Player Ratings: South Africa

OPINION: While the scoreboard reflected another convincing Springbok victory, the performance wasn’t without its flaws.

Slippery conditions contributed to a series of handling errors that saw the world champions squander several scoring opportunities. Fortunately for Rassie Erasmus’ side, their sheer dominance at the set piece and in the collisions ensured Wales never truly threatened.

*Also read: Springboks blank Wales…again

This is how we rated the Springboks:

15 Aphelele Fassi – 6.5

He started the run that ended in the first try; his positional play was excellent, always in the right place to gather. He was a victim of the slippery ball but had a couple of good breaking runs.

14 Jaco Williams – 8

Seemed to be the calm presence in the back three despite his youth, keeping Fassi from retaliating when he got a push from Rees-Zammit. He scored his first try on debut one minute into the second half. Definitely didn’t look out of place and more Test matches are o doubt in his future.

13 Jesse Kriel – 6.5

Hunting with De Allende when following up high kicks, scored an important try just before halftime, following up an up and under by Moyo to stretch the lead to 19-0, and still the most energetic Springbok player on the field.

12 Damian de Allende – 6.5

The stalwart was again at his defensive best, not giving opposition runners an inch to move, uncompromising in the midfield

11 Kurt-Lee Arendse – 6

He had a quiet day at the office but scored in the last quarter. Always in the right place at the right time, but had few opportunities as it wasn’t a free-flowing game

10 Vusi Moyo – 6

He took his first touch in contact cool and calm, misjudged his timing to catch trow-in in a the back of the lineout; excellent work to keep the ball in play from a Wales touchfinder, secured the ball and attacked in tandem with Fassi, replaced by Manie Libbok in the 47th minute. Good test debut for the 20-year-old.

9 Cobus Reinach – 8

He almost scored after running like a gazelle for the umpteenth time, breaking from the base; he was in for the second try. There is no substitute for speed after another monster of a scrum; the nine was all over the place, a real threat around the tight fringes. Replaced in the 51st minute.

8 Jasper Wiese – 8

Announced himself with a thunderous opening try, powering through Jac Morgan and Rhys Carre. Every carry was purposeful and physical, consistently winning the gainline before being replaced in the 53rd minute.

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit – 7

Once again massive in defence, brilliant in the lineouts and spearheading the driving maul, almost scored from an up and under by Fassi, but the ball was knocked on. The greasy ball made it tough for the forwards at close range.

6 Paul de Villiers – 8.5

Sometimes a bit over eager but showed how adept he is at the breakdown – never short of 100% effort. His tackling with Du Toit was a pleasure to watch; he made ten carries in the first half alone. His hands sometimes let him down with the greasy ball; however, there is no doubt that he is a warrior and was rewarded with his first try in the Bok jersey in the dying minutes of the game. His hard work earned him the Man of the Match award.

5 Ruben van Heerden – 6.5

A steady debut; he took his lineouts clean out of the air in his first baptism in a Springbok jersey, dropped the ball in a maul drive towards the tryline; the mauls were an area of concern in the first half as the Boks couldn’t turn that dominance into points.

4 Cobus Wiese – 7

Announced his presence in the first few minutes with some strong barging runs and created holes with his big bulk. He also created Williams’ first try. When he got going, few could stop him. He was replaced by Ben-Jason Dixon in the 47th minute.

3 Carlu Sadie – 8

He was picked for his power in the scrums, and he delivered exactly that, like the monster scrum in front of the uprights early in the game. Together with Steenekamp, they were off like a steam train, and Wales were on roller skates. He was replaced by Wilco Louw in the 47th minute; solid test debut.

2 Malcolm Marx – 7

The world’s best was just that: he stole his first ball on the ground ten minutes into the game, and he never put a foot wrong. He was replaced in the 47th minute.

1 Gerhard Steenekamp – 8

Together with Sadie delivered one strong scrum after another. He laid down the law up front. He was replaced in the 47th minute.

Replacements:
16 Andre-Hugo Venter – 7 – carried on where Marx left off, whom he replaced in the 47th minute
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 7 – just as good as the man he replaced, did nothing wrong
18 Wilco Louw – 7.5 – pulverised his opposition in the scrum, didn’t put a foot wrong. He replaced Carlu Sadie in the 47th minute
19 Ben-Jason Dixon – 6 – fulfilled his role, worked hard around the tight exchanges, replaced Cobus Wiese in the 47th minute
20 Marco van Staden – 7 – hit rocks with speed and no fear, and tackled in the same vein, replaced Jasper Wiese in the 53rd minute; he knows one way, and that is the direct route, made quite a few barnstorming runs
21 Herschel Jantjies – 7.5 – replaced Cobus Reinach in the 51st minute; made his presence felt, celebrated a try after Willemse’s dancing feet opened up the game and received the perfect pass from Williams
22 Manie Libbok – 7 – replaced Vuyo Moyo in the 47th minute; made an immediate impact as the general, kicking with intent, brilliant cross kick to Fassi, but the ball was knocked on by Kriel, missed his first attempt at goal, great long pass to Kurt-Lee Arendse for his try
23 Damian Willemse – 6 – full of class as always, dangerous whenever he touched the ball, created Jantjies’ try