Player ratings: Soweto blues

The Springboks were given a reality check by a vastly superior All Black outfit in Soweto on Saturday.

A 16-point hammering on home soil illustrated the significant gap between the world’s leading and number two-ranked outfits.  

Once the All Blacks weathered the emotionally-fuelled onslaught by the South Africans in the opening quarter they kicked on and ultimately recorded an emphatic bonus point win.

Quintin van Jaarsveld rates the Springbok players.

15 Zane Kirchner

Mixed his game up well. It wasn’t the usual aerial bombardment from him and he made few errors. Having said that, much like the gap between the teams was the gap between the fullbacks.  

6.5/10

14 Bryan Habana

Blew hot and cold. He continued his try-scoring spree but undone his good work when he rushed up and cost the Springboks seven points. Also butchered a try in the second half when he spilled a pass near the line.         

6.5/10

13 Jaco Taute

Much like last weekend, he was rock solid on defence but ineffective on attack. His kick that missed touch resulted in the All Blacks’ opening try.     

6/10

12 Jean de Villiers

For the sheer magnitude of the occasion, playing the old enemy in front of 80,000 fans, the Springbok captain was puzzlingly lethargic. He simply wasn’t switched on, throwing no-look passes to no-one and was a bit fortunate to get away with the forward pass to Habana for the opening try.       

5/10

11 Francois Hougaard

The dangers of being considered an utility back came back to bite Hougaard and the Boks as the natural scrumhalf was exposed on defence on the left wing.   

5/10

10 Johan Goosen

A really disappointing outing for the 20-year-old. It was déjà vu all over again as he missed his first two penalties before he limped off before half-time.

4/10

9 Ruan Pienaar

Continued his nurturing role playing with two inexperienced flyhalves and needs to be commended for his accurate distribution and how he adjusted to playing with the left-handed Elton Jantjies.  

6.5/10

8 Duane Vermeulen

Decent on the ground and in the line-out but bitterly ineffective with ball in hand and made the odd handling error.

5.5/10

7 Willem Alberts

A strong effort by Alberts, whose break led to Habana’s try. He was prominent as a ball-carrier and led the loose trio’s physical contribution.           

7/10

6 Francois Louw

Took a while to get into the game but from there he made some key turnovers, including a textbook one on Kieran Read.   

7/10

5 Andries Bekker

Failed to provide the line-out dominance of last weekend and was once again guilty of shying away from the tough stuff.

5.5/10

4 Eben Etzebeth

A good showing in the line-outs but not the physical force he was expected to be in his first Test against the All Blacks.    

6/10

3 Jannie du Plessis

The solidity he brings to the Springbok scrum often goes unnoticed but was clearly evident once he left the pitch and the home scrum imploded.        

6.5/10

2 Adriaan Strauss

Was the Boks’ most willing and effective ball-carrier and oozed the passion and aggression required when facing the All Blacks. His line-out throwing was spot on and his defence solid.

7.5/10

1 Tendai Mtawarira

“The Beast” fired up his pack when he burrowed straight through Owen Franks to win a scrum penalty and never took a step back.    

6.5/10

Replacements:

16 Tiaan Liebenberg (on for Strauss, 72nd minute)

Not enough time to be rated.

17 Coenie Oosthuizen (on for Du Plessis, 53rd minute)

Conceded penalty after penalty – at scrum time and at the breakdown.

3/10

18 Flip van der Merwe (on for Etzebeth, 59th minute)

Didn’t make an eye-catching impact in general play or in the line-out.  

5.5/10

19 Marcell Coetzee (on for Louw, 36th minute – blood, on for Alberts, 59th minute)

Showed a willingness to take on the All Black forwards with mixed success.

6/10

20 Elton Jantjies (on for Goosen, 34th minute)

After a solid start he too fell victim to the Springbok goal-kicking curse. In no way was he overwhelmed by the occasion, however, which says much about his composure and hints at a bright international career.   

6.5/10

21 Juan de Jongh (on for Taute, 76th minute)

Not enough time to be rated.

22 Pat Lambie (on for Kirchner, 64th minute)

Not enough time to be rated.