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Wales player ratings vs South Africa | 2nd Test July 2022
Wales player ratings: Test One was heartbreaking for Wales. After leading for virtually the entire match, it came down to a last-gasp Damian Willemse penalty to crush Welsh souls. For the second test, Jacques Nienaber rolled the reserves and Wayne Pivac stayed very much the same. Wales, out of nowhere, sensed an opportunity.
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After a turgid first half, Wales found themselves 12-3 down, only to nick it with a last-gasp Josh Adams try and Gareth Anscombe conversion. A difficult game to analyse, but after last week’s heartbreak, today was a good day to be a Wales fan.
15. Liam Williams – 6.5
Wales’ fullback introduced Jesse Kriel to the hurt arena early on, coupled with some trademark highball takes. Put in a few good kicks.
14. Louis Rees-Zammit – 7
Rees-Zammit always gets around the park and today was no exception. Put in some decent kicks, which was as much as you can ask for when presented with little space.
The effects of playing a brutal Springbok team at altitude is starting to show on this Welsh team, tough stuff ? #SAvWAL pic.twitter.com/HcMQIxhSdM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 9, 2022
13. George North – 6
Had a quiet first half but got a few more touches in the second. Looked great whenever he found space, but was well-marked by Esterhuizen and Kriel.
12. Nick Tompkins – 8
Gave away a couple of early penalties, but sorted his game out after that. Played virtually every role – centre, winger, flanker, fullback, scrum-half, you name it.
11. Alex Cuthbert – 6
Parachuted into the team for Josh Adams, Cuthbert started the game with a fantastic take on a Kieran Hardy bomb. Sadly had to go off early.
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10. Dan Biggar – 5.5
Always in the thick of things, Biggar’s spirit showed when he put in a difficult tackle on a rampaging Joseph Dewba. Put in a few good kicks, but struggled to really dominate the test as he has done in past.
9. Kieran Hardy – 8.5
Arguably Wales’ best player while he was on. Tactically superb and almost flawless from the boot. Unfortunately went off at half time.
1. Gareth Thomas – 8
South Africa evidently did their homework on Thomas but he hung in there at scrum time, even winning a penalty at the end of the first half, and one against the giant Vincent Koch in the second half.
2. Ryan Elias – 6.5
Won a crucial turnover in the first half to prevent the Boks from powering over. Aside from one or two skew throws, very solid at set piece.
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3. Dillon Lewis – 7.5
Lewis, once again, dig deep at scrum time. His opposite number Thomas Du Toit didn’t have his best day, but Lewis deserves some credit. Another huge shift from the prop.
4. Will Rowlands – 7
Rowlands had a strong first half, but was unfortunately the first player to give away one of many penalties that gifted South Africa momentum.
Shock for Alun wyn Jones as he is sent off for cynically playing the ball despite the replay showing he didn't even touch the ball… #SAvWAL pic.twitter.com/CcGTIVe5l3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 9, 2022
5. Adam Beard – 6
Quiet by his standards, but typically excellent in stopping the Bok maul from applying early pressure.
6. Dan Lydiate – 8
King Chopper himself was on fine form this afternoon. Huge tackle count, and dominant virtually every time. Huge at the breakdown, too.
7. Tommy Reffell – 8
Won a mega turnover to save Wales on the half hour mark, and another on 65 minutes to give his team a sniff. A great find for Wales.
8. Taulupe Faletau – 7.5
Even when he isn’t dominating a game, Faletau’s skills are invaluable to Wales. Even when the set-piece isn’t firing, Faletau can make it look like his props are on fire.
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16. Dewi Lake – 7
Lake is relishing his weekly tussle with Malcolm Marx. Carried excellently. Good performance bar one skint throw.
17. Wyn Jones – 6
Didn’t get many opportunities around the park but stood up well in the scrum.
18. Sam Wainwright – 6
Only had two involvements – one being winning a penalty, and the other being holding a crucial scrum in the final play. Kudos to the debutant.
19. Alun-Wyn Jones – 4
Jones didn’t read the new directive against watching a ball roll out of a ruck, so he once again found himself in the sin-bin.
20. Josh Navidi – 5
Didn’t make much of an impact, but made no errors.
21. Tomos Williams – 8
Williams’ talent never fails to impress. Filled the boots of Hardy well in the second half.
22. Gareth Anscombe – 9
Really helped Wales move forward. Arguably turned the game, and nailed the match-winning conversion at the death.
23. Josh Adams – 7.5
Was a very mechanical winger all game, but stood up when it counted. Scored the winning try, which is exactly what you pick your wingers to do.
Comments on RugbyPass
9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to comments