chase try.
8/10
23 Andre Esterhuizen (on for Kolbe, 57th min)
Brought his powerful carries and was solid on defence.
7/10
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