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South Africa player ratings vs Wales - RWC SF

By Online Editors
South Africa players Mbongeni Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira and Siya Kolisi celebrate.

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

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Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This 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”?

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j
john 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But 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 comments
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