Springbok player ratings
For a second time in 2017 under coach Allister Coetzee, the Springbok conceded a record score – this time, a 3-38 defeat to Ireland.
Here’s how the players fared:
15 Andries Coetzee
Kept his cool under pressure to step before a kick return. Looked good at times with some tackle breaks, but made some bad decisions at times as to try and run out of his 22 instead of clearing
5/10
14 Dillyn Leyds
Didn’t do much initially and had very little to work with and did some good things as a tap back from a high ball to retain possession. Got smashed in the tackle after taking a ball on the front foot from Pollard and lost it forward. Tried hard but just didn’t have many opportunities. Held his own in defence.
5/10
13 Jesse Kriel
Didn’t impress either. Got sucked in on defence by the Ireland set moves. Made a good half break, but runs sideways too much and got tackled by Aki into touch. Killed space plenty of times and made silly errors.
3/10
12 Damian de Allende
Kicked away good possession when the Boks had an overlap to work with, not very good decision making. Got caught by a rush defence from the Irish and not getting the ball away in time to his outside backs and looked unfit and out of form. His selection should really be questioned.
2/10
11 Courtnall Skosan
Good back tackle on Conway after a good set move by an Ireland that stretched the Boks defence. Did well under the high ball initially, but then lost a high ball backwards which Conway pounced on and went to score. Missed a pass from Kolisi where he could have scored. Also got sucked in a lot with Jesse Kriel on defence and opening up space for Conway out wide.
4/10
10 Elton Jantjies
Didn’t control the game well from the start of the match. Got his penalty over to get SA on the board, but was outclassed by Sexton
4/10
9 Ross Cronje
Mixed start with his tactical kicking, service was satisfactory from the base, but need to work on his decision making. Also didn’t have the best ball to work with from his pack
4/10
8 Francois Louw
Didn’t have all his way at the breakdown, carried and defended well. Won a penalty in the second half with Malcolm Marx to get his side in Irish territory. Conceded a penalty at the breakdown after being warned by the referee to leave it. Lost a good ball on attack as well and was nullified on a few occasions. Defended well though.
5/10
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
Didn’t really make a big impact initially, but came into the game well later on and won a crucial turnover later on when Ireland had a maul rumbling at the Springboks’ tryline. Won a lineout on an Ireland throw. Conceded a breakdown penalty which Sexton converted.
5/10
6 Siya Kolisi
Had a quiet game, but was good on defence, as usual, ran a good line on attack, but was isolated and concede the penalty for holding on. Threw a good pass to Skosan who could have gone on to score, but he couldn’t catch it. He had better games before.
5/10
5 Lodewyk de Jager
Did OK with his ball in hand play and work at the breakdown as well as in the lineouts, but didn’t do anything more than his basics.
4/10
4 Eben Etzebeth
His intimidating bruising self in his carries and work rate, but also made a questionable decision to go for the lineout instead of reducing the gap to 11 points when trailing 14-0. Did well in the lineouts as well.
6/10
3 Coenraad Oosthuizen
Went off in the second minute due to injury, replaced by Wilco Louw. Not enough time to be rated.
2 Malcolm Marx
Had a Good first lineout win. Made some good carries as well and making meters for his side. Won a penalty at the breakdown with Louw at the start of the second half to get the Springboks in the Ireland half.
5/10
1 Tendai Mtawarira
Conceded a scrum penalty in the second minute of the match, made up with some solid carries and made meters for his side later on. Lost a ball on attack in the second half and didn’t carry as well to his standards.
4/10
Replacements:
23 Francois Venter (on for De Allende, 56th minute)
Certainly had a better game than De Allende, yet failed to impress and didn’t do much for the time he was on.
4/10
22 Handre Pollard (on for Jantjies, 56th Minute)
Fell awkwardly after taking a kick from Conway and slid into touch gifting Ireland territory and possession. Took the line on well, but didn’t contribute much afterwards.
5/10
21 Rudi Paige (on for Cronje, 68th Minute)
Not enough time to be rated
20 Uzair Cassiem (on for Kolisi, 68th Minute)
Not enough time to be rated
19 Franco Mostert: Not used
18 Wilco Louw (on for Oosthuizen, second minute)
Struggled surprisingly in the first 10 minutes at scrum time with Mtawarira. Held well later on in the scrums, but wasn’t much in the game. Conceded a penalty for pre-engaging late in the second half
5/10
17 Steven Kitshoff (on for Mtawarira, 54th minute)
Was solid initially, but then struggled in the scrum later in the match, didn’t have his best game either and was outplayed by his opposite at times.
5/10
16 Bongi Mbonambi(on for Marx, 68th Minute)
Not enough time to be rated
Source: @rugby365com
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
40 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
40 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
40 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
40 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
40 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
40 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
40 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments