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Springboks player ratings vs Wallabies | Rugby Championship

Siya Kolisi. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Springboks bounced back from their defeat in Adelaide with a morale-boosting 24-8 win over the Wallabies in Sydney.

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Jacques Nienaber’s side showed that they are capable of playing a more exciting branding of rugby. It was there for all to see at the Sydney Football Ground where they outscored their opponents by four tries to one.

However, there is still a lot to work on ahead of their next match against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

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How did the Springboks rate in their victory?

15. Willie le Roux – 6.5/10
The love-hate relationship with Willie continues. He was guilty of getting his kick charged down when there was an overlap in 26th minute. He also gave away a penalty in the 37th minute at a ruck when Boks were in the strike zone. However, he did produce the final passes in two of South Africa’s second-half tries. His pass for Makazole Mapimpi’s try was a thing of beauty.

14. Canan Moodie – 7.5
Every single Boks fan must have jumped up and down when he rose above Marika Koroibete to gather a high ball before running away for a sensational try in the 39th minute. Overall, it was a solid performance by the debutant and it looks like he has a bright future in the green and gold.

13. Jesse Kriel – 4
He looked like the odd one out in that backline. His positioning on attack was not the best and you just felt nervous every time the ball went his way. He needs some more game time to build his confidence.

12. Damian de Allende – 6.5
His defence in the midfield was outstanding. However, his attacking game was not up to scratch. He was guilty of kicking the ball away early in the game when his team had an overlap out wide and his knock-on from a goal-line restart in the 19th minute was a bit embarrassing. He produced some strong carries and he scored a try in the ninth minute.

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11. Makazole Mapimpi – 5.5
He was missing in action in the first half and seemed more focused on chirping the opposition and the officials. He scored a great try in the 71st minute, but he needs to watch his attitude. It did cost him a yellow card in the end.

10. Damian Willemse – 7
It was a mixed bag from the playmaker. His kicking game was not the best, but he showed some nice vision on attack and he produced some neat touches with the ball in hand. He was given the man-of-the-match award by the commentators, so he didn’t do a lot wrong out there.

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9. Jaden Hendrikse – 6.5
He produced a perfectly weighted kick for Canan Moodie’s try. There was nothing too spectacular about his performance, but he did the basics well and it played a big role in the Springboks’ win.

8. Jasper Wiese – 8
A colossus in open play, especially with ball in hand. He made the most carries and he made more metres than any another forward. He was also a machine on defence. He is definitely South Africa’s top No.8 at the moment.

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7. Franco Mostert – 7
It was another industrious performance in open play from the big man. He was solid on defence and he got his team over the gain line with some good carries. He was also in a good position out wide to score that try in the 43rd minute.

6. Siya Kolisi – 8.5
It was probably his best performance of the Test season so far. He was magnificent at the breakdown – he won three turnovers in crucial positions on the field for his team. The captain was also powerful in open play. He made plenty of metres with his carries and he beat three defenders as well.

5. Lood de Jager – 7
He was the main target man in the line-outs and he did his job well. He also won a turnover and tackled like a man possessed in open play.

4. Eben Etzebeth – 7
He deserves a 10 just for all the future nightmares Allan Alaalatoa is going to have after that brief scuffle late in the game. Once again he brought plenty of aggression in open play. He produced a neat offload for Damian de Allende’s try and he applied plenty of pressure when it was the Wallabies’ turn to throw in at the line-out.

3. Frans Malherbe – 7
Another strong performance in the scrums. He was on the field for about 65 minutes, which must be close to a record for him. he hardly put a foot wrong in open play.

2. Malcolm Marx – 7
His line-out throwing was impeccable apart from one overthrow. He just gave the Springboks an extra physical edge in tight exchanges, especially with some powerful tackles. The Wallabies also had to use a lot of energy to stop him at the breakdowns.

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1. Steven Kitshoff – 7
It was a huge shift from the prop. He was on the field for over 70 minutes. He was an immovable object in the scrums and also applied some pressure around the rucks. The big man also put his body on the line with some aggressive carries.

Replacements:

16. Deon Fourie – N/A
On for Siyamthanda Kolisi, 70th minute. Not enough time to be rated.

17. Ox Nche – N/A
On for Steven Kitshoff, 73rd minute. Not enough time to be rated.

18. Trevor Nyakane – N/A
On for Frans Malherbe 65th minute. Not enough time to be rated.

19. Kwagga Smith – 6.5
On for Jasper Wiese, 60th min. He just brings plenty of energy when he comes onto the field. He made several big tackles and kept the Wallabies on their toes when he had ball in hand.

20. Duane Vermeulen – 6
On for Jasper Wiese, 60th min. Nothing much to write home about. However, he brought the physicality when it was needed.

21. Jacobus Reinach – N/A
On for Jaden Hendrikse, 73rd minute. Not enough time to be rated

22. Francois Steyn – N/A
On for Jesse Kriel, 70th minute. Not enough time to be rated

23. Warrick Gelant – N/A
Not used.

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Comments

2 Comments
G
Greg 792 days ago

Interesting that Vermeulen and Smith both replaced Wiese in the 60th minute 😂

C
CT 793 days ago

Yippee good for us

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O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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