Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | 2021 Rugby Championship
The Springboks bounced back with a colossal effort to beat the All Blacks 31-29 in an epic Rugby Championship encounter on Saturday.
The impact off the bench proved to be the difference for the Boks in a nail-biting second half.
Here are the Springbok player ratings:
15 WILLIE LE ROUX – 3
He had a shocker in the first half and he was eventually replaced at half-time by Francois Steyn. He failed to secure possession under the high ball on a few occasions and one of his dopped balls led to a try for Sevu Reece. He also got knocked to the ground trying to tackle Rieko Ioane, which resulted in a try for Ardie Savea.
14 SBU NKOSI – 7
He had a try assist in the first half and he also put in a brilliant try-saving tackle on Anton Lienert-Brown in the 32nd minute. He applied good pressure chasing the high balls and he got some more ball to work with on attack this week.
13 LUKHANYO AM- 7.5
His no-look pass around his back for Damian De Allende’s try was a thing of beauty. He also applied pressure on the All Blacks into making a mistake in the build-up to that try. He had a couple of good runs and he directed his team’s defence well out wide.
Can't stop watching this outrageous no-look out the back door pass from Lukhanyo Am to set up the Springboks first try ? pic.twitter.com/1tpp1l3VOy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 2, 2021
12 DAMIAN DE ALLENDE – 9
He was fantastic for the Boks in open play. He had a couple of clean breaks and racked up the running metres with those powerful carries. He was also a brick wall on defence and he pushed the All Blacks back at some of the breakdowns as well.
11 MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI – 6.5
He scored one of his team’s two tries and he got a bit more ball to run with this time around. He chased the high balls well which put the All Blacks under pressure.
10 HANDRE POLLARD – 6.5
It was another nervy start for the pivot, especially with his goal-kicking. However, he did try to mix things up this week and the ball went wide much more. He threatened the All Blacks’ defence on a few occasions when he took the ball to the line. It wasn’t the best, but it was an improved performance from the Bok flyhalf.
9 FAF DE KLERK – 7/10
It was a tale of two halves from the Bok scrumhalf. He produced some good pin-point high balls and there were some that were not so great. In the second half, he showed what he is capable of on attack with some quick distribution. He varied his play nicely and his vision from the base of the ruck played a big role in Makazole Mapimpi’s try in the 52nd minute.
8 DUANE VERMEULEN – 7.5
He missed a tackle on Beauden Barrett, which eventually led to a try for Savea. But there were a lot more positives for the big man in this game. He was secure under the high ball and finally showed that raw power with ball in hand. He got his team over the gain line on a few occasions and he made more tackles than any other player in his team. He was also a nuisance at the breakdowns.
7 KWAGGA SMITH – 8
It was certainly an energetic performance from the former BlitzBok. He troubled the All Blacks’ defenders around the rucks with his movement and quick runs. He also got stuck into the breakdowns to disrupt the All Blacks’ ball.
6 SIYA KOLISI – 7
He was a colossus at the breakdowns and he helped his team win some turnovers. He also tackled like a man possessed and he wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line with ball in hand. He left the field in the 56th minute.
Tears of joy from Siya Kolisi at full time as Springboks pull off thrilling late win over All Blacks ? #RSAvNZR pic.twitter.com/1Lt1eFMvYu
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 2, 2021
5 LOOD DE JAGER – 7
It was another industrious performance by the big man. Again, he was great on defence and he showed some great aggression with ball in hand, which resulted in some metres over the gain line.
4 EBEN ETZEBETH – 7.5
He was a key figure in the line-outs. He lost control of the ball in the 33rd minute, which led to Brad Weber’s try in the 33rd minute, but he made up for that later in the game. He produced a great line-out steal in the 69th minute when his team was under pressure. He was also a key figure in some powerful driving mauls.
3 TREVOR NYAKANE- 6.5
Like Ox Nche, he was immovable in the scrums and he looked for work in open play on attack and defence. He seemed to draw a few All Blacks when he had the ball.
2 MBONGENI MBONAMBI – 6.5
He showed his strength when he powered through the All Blacks’ defence in the 19th minute, which almost resulted in a try. His line-out throwing was good until his last throw inside the All Blacks’ 22 which went to no one. He was eventually replaced in the 39th minute.
1 OX NCHÉ – 7
He was solid in the scrums and he had some good carries. he also made his presence felt on defence. He was also replaced in the 39th minute.
REPLACEMENTS BENCH:
16 MALCOLM MARX – 8
He was part of a powerful ‘Bomb Squad’ that changed the game. His line-out throwing was accurate, but it was his work in open play that made a difference. He had several strong carries, with one of those coming in the build-up to Mapimpi’s try. He also halted the All Blacks’ momentum with a great turnover in the 54th minute.
17 Steven Kitshoff STEVEN KITSHOFF – 8
The experienced prop was powerful in the scrums and his steal at the front of the line-out when All Blacks were deep inside the Boks’ 22 was a key moment in the game.
18 VINCENT KOCH – 7
Another one who was solid in the scrums and on defence. There was not a lot of opportunities with ball in hand, but his physical presence definitely made a difference in the second half.
The Springboks match-winner on the moment that he defeated the All Blacks#Springboks #TRC2021 #RugbyChampionship #RSAvNZL #AllBlackshttps://t.co/0XQFJtDKO9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 2, 2021
19 FRANCO MOSTERT – 5.5
He gave away two big penalties in the second half, which could have cost his team big time. He did a lot of good work in the line-outs and on defence.
20 JASPER WIESE – 5.5
There was not much impact from the replacement forward, especially with ball in hand. Most of his work was in defence.
21 HERSCHEL JANTJIES – 7
The All Blacks were a bit rattled when he ran at them. His passing was crisp, and he made some good decisions as well.
22 ELTON JANTJIES – 9
He was involved in Mapimpi’s try and he slotted a brilliant drop goal in the 77th minute. He was a calming influence in the backline and he was a key figure in the win.
23 FRANS STEYN – 8.5
The momentum swung in South Africa’s favour when he came onto the field. He put his team in great positions on the field with some fantastic kicks. His 50/22 kick in 51st minute laid the platform for Mapimpi’s try from a line-out.
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe 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
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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.
11 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.
54 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 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.
54 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.
54 Go to comments