Top three Boks in July
Rassie Erasmus’ well-documented ‘rotation’ policy means he used 40-odd players (effectively three different teams) during the three July Tests of the Nations Championship.
The Springboks sit at the top of the Southern Hemisphere totem pole, with impressive wins over England (45–21), Scotland (42–28), and Wales (43–0).
Of the 44 players Erasmus utilised, only five players featured in all three tests – Pieter-Steph du Toit, Paul de Villiers, Jesse Kriel, Damian Willemse, and Ben-Jason Dixon.
Only a few players started every single week, while only Jesse Kriel, Pieter-Steph du Toit (as captain) and Paul de Villiers started in all three Tests.
Du Toit (lock against England and flank against Scotland and Wales) and Kriel (centre) were the only two squad members to start and finish all three matches.
(Continue below ….)
That makes it difficult to assess the overall performances of individuals, given that the quality of the opposition differed significantly from week to week.
However, I have taken a deep dive into the statistics to find three players I feel have impressed the most.
This (short) list may not meet with universal approval, but it is an indication as to their value to the team.
In no particular order, here are my top three Springboks from the July Tests!
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Du Toit captained the Boks in all three Tests and, along with Kriel, the only player to have played all 240 minutes.
Starting at lock against England, he made 13 carries for 36 metres, and made another 14 carries against Scotland and Wales (where he played at flank).
Add in his 34 tackles and 13 line-outs, not to mention his work at the rucks, and you get an idea of his overall contribution.
(Continue below …)
Paul de Villiers
Find of the year? Perhaps.
His 199 minutes delivered 33 carries (he was the top Bok carrier against Scotland and Wales), for 94 metres.
De Villiers made 31 tackles, won a handful of turnovers and even managed to get into the line-out column, despite that not being his forte!
Certainly grabbed his chances with both hands.
Cobus Wiese
Did not feature against England, but started against Scotland (32 minutes) and Wales (47 minutes).
His 12 carries yielded 78 metres, to go with his three passes, two offloads and three line-breaks.
Wiese featured in the line-out stats against Wales and made some big hits on defence, although those stats are less impressive than his ball-carrying ability.
He is certainly giving the Boks a solid second row option.
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
* Picture credit: Getty
