Springboks player ratings vs Lions | Third Test

Springboks player ratings: Veteran Morne Steyn has kicked a last-gasp penalty to hand South Africa a narrow 19-16 victory over British and Irish Lions in the third and final Test to seal a 2-1 victory in the controversy-laden series.

The 37-year-old reprised his heroics from 12 years ago when he did the same for the Springboks to win the 2009 series over the tourists.

SPRINGBOK PLAYER RATINGS:
WILLIE LE ROUX – 7
Played a crucial role in Kolbe’s try and hardly put a foot wrong.

Ian Foster on disappointing start and end to win over the Wallabies in Bledisloe opener

Ian Foster on disappointing start and end to win over the Wallabies in Bledisloe opener

CHESLIN KOLBE – 6
Ineffectual for most of the evening before bursting into life to claim a key score.

LUKANYO AM – 8
Content to do the hard graft without recognition. Contributed significantly with another bullish display.

DAMIAN DE ALLENDE – 7
Marked his 50th Test cap with a trademark performance. A constant physical presence.

MAKOZOLE MAPIMPI – 5
Marshalled well by the Lions and consequently subdued. Unable to cut loose on the ball.

HANDRE POLLARD – 5
Fell below his usual high standards and was culpable of some wayward penalties.

COBUS REINACH – 5
Tasked with filling the void left by injured Faf De Klerk and struggled to seize his chance.

STEVEN KITSHOFF – 6
Given a stern test in the scrum by Furlong but was a steadying influence.

BONGI MBONAMNI – 4
Error-strewn performance did his side no favours and could have few complaints at being replaced.

FRANS MALHERBE – 6
Went about his business with little fuss before being given a well-earned rest.

EBEN ETZEBETH – 7
Faded slightly from a storming start. Lucky to escape a yellow card and regular treatment disrupted play.

LOOD DE JAGER – 6
Solid without being spectacular. Did not hit the heights of last weekend’s cameo display.

SIYA KOLISI – 8
A monster at the breakdown. Brilliant turnover denied Lions a potential try just before the break.

PLAYER RATINGS: Heartbreak for the Lions, not least because they'll view it as a game they could and maybe should have won.

Here's how we rated the Lions players #LionsRugby #RSAvBIL #CastleLionsSeries https://t.co/7VT2gYereg

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 7, 2021

FRANCO MOSTERT – 7
Bloodied early on but recovered to be a constant battering ram and ease the absence of Pieter-Steph Du Toit.

JASPER WIESE – 5
Conceded far too many penalties and increasingly became a liability for the Boks.

REPLACEMENTS: A steady string of changes contributed to a fragmented second period but the introduction of veteran Morne Steyn proved decisive.

– additional reporting AAP