Wales player ratings vs South Africa - RWC SF
It was as unrelentingly physical and kick-dominated as we knew it would be. Wales held up well in the scrum and the lineout but, in the end, were worn down by the Springboks and couldn’t make it a fairytale finale for Warren Gatland.
Despite being wrecked by injuries, Wales put out a strong team that pushed South Africa all the way. More injuries during the game, however, meant it was just a bridge too far.
We rate the full squad below. A number of exciting young players mean the future is full of hope for Wales, even if the present is disappointing.
15. Leigh Halfpenny – 7
As steady as ever under the high ball and kicked his goal under huge pressure. A classy player but the feeling remains that Liam Williams would have offered more in attack.
14. George North – 7
Looked determined not to let the game go by without making an impact and got involved as much as possible, even chasing down a kick when he had already pulled up injured. Had to go off just before half-time.
13. Jonathan Davies – 8
Restored to the starting line-up and showed what was missing. Crucial in attack and defence and brought Josh Adams into the game a bit more, including the assist for his try.
12. Hadleigh Parkes – 6
A couple of important interventions but didn’t look fit and couldn’t make the impact he needed.
11. Josh Adams – 7
Showed again why he is so highly rated in the Wales camp, putting in a defensive shift and scoring his side’s only try. Helped by the return of Jon Davies inside him.
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10. Dan Biggar – 6
His goal-kicking kept Wales in it but his kicks from hand weren’t as effective as they needed to be. Wales looked better when Patchell came on.
9. Gareth Davies – 5
Not his best game. Outshone by his opposite number, whose box-kicking was far superior.
1. Wyn Jones – 7
Part of a Welsh scrum that held up well. The set-piece is rarely a strength for Wales but he prevented it being too much of a weakness.
2. Ken Owens – 7
The lineout was better again, despite the quality of the opposition, but it wasn’t enough. Stayed on the field for more than 70 minutes and fought every second.
3. Tomas Francis – 6
Had to go off after 35 minutes but had been part of a big defensive effort before that and held up the Welsh scrum.
4. Jake Ball – 7
Looked up for the fight, at times literally, and brought some much-needed physicality to Wales’ efforts.
5. Alun-Wyn Jones (capt) – 9
Not all sports icons get to go out the way they deserve. Jones may yet carry on playing but it is a shame we will not see him in the final. As always, he was immense here.
6. Aaron Wainwright – 7
Emptied the tank but didn’t have quite the success he had previously. A huge talent for the future.
7. Justin Tipuric – 7
Gave it everything he had. A little unlucky to give away one penalty at the breakdown, perhaps, but missed his back row partner Josh Navidi badly.
8. Ross Moriarty – 6
Had big shoes to fill given the contribution Josh Navidi had made and kept his discipline, which was always going to be the concern. Couldn’t make quite the impact that was needed.
Replacements
Elliot Dee – 6
Limited time to make an impact and not really his job. A promising player, however.
Rhys Carré – 7
What a talent he looks to be. With him and Wyn Jones as options at loosehead, and a fit-again Rob Evans waiting, Wales might have a scrum they can use as a weapon again.
Dillon Lewis – 7
Came on earlier than expected but kept up the work in the scrum. Another bright hope for the future.
Adam Beard – 6
This experience will have been hugely valuable for him. Couldn’t quite combat the strength of South Africa’s bench.
Aaron Shingler – 5
Back in his bench role but this time covering the back row. A good player but not quite enough for a semi-final.
Tomos Williams – 7
Came on earlier than usual and made an impact. Surely the future starting scrumhalf.
Rhys Patchell – 7
Drop goal effort was a bit ambitious but Wales looked far better once he came on. It seemed a little odd that he didn’t come on sooner, when North went off, to provide some spark but the physicality of Watkin was preferred.
Owen Watkin – 5
Wouldn’t have expected to come on just before half time on the wing rather than in the centre. Didn’t let anyone down but didn’t have the spark that was needed.
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments