Springboks player ratings vs Wales | Autumn Nations Series
South African finally broke their Cardiff drought, but they left it rather late – sealing the 23-18 win with an Elton Jantjies penalty in the last minutes.
It was an arm-wrestle at a very wet Millennium Stadium, with the Boks’ famed forward power getting them over the line in the second half.
Jan de Koning of Rugby365 rates the South African players.
15. Damian Willemse – N/A
He lasted just 13 minutes, before leaving the field injured with concussion.
14. Jesse Kriel – 6/10
Some good chasing and a couple of threatening runs, but some poor decision-making and his hands also let him down at times.
13. Lukhanyo Am – 7
He was solid on defence and while it may seemed a quiet day at the office, one run in particular had the Welsh defence scrambling. Solid performance.
12. Damian de Allende – 7
Won a great turnover, followed by a couple of strong carries early in the game. Then there was also a great break late in the first half. Also made a number of significant tackles.
11. Makazole Mapimpi – 6
Not many chances, but showed he still knows his way to the tryline and made a crucial chase late in the game.
10. Handré Pollard – 5
His decline in form was again on show and while his goal-kicking was significantly better, he is still not the driving force he was at the World Cup.
9. Herschel Jantjies – 5
His kicking game was, at times, shocking. His decision-making was not great either and his service was ponderous.
8. Duane Vermeulen – 6
Did plenty of donkey work and perhaps not as flash as his fellow loose forwards. But his physical presence with ball in hand and on defence should not be underestimated.
7. Kwagga Smith – 9
Won a crucial turnover with Wales on attack and then won another just outside his own 22. There were some impressive carries and another crucial turnover late in the game. The Boks’ most valuable player, with his 13 tackles third-most in the game.
6. Siyamthanda Kolisi (c) – 8
Did some great work on defence and at the breakdown – winning a crucial turnover. There was also great try-saving tackle, to go with a couple of strong carries.
5. Lodewyk de Jager – 7
He did get isolated and conceded a penalty in the second half. However, his carries went into double figures and his 14 tackles was a team-high and second-most in the game.
4. Eben Etzebeth – 7
There was plenty of endeavour, both with ball in hand and on defence. Another workmanlike performance from the Bok stalwart.
3. Trevor Nyakane – 6
While his workrate outside the set pieces could have been better, he certainly did not let the team down and contributed to the Boks’ forward dominance.
2. Mbongeni Mbonambi – 6
Great work at the breakdown, a number of strong carries, one great offload and solid work on defence.
1. Retshegofaditswe Nché – 5
Was involved in a couple of incidents that were checked out by match officials and got yellow carded for the second. Was productive on defence when he was on the field
Replacements:
16 Malcolm Marx (on for Mbonambi in the 45th min)
His strength came in handy in the second half. He won a crucial turnover, produced two tackles breaks and scored the match-winning try.
7/10
17 Steven Kitshoff (on for Nche in the 45th min)
Crucial penalty won on the final hooter. Made a number of strong carries and was massive in the scrums.
6/10
18 Vincent Koch (on for Nyakane in the 45th min)
His role in the set pieces, like the rest of the front row, was invaluable. Had a handful of carries and solid on defence.
6/10
19 Franco Mostert (on for De Jager, 60th min)
His workrate is always impressive, especially on defence. Got over-eager and conceded a penalty.
6/10
20 Jasper Wiese (on for Kolisi, 71st min)
Not enough time to be rated.
21 Cobus Reinach (on for Jantjies, 54th min)
One great run, that included a tackle break, but some poor kicking.
6/10
22 Elton Jantjies (on for Pollard, 65th min)
He was solid and one restart put the Welsh under tremendous pressure. Also landed the match-sealing penalty.
6/10
23 Frans Steyn (on for Willemse, 13th min)
Conceded a penalty with Boks on attack in Wales 22. However, made amends with some great runs (four tackle busts) and great out-of-hand kicking. There was also a crucial penalty midway through the second half.
8/10
Comments on RugbyPass
We’re building a bridge but can't agree where the river is.
2 Go to commentsfirst no arms shoulder or helmet tackle into his rib cage is going to be so very painful even to watch. go back to RU mate.
1 Go to commentsBulls by 5. Plus another 50.
3 Go to commentsJohan Goosen avatar. Cute. Surely someone at RP knows how to do a google image search?
3 Go to commentsCan’t these games play a little earlier? Asking for a friend.
3 Go to commentsIt’s impressive that we can see huge stadiums with attendance in the 40 000 to 50 000 region. It shows how popular this competition is becoming. What is even more impressive is the massive growth in broadcast viewership. The URC is one of the two best leagues in the World, the other being the Top14.
7 Go to commentsChristie 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.
45 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.
7 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.
45 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? 😂
45 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 comments