South Africa player ratings vs Japan
The Springboks’ pack performed like a well-oiled machine against Japan and it laid the foundation for their 26-3 World Cup quarter-final win in Tokyo.
Rassie Erasmus’ side are not the finished product out wide on attack and it is an area they will need to improve ahead of their semi-final against Wales next weekend.
Here’s how the South Africa players rated:
15. Willie le Roux – 6
He conceded quite a few turnovers. He lost the ball in one great attacking play, but played a role in Makazole Mapimpi’s second try and was solid on defence.
14. Cheslin Kolbe – 5.5
A very quiet game by his standards. He did not get much opportunity with the ball and got smoked by Kenki Fukuoka out wide.
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13. Lukhanyo Am – 6
Another big effort in defence from the midfielder. However, he was not at his best with ball in hand, especially his offloading.
12. Damian de Allende – 7.5
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.
11. Makazole Mapimpi – 8
A very busy man out wide, racking up 116 running metres during the 80 minutes. He scored two excellent tries and marked Japan’s dangermen well out wide.
South Africa’s Tendai Mtawarira was lucky to escape a red card as the Springboks bludgeoned past hosts Japan 26-3 to book a World Cup semi-final with Wales.https://t.co/d9fA5fypTY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2019
10. Handré Pollard – 6.5
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.
9. Faf de Klerk – 8
He disrupted Japan’s attacking play with his speed off the line and had a couple of good kicks in open play as well. However, he is still a bit slow at clearing the ball from the breakdown.
8. Duane Vermeulen – 7
Vermeulen certainly made his presence felt on the defensive side of the game. He did not get much opportunity with ball in hand, but was a vital cog in the set-piece and maul.
Here's how @alexshawsport rated the Japan players as the Rugby World Cup hosts fell to a 26-3 defeat to South Africa.https://t.co/E40zjzyRNA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2019
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit – 6.5
Worked tirelessly across the park, but was guilty of missing a few tackles in open play.
6. Siya Kolisi (captain) – 6.5
Disrupted Japan’s play with a couple of turnovers and some huge hits on defence.
5. Lood de Jager – 8
His workrate around the park, especially on defence, was outstanding. The big man also provided plenty of muscle in some powerful driving mauls and in securing plenty of ball at lineout time.
4. Eben Etzebeth – 7
Disrupted a few of Japan’s lineouts and was aggressive around the ruck.
3. Frans Malherbe – 6.5
Was strong in the scrum while he was on the field. He also knocked over a few Japanese players on defence.
2. Mbongeni Mbonambi – 5.5
Only on the field for 36 minutes before he was replaced by Malcolm Marx. He did his part in a strong defensive display and found his jumpers in the lineout.
1. Tendai Mtawarira – 6
Gave his opposite number hell at scrum time and was solid on defence. However, a yellow card was a blemish on his scorecard.
Join @jimhamilton4 as he gives his alternative commentary of the #JPNvRSA match ????
Link – https://t.co/RBuRSUjLvC#RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/xNhdfzV0k1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2019
Replacements:
16. Malcolm Marx – 8
Made a huge impact. He was a hard man to bring down in open play and had one try assist.
17. Steven Kitshoff – 7
Terrorised Japan at scrum time and joined the party on defence.
18. Vincent Koch – 5
Did his part up front in the maul and scrum.
19. Rudolph Snyman – 5
Didn’t make too much of an impact in open play.
20. Franco Mostert – N/A
Not enough time to be rated.
21. Francois Louw – N/A
Not enough time to be rate.
22. Herschel Jantjies – N/A
Not enough time to be rated.
23. Frans Steyn –N/A
Not enough time to be rated.
– @rugby365.com
WATCH: Matt Giteau in the latest episode in the RugbyPass Rugby World Cup Memories series
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
16 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
16 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
8 Go to comments