PLAYER RATINGS: Where to now?
It is dark times for the Boks and a serious change is needed.
Angus Opperman rates the South African players!
15 Andries Coetzee:
Had a solid boot clearing for touch at times, but missed a high ball after calling for it. He seemed very uncomfortable for months now at test level andit was no different in this test. His kicking was shaky as it was all year and one led to Parkes’ second try that basically sealed the game for Wales in the 32nd minute.
4/10
14 Dillyn Leyds:
Solid take off the kick-off, did lots of cover work and did well on defence. Did a great kick chase and followed up with a good tackle that led to a counter ruck. Showed why he has the X factor sparking a counter-attack from his own 22 as he passed wide to Kriel after making the break who kicked in field and rounded off by Gelant to score his maiden Test try.
7/10
13 Jesse Kriel:
His selection is becoming more questionable by the week – closed down space and just seem clueless with ball in hand in the first half and the first part of the second half. He did well on the wing to take the pass from the Leyds break and kicked ahead to set Gelant up to score. Made a good spot tackle as well to stop Wales from gaining momentum on attack late in the first half. Rushed the pass to Gelant in the second half that could have led to a score.
4/10
12 Francois Venter:
Did not see much of him in the first half, but started to pop up more in the second half and as much more involved all over the field, could have done with some more ball to spark something for his outside players.
5/10
11 Warrick Gelant:
Didn’t see much ball and got exposed at times on defence due to being played out of position, but made an interception that later resulted in a Springbok scrum. Did good follow up work and got rewarded with a first Test try. Also made a good clearance to get his side back in the Welsh half. Returned the favour with slick hands to set Kriel up for a try in the second half.
6/10
10 Handre Pollard:
Failed to get a ball under control after a turnover kicked by Parkes and also missed a high ball that put his side under pressure again and almost leed to a third Wales score. Failed to find touch from a penalty. Scored a good try after half-time to bring SA back into the match after relentless pressure by the Springboks. Could have controlled the game better with the good ball he got from his forwards.
5/10
9 Ross Cronje:
Almost got his side into trouble by misfielding a high ball, his kicking was not good yet again and he put himself and his side under a lot of pressure throughout the match.
4/10
8 Daniel du Preez:
Did his basics well and dominated from the back of the scrum and defended well throughout the match.
6/10
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit:
Made a solid first tackle to stamp his authority, threw an intercept pass while his side was five metres from the welsh line. Did well to force the scrum turnover after a Wales maul five metres from the Springbok line in the second half, but then conceded a penalty for not rolling away that Wales converted that gave them the lead and ultimately the win.
5/10
6 Siyamthanda Kolisi:
Quiet first half but did make a good half break that led to a penalty as play went on. Came into his own later in the second half and got much more involved in play.
5/10
5 Lodewyk de Jager:
Also had a quiet game and started to warm up in the second half, but looked far from the man who was SA rugby player of the year two years ago.
4/10
4 Eben Etzebeth:
Was his bruising self in the first half with good dominant tackles and carries, but got injured by half-time.
6/10
3 Wilco Louw:
Dominated the Welsh front row continuously with his fellow front row partners and did well with his general play.
7/10
2 Malcolm Marx:
Made two great steals in his 22 and one outside to get his side out of danger, defended well and made solid carries. Horrible throw in on an attacking line-out taken by Wales, but had a satisfactory game throughout.
7/10
1 Steven Kitshoff:
Dominating his opposite number in the first Springbok put-in at the scrum along with Marx and Louw and defended well too.
7/10
Replacements:
16 Bongi Mbonambi: (On for Malcolm Marx, 70th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Trevor Nyakane: (On for Wilco Louw, 68th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
18 Ruan Dreyer:
Did not play.
19 Teboho Mohoje (On for Eben Etzebeth, 40th min):
Did well in the line-outs and his general play, but could face sanction for a forearm to the neck which was missed in the match.
5/10
20 Uzair Cassiem (On for Dan du Preez, 77th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
21 Louis Schreuder (On for Ross Cronje, 70th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Elton Jantjies (On for Handre Pollard, 70th min):
Lost two balls on attack after coming on, which could have had another outcome in this match.
3/10.
23 Lukhanyo Am (On for Jesse Kriel, 77th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
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