PLAYER RATINGS: Downward spiral

For a second time in 2017 under coach Allister Coetzee, the Springbok conceded a record score. This time, a 3-38 defeat to Ireland.

Previously Ireland highest score and biggest win was 32-15 in 2006. On that occasion Ireland scored four tries to two; on Saturday they scored four tries to nil.

This was the fifth Springboks match without a victory after being beaten twice by New Zealand and drawing twice with Australia during the Rugby Championship.

Angus Opperman rates the South African players!

15 Andries Coetzee

Kept his cool under pressure to step before a kick return. Looked good at times with some tackle breaks, but made some bad decisions at times as to try and run out of his 22 instead of clearing

5/10

14 Dillyn Leyds

Didn’t do much initially and had very little to work with and did some good things as a tap back from a high ball to retain possession. Got Smashed in the tackle after taking a ball on the front foot from Pollard and lost it forward. Tried hard but just didn’t have many opportunities. Held his own in defence

5/10

13 Jesse Kriel

Didn’t impress either. Got sucked in on defence by the Ireland set moves. Made a good half break, but runs sideways too much and got tackled by Aki into touch. Killed space plenty of times and made silly errors.

3/10

12 Damian de Allende

Kicked away good possession when the Boks had an overlap to work with, not very good decision making. Got caught by a rush defence from the Irish and not getting the ball away in time to his outside backs and looked unfit and out of form. His selection should really be questioned.

2/10

11 Courtnall Skosan

Good back tackle on Conway after a good set move by an Ireland that stretched the Boks defence. Did well under the high ball initially, but then lost a high ball backwards which Conway pounced on and went to score. Missed a pass from Kolisi where he could have scored. Also got sucked in a lot with Jesse Kriel on defence and opening up space for Conway out wide.

4/10

10 Elton Jantjies

Didn’t control the game well from the start of the match. Got his penalty over to get SA on the board, but was outclassed by Sexton

4/10

9 Ross Cronje

Mixed start with his tactical kicking, service was satisfactory from the base, but need to work on his decision making. Also didn’t have the best ball to work with from his pack

4/10

8 Francois Louw

Didn’t have all his way at the breakdown, carried and defended well. Won a penalty in the second half with Malcolm Marx to get his side in Irish territory. Conceded a penalty at the breakdown after being warned by the referee to leave it. Lost a good ball on attack as well and was nullified on a few occasions. Defended well though.

5/10

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit

Didn’t really make a big impact initially, but came into the game well later on and won a crucial turnover later on when Ireland had a maul rumbling at the Springboks' tryline. Won a lineout on an Ireland throw. Conceded a breakdown penalty which Sexton converted.

5/10

6 Siya Kolisi

Had a quiet game, but was good on defence, as usual, ran a good line on attack, but was isolated and concede the penalty for holding on. Throwing a good pass to Skosan who could have gone on to score and he couldn’t catch it. He had better games before.

5/10

5 Lodewyk de Jager

Did okay with his ball in hand play and work at the breakdown as well as in the lineouts, but didn’t do anything more than his basics.

4/10

4 Eben Etzebeth

His intimidating bruising self in his carries and work rate, but also made a questionable decision to go for the lineout instead of reducing the gap to 11 points when trailing 14-0. Did well in the lineouts as well.

6/10

3 Coenraad Oosthuizen

Went off in the second minute due to injury, replaced by Wilco Louw. Not Enough time to be rated.  

2 Malcolm Marx

Had a Good first lineout win. Made some good carries as well and making meters for his side. Won a penalty at the breakdown with Louw at the start of the second half to get the Springboks in the Ireland half.

5/10

1 Tendai Mtawarira

Conceded a scrum penalty in the second minute of the match, made up with some solid carries and made meters for his side later on. Lost a ball on attack in the second half and didn’t carry as well to his standards.

4/10

Replacements:

23 Francois Venter (on for De Allende, 56th minute)

Certainly had a better game than De Allende, yet failed to impress and didn’t do much for the time he was on.

4/10

22 Handre Pollard (on for Jantjies, 56th Minute)

Fell awkwardly after taking a kick from Conway and slid into touch gifting Ireland territory and possession. Took the line on well, but didn’t contribute much afterwards.

5/10

21 Rudi Paige (on for Cronje, 68th Minute)

Not enough time to be rated

20 Uzair Cassiem (on for Kolisi, 68th Minute)

Not enough time to be rated

19 Franco Mostert: Not Used

18 Wilco Louw (on for Oosthuizen, second minute)

Struggled surprisingly in the first 10 minutes at scrum time with Mtawarira. Held well later on in the scrums, but wasn’t much in the game. Conceded a penalty for pre-engaging late in the second half

5/10

17 Steven Kitshoff (on for Mtawarira, 54th minute)

Was solid initially, but then struggled in the scrum later in the match, didn’t have his best game either and was outplayed by his opposite at times.

5/10

16 Bongi Mbonambi(on for Marx, 68th Minute)

Not enough time to be rated

By Angus Opperman

@Angyboyi

@rugby365com