Player Ratings: The Green Machine
OPINION: The Springboks’ pack performed like a well-oiled machine against Japan and it laid the foundation for their 26-3 quarterfinal win.
Rassie Erasmus’ side are not the finished product out wide on attack and it’s an area they will need to improve ahead of their semifinal against Wales next weekend.
Warren Fortune rates the South Africa players
15 Willie le Roux
He conceded quite a few turnovers. He lost the ball in a great attacking play, but played a role in Makazole Mapimpi’s second try and he was solid on defence.
6/10
14 Cheslin Kolbe
A very quiet game by his standards. He did not get much opportunity with the ball and he got smoked by Kenki Fukuoka out wide.
5.5/10
13 Lukhanyo Am
Another big effort in defence from the midfielder. However, he was not at his best with ball in hand, especially his offloading.
6/10
12 Damian de Allende
He put in some bone-crunching tackles and got his team over the gainline with a few carries. He also turned the ball over at a crucial moment in the first half when Japan were threatening to score.
7.5/10
11 Makazole Mapimpi
A very busy man out wide with 116 running metres during the 80 metres. He scored two excellent tries and marked Japan’s dangermen well out wide.
8/10
10 Handré Pollard
He came to life on attack in the final ten minutes when his neat break led to Mapimpi’s second try. However, he was quiet for large periods of the game with Faf de Klerk running the show once again.
6.5/10
9 Francois de Klerk
He disrupted Japan’s attacking play with his speed off the line and he had a couple of good kicks in open play as well. However, his is still a bit slow at clearing the ball from the breakdowns.
8/10
8 Duane Vermeulen
Vermeulen certainly made his presence felt in the defensive side of the game. He did not get much opportunity with ball in hand, but he was a vital cog in the set-pieces and the maul.
7/10
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
He works tirelessly across the park, but he was guilty of missing a few tackles in open play.
6/10
6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain)
He disrupted Japan’s play with a couple of turnovers and some huge hits on defence
6.5/10
5 Lodewyk de Jager
His work rate around the park, especially on defence, was outstanding. The big man also provided plenty of muscle in some powerful driving mauls and he secured plenty of ball at line-out time.
8/10
4 Eben Etzebeth
He disrupted a few of Japan’s line-outs and he was aggressive around the rucks.
7/10
3 Frans Malherbe
He was strong in the scrums while he was one the field and knocked over a few Japanese players on defence.
6.5/10
2 Mbongeni Mbonambi
Only on the field for 36 minutes while before he was replaced by Malcolm Marx. He did his part in a strong defensive display and he found his jumpers in the line-outs.
5.5/10
1 Tendai Mtawarira
He gave his opposite number hell at scrum time and he was solid on defence. However, the yellow card was a blemish on his scorecard
6/10
Replacements:
16 Malcolm Marx (On for Mbongeni Mbonambi, 36th min)
He made a huge impact while he was on the field. He was a hard man to bring down in open play and he had one try assist.
8/10
17 Steven Kitshoff (On for Tendai Mtawarira, 54th min)
He terrorised Japan at scrum time and joined the party on defence.
7/10
18 Vincent Koch (On for Frans Malherbe, 54th min)
He did his part up front in the mauls and scrums.
5/10
19 Rudolph Snyman (On for Eben Etzebeth, 63rd min)
He did not make too much of an impact in open play.
5/10
20 Franco Mostert (On for Franco Mostert, 67th min)
Not enough time to be rated.
21 Francois Louw (On for Duane Vermeulen, 68th min)
Not enough time to be rate.
22 Herschel Jantjies (On for Faf de Klerk, 74th min)
Not enough time to be rated.
23 Frans Steyn (On for Cheslin Kolbe, 72nd min)
Not enough time to be rated.
