Player Ratings: Rusty Boks

OPINION: After a 20-month absence from the international game, the Springboks were a bit rusty in their 40-9 win over Georgia.

However, they still managed to score six tries and keep their opponent’s tryless.

Here are the player ratings:

15 Willie le Roux
The veteran fullback had a few wayward kicks and some of his options on attack was not the best. However, he looked dangerous when he ran at the Georgians.
6/10

14 Rosko Specman
He did not get much of the ball out wide in what was his debut in a Bok jersey. He did look energetic when he did get it.
5/10

13 Jesse Kriel
It was not his best outing in a Bok jersey, but he showed that he has got an eye for space for his outside backs.
6/10

12 Frans Steyn
He lost the ball in contact on a couple of occasions and just looked predictable with ball in hand.
4/10

11 Aphelele Fassi
It was a fantastic debut for the 23-year-old. He showed off his finishing skills for the game’s first try and he set-up another with a chip kick. He also showed how good he is under the high ball.
8/10

10 Handré Pollard
His distribution to his backs was excellent and his neat grubber kick led to Herschel Jantjies’ try in the second half.
7/10

9 Cobus Reinach
He was one of his team’s try scorers, but it was a mixed bag in terms of his distribution from the base of the ruck.
6/10

8 Albertus Smith
The livewire No.8 had a few good runs with ball in hand and he scored a great try off the back of a scrum.
7/10

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
The 2019 World Player of the Year was the best player on the field. He carried the ball with great power made some serious metres doing so. He also defended like a man possessed.
9/10

6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain)
He was missing in action in the first half. He came to the party a bit in the final quarter with some strong carries.
5/10

5 Franco Mostert
He had a high work rate, especially in the line-outs and mauls.
7/10

4 Eben Etzebeth
The lock made his presence felt in the physical exchanges and played his part in the line-outs and mauls as well.
6/10

3 Trevor Nyakane
He had some troubles in the first two scrums, but he got things right eventually. He did not do as much work as his front row teammates.
6/10

2 Bongi Mbonambi
He always lifts his game when he is in a Springbok jersey. He found his jumpers in the line-outs and he carried the ball well.
7/10

1 Retshegofaditswe Nché
He had a couple of powerful carries, which got his side over the gainline, he was solid in the scrums as well.
7/10

Replacements:

16 Malcolm Marx (on for B Mbonambi, 50th min)
He put in some big hits on defence and was part of a strong front row in the final 30 minutes. He also scored a try.
7/10

17 Steven Kitshoff (On for R Nche, 50th min)
He constantly looked for work when he came onto the park and showed his power in the scrum.
7/10

18 Frans Malherbe (on for T Nyakane, 29th and 50th min)
Powerful in the scrums and that is his main job.
6/10

19 Marvin Orie (on for E Etzebeth, 40th min)
It was a solid performance in the second half.
6/10

20 Jasper Wiese (On for A Smith, 60th min)
He certainly made the Georgian defenders work when he got the ball and he made his presence felt on defence as well.
7/10

21 Herschel Jantjies (On for C Reinach, 55th min)
His distribution was good and brought some pace into the game.
7/10

22 Elton Jantjies (On for H Pollard, 64th min)
It’s wasn’t the best from Jantjies. His passing was not as crisp as Pollard’s.
4/10

23 Damian Willemse (On for F Steyn, 55th min)
Perhaps he should have started the game. He was way more dangerous than Frans Steyn out wide.
7/10

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