South Africa player ratings vs Wales - RWC SF
It was far from a classic but South Africa did enough to book their place in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final with a 19-16 defeat of Wales in Yokohama.
In a tight game, many of the Springboks’ backs failed to make their impact felt, but the pack stepped up to ensure Rassie Erasmus’ side got over the line and set up a clash with England on Saturday.
15 Willie le Roux – 5
Finally, the fullback showed a little courage as he plucked some high ball against Wales veteran Leigh Halfpenny. Despite his failure in the air, the fullback defence was solid. Nonetheless, the question still remains would Frans Steyn or Cheslin Kolbe be a better option at fullback for the final.
14 Sibusiso Nkosi – 5
He saw very little of the ball due to the kicking nature of the match. However, he showed his skills with a strong break which landed the Springboks’ a penalty and their first points. On defence, he was caught in no-man’s-land on a couple of occasions, but overall a good effort by the wing.
13 Lukhanyo Am – 6
Another very busy defensive display by the centre. He made all his tackles however he needs to get more involved on attack.
12 Damian de Allende – 8.5
The centre has been incredible throughout the tournament. His workrate was again tremendous – making tackle after tackle. De Allende made one or two silly decisions (such as a poor chip kick to Mapimpi), but overall a great performance that included an amazing try.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1188425266164621331
11 Makazole Mapimpi – 5
Unlike last week, the wing’s try-scoring opportunities were very limited. He was kept busy on defence and had a few problems when it came to the aerial contest.
10 Handré Pollard – 7.5
He played a vital role in Damian de Allende’s try and in the last quarter of the match showed glimpses of how lethal he can be on attack. The No.10 was solid from the tee, nailing all of his five kicks. Certainly a very calm figure.
9 Faf de Klerk – 8
It was clear that the scrumhalf played his own game, his box kicks were effective and he made a sniping run in the opening minutes. His distribution was fairly accurate, while his defence (which include two crucial ankle taps on dangerman George North), again proved to be vital for the Springboks. Just that silly fumble in the second half marred his nearly flawless display.
8 Duane Vermeulen – 7.5
His trademark big run ended Tomas Francis’ semi-final match in the 35th minute. The strong No.8 also took some hits but nothing that halted his momentum. He made 46 running metres and bashed through defenders.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit – 7
The flanker had a slow start. However his very industrious defensive performance (18 tackles; two missed) made up for that. Will be interesting to see how he competes against England’s Sam Underhill and Tom Curry next week.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1188432854541328385
6 Siya Kolisi – 6
He was a reliable defender, notching up eight tackles. On attack, he made a couple of metres.
5 Lodewyk de Jager – 6
Put in a strong shift and provided plenty of muscle in some driving mauls before he left the field just short of the hour mark.
4 Eben Etzebeth – 7
Disrupted the Wales set piece and his aggressive nature around the rucks and in tackles was a much-needed component.
3 Frans Malherbe – 7
He was strong in the scrums and got the better of his opponent. Certainly a powerful display by the prop.
2 Bongi Mbonambi – 6
Was effective with his strong defensive display and found his jumpers in the line-outs. However, a below-par performance as he was quiet during open play. Replaced by Malcolm Marx after 48 minutes.
1 Tendai Mtawarira – 6
He was solid in the scrums and laid a perfect foundation for the Springboks.
Replacements:
16 Malcolm Marx (on for Mbonambi, 48th minute) – 7
Made a huge impact and was a vital part of the Springboks’ late defensive effort.
17 Steven Kitshoff (on for Mtawarira, 48th minutes) – 7
Just like his fellow front row forwards, Kitshoff was brought in to aid the Springboks defence, and he did just that.
https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1188452790089080836
18 Vincent Koch (on for Malherbe, 48th minutes) – 8
Another important cog from the bench, Koch made all of his 10 tackles during his 33 minutes on the field.
19 Rudolph Snyman (on for Etzebeth, 52nd minute) – 8
Made an impact when he was introduced. The lock proved to be an effective line-out option as he directed the driving maul very well. Was also very good in open play.
20 Franco Mostert (on for De Jager, 58th minute) – 6
His first touch of the ball was far from perfect or accurate, however still put in an industrious shift.
21 Francois Louw (on for Kolisi, 68th Minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
23 Frans Steyn. (on for Le Roux, 68th minute)
Not enough time to be rated
Watch: Warren Gatland and Wales reflect on semi final loss
Comments on RugbyPass
Christie is not Sottish, like the majority of the Scotland team.
2 Go to commentsHold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
44 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
8 Go to commentsGreat insight into the performance culture with Sarries and I predict Christie will be a fixture in the Scotland team now for some time to come. However, he is slightly missing his own point around Scotland “being soft” when he cites physicality examples in defence of that slight. The issue is much closer to the example he referenced around feeling off before a game but being told “it doesn’t matter, you can still play well” by Farrell. Until Scotland can get their psyche in that square, they will carry on folding under extreme pressure…
2 Go to comments> We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success. Have = able to? Interesting what that one style might be? I thought SA sides still had bad tours now, or at least bad schedule, months away? Those extra few hours flights have to be a killer though, no surprise to see their sides doing so badly at the start of the season each year. I wouldn’t enjoy that unfairness as a supporter.
5 Go to commentsThe problem for NZ, and Aus, is they ripped up the SR model and lost a massive chunk of revenue that hasn’t been replaced. Don’t forget SA clubs went North because they were left with no choice, Argy unceremoniously binned and Japan cast adrift. Now SR wasn’t perfect, far from it, but they’ve jumped into something without an effective plan, so far, to replace what they’ve lost. The biggest revenue potential now lies in Japan but it won’t be easy or quick to unlock, they are incredibly insular in culture as a nation. In the meantime, there is a serious time bomb sitting under SH rugby and if it happens then the current financial challenges will look like a picnic. IF the Boks follow their provincial teams and head north then it’s revenue meltdown. Not guaranteed to happen but the status quo is a very odd hybrid, with the Boks pointing one way and the clubs pointing the other way. And for as long as that remains then the threat is real.
44 Go to commentsI think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
8 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
8 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
8 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
44 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to commentsThis is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?
35 Go to commentsWow, didn’t realise there was such apathy to URC in SA, or by Champions Cup teams. Just read Nick’s article on Crusaders, are Sharks a similar circumstance? I think SA rugby has been far more balanced than NZs, no?
4 Go to commentsBut here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.
44 Go to commentsIt could be coincidental or prescient that the All Blacks most dominant period under Steve Hansen was when the Crusaders had their least successful period under Todd Blackadder and then the positions reversed when Razor took over the Crusaders.
44 Go to commentsDefinitely sound read everybodyexpects immediate results these days, I don't think any team would travel well at all having lost three of the most important game changers in the game,compiled with the massive injury list they are now carrying, good to see a different more in depth perspective of a coaches history.
3 Go to commentsSinckler is a really big loss for English rugby.
2 Go to comments