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Wales player ratings vs South Africa | 1st Test July 2022

Wales' wing Louis Rees-Zammit (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first try during an international rugby union match between South Africa and Wales at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on July 2, 2022. (Photo by Christiaan KOTZE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTIAAN KOTZE/AFP via Getty Images)

Wales player ratings: After a mixed bag of a Six Nations, Wayne Pivac confessed to having had many sleepless nights following Wales’ loss to Italy. A three-test tour of South Africa was never going to be easy for Wales, but a good opportunity for Pivac’s men to play against the best.

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Wales started the game brilliantly, but in typical Welsh fashion, it ended with a last-gasp winning kick for Damian Willemse. A confusing one to reflect on for any Welsh fan.

15. Liam Williams – 5
The bomb defuser caught a few testing kicks and didn’t really make many errors. Didn’t get many chances in attack.

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell after defeat to the All Blacks in the first test | Ireland post-match press conference

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell after defeat to the All Blacks in the first test | Ireland post-match press conference

14. Louis Rees-Zammit – 8
The Gloucester flier started the game with a world-class finish and a few great takes in the air. Followed up with an unorthodox finish towards the end of the first half. Ended the game with a yellow card, puzzled though he may look.

13. George North – 7
North has had a difficult year with injury, so it was great to see him back in a Wales jersey. Defended well and looked composed passing for Rees-Zammit’s first try.

12. Nick Tompkins – 5
Tompkins had a quiet game, but tackled well.

11. Josh Adams – 5.5
Adams showed his quality on the kick-chase but didn’t get many opportunities ball-in-hand. Decent performance from the winger.

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10. Dan Biggar – 7
Wales’ skipper kicked brilliantly, including a speculative drop-goal to send Wales 8-0 up. Copped a yellow card to stop his team from conceding on half-time. Unfortunately this was costly as Wales missed him during the sin-bin period.

9. Kieran Hardy – 7.5
Kicked brilliantly in the first half and ran his weight against the gargantuan Springbok pack. Was substituted at the right time.

1. Gareth Thomas – 7.5
Thomas really punched above his weight. To go toe-to-toe with Frans Malherbe and have parity is no mean feat.

2. Ryan Elias – 7
Another strong showing from Elias. A strong tackler and solid set-piece operator, the Scarlet was unflashy but very good.

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3. Dillon Lewis – 8
Lewis’ selection raised a few eyebrows, but much like Gareth Thomas, he resisted the force of Ox Nche. Had to play virtually 80 minutes, which no tighthead wants. To come up against the two best packs in the world unscathed is admirable.

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4. Will Rowlands – 7
Rowlands hasn’t had many opportunities in open space for Wales, until today. A rangy lock and strong line-out forward, Rowlands had another strong outing today.

5. Adam Beard – 7.5
There is nothing more powerful than a Springbok maul, but Adam Beard fears them not. With his telescopic limbs, he did a stellar job of halting the Boks from getting going. Unfortunately came off earlier than he would have liked.

6. Dan Lydiate – 6.5
Another player welcomed back to the Wales setup with open arms. A warrior in the tackle and solid at the breakdown.

7. Tommy Reffell – 8.5
“Tommy Turnover” had an excellent start in a red shirt. With a handful of dominant tackles, some hefty carries and a textbook jackal, Reffell looks like he is here to stay.

8. Taulupe Faletau – 6
Faletau is rarely showy, but always strong. Always replied to South Africa’s kick-offs with interest.

REPLACEMENTS

16. Dewi Lake – 7
Lake has really grown into his impact role in recent matches. Showed once again that he is an underrated finisher.

17. Rhys Carre – 3.5
Unfortunately for Carre, his only real impact on the game ended with a trip to the bin.

18. Tom Francis – N/A
Went off immediately after coming on.

19. Alun-Wyn Jones – 7
The Welsh talisman’s presence was just as important as his performance. This is a role the former skipper could get used to.

20. Josh Navidi – 5.5
Made a couple of good carries but didn’t get many opportunities to make a significant impact.

21. Tomos Williams – 6.5
Had a strong game off the bench but was responsible for a tactical team error, kicking the ball to the Springboks (and Cheslin Kolbe) while down to 13 men. Otherwise good performance.

22. Gareth Anscombe – N/A
Unused sub.

23. Owen Watkin – 5
Made a few good tackles, but might need some practice before he starts a test on the flank!

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3 Comments
C
CT 855 days ago

18-3 up at half time and can't win a match no wonder Italy beat them bunch of loosers

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours 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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