Springboks player ratings vs France | Rugby World Cup 2023
Springboks player ratings: South Africa triumphed in what is surely one of the greatest games of rugby ever played. A truly sensational show that could have ended with all 46 players receiving scores of nine and above. There were some standouts in green, and some who were below par. Overall, though, every one of them stood up when it mattered.
15 – Damian Willemse – 8
Tidy in the backfield which was crucial as Antoine Dupont’s probing kicks in behind tested the South African defence. Pulled out some trademark steps when met with resistance and was solid off the boot.
14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse – 8
Pounced on a loose ball to score a fortuitous early try and was busy throughout. Went looking for work off his wing and played a crucial hand in South Africa’s scrambling defence whenever France broke the line.
13 – Jesse Kriel – 8.5
Often derided as a one-trick defence merchant, his try assist off the boot for Cheslin Kolbe will hopefully pour cold water on that theory. It was his trademark rush on defence, though, that earns him a high score here. One particular blitz on Damian Penaud stifled a promising move down France’s left in South Africa’s red zone.
12 – Damian de Allende – 9.5
Superb. A plundering, blistering, thundering presence in midfield with enough soft touches, including delightful grubber kicks, to keep the romantics on board. Scored a try that came after a rampage of his own making. A simply sensational show. One of, if not his best ever in green.
11 – Cheslin Kolbe – 9
You have to be pretty fast to charge down a conversion and there are few faster than South Africa’s hot-stepping winger. Wriggled through numerous tacklers when carrying back into traffic and put on the afterburners to score when Kriel nudged a grubber into space. One of the game’s standout performers.
10 – Manie Libbok – 7.5
Slotted a difficult kick early on the calm the nerves and was slick down the line when he chose to give it air. Was mostly used to hoist high balls that, to be fair, did lead to some of South Africa’s best moments in the first half. But he failed to front up on defence as France battered his channel, missing five tackles from 11 attempts. When he was replaced by Handre Pollard five minutes into the second half, there was a sense that we didn’t see the best of what he had to offer.
9 – Cobus Reinach – 7
Robust around the fringe and looked to get in the bruised face of Dupont, but struggled to inject the requisite zip down the line. Some important tackles, most notable on Jonathan Danty, showed that he offers something a little different from most nines, and did play the short pass for de Allende to score, but like Libbok, he left the field with more to give. Replaced by Faf de Klerk on 45 minutes.
1 – Steven Kitshoff – 8
In a game where members of the tight five were asked to perform like industrious back rowers, Kitshoff stepped up. He hit rucks with a ferocious intent and though he coughed up a penalty, his presence over the ball was key to South Africa’s go-forward. Ran out of gas on 51 minutes and was replaced by Ox Nche.
2 – Bongi Mbonambi – 7
Struggled to punch holes when carrying the ball. He wasn’t poor, far from it. And even though it wasn’t entirely his fault a line-out in France’s 22 failed to find its mark, a better throw might have ended in a rolling maul try.
3 – Frans Malherbe – 7
Typically solid in the scrum. Immense on defence as well, making 12 tackles around the fringe.
4 – Eben Etzebeth – 9
Stepped up when his team needed him most, carrying the entire nation of France in the tackle as he crashed over for a score that gave South Africa the lead in the second half. Was on the fortuitous side twice. Once when he steamed out of the line to make an intercept only to knock it straight down when another referee might have shown him yellow. And then later when a head-on-head clash with Uini Atonio wasn’t upgraded to red. Other than that it was a trademark display on either side of the ball that also included several important challenges in the air from high cross-field kicks.
5 – Franco Mostert – 8.5
It was his huge engine that kept the Springboks machine rumbling even when it looked to have run out of gas in the second half. A fantastic effort as he helped keep dominance around the fringe.
6 – Siya Kolisi – 7
Would have taken pleasure from knocking Dupont back as his teammates rallied round him to get a collective shove on. Made seven tackles and helped maintain width but played more of a supporting than leading role. Hooked for Deon Fourie six minutes after the break.
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit – 8
Tackled anything that moved. Just did not stop chasing blue jerseys all night. Sharp hands and intelligence shown in the build up to Kolbe’s try and demonstrated his all-round abilities by plucking a ball that came down with ice on it. Most importantly, was especially sharp around the breakdown and came up with one vital steal in South Africa’s red zone in the second half when France were on the move.
8 – Duane Vermeulen – 7.5
Played a key role in the opening score as he procured an important turnover steal. Immovable over the ball which was crucial in a game of such dizzying pace. Also added security from the restart with some hefty runs.
16 – Deon Fourie – 7
Busy on the deck and when scrambling on defence. Looked more comfortable playing in the back row.
17 – Ox Nche – 8
He famously said that salads don’t win scrums and the man who adores cake underlined that mantra by winning a scrum penalty shortly after coming on.
18 – Vincent Koch – 8
Scrummed, carried and tackled as well as any of them. Often a forgotten member of South Africa’s front row production line, the man who looks like Mr Incredible put in one helluva shift.
19 – RG Snyman – 7
Coughed up the ball a few metres away when lifted at the line-out, but was otherwise solid.
20 – Kwagga Smith – 8
An almighty steal shortly after Etzebeth’s try as South Africa’s defence knocked the French back to the half-way line. Of course, he should have been penalised as his hands were on the floor, but those only go your way when you’re as sharp as Smith.
21 – Faf de Klerk – 6
Certainly cost his team the chance to score points when he threw the ball onto a French player lying on the ground with the ball in the red zone. It was a daft move that showed a lack ion understanding of the rules. Later box-kicked with seconds left on the clock when going through the phases would have made the result safe,.
22 – Handre Pollard – 8
Nailed a kick from the half-way line and, like de Klerk, injected a sense of composure with ball in hand. Also provided more grunt in the tackle than Libbok. Might be a starter next week.
23 – Willie le Roux – 7
A wise head when calm was needed. All three backs off the bench played their role with what they brought psychologically as much as with ball in hand or on defence.
Comments on RugbyPass
wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments