All Blacks v Springboks: Winners and losers as ‘mesmeric’ back ‘rewarded for patience’ while Cheslin Kolbe drops ‘trademark’ display
All Blacks vs Springboks winners and losers
Following the Springboks’ 43-10 win over the All Blacks at Sky Stadium in Wellington, here is our rundown of the key winners and losers.
Winners
Damian Willemse
He’s had to be patient to get back into South Africa’s starting side, but he was absolutely mesmeric tonight. His try was the standout moment, as it helped propel the Boks towards that record-breaking scoreline, but it was just reward for a classy display across the Test.
At centre, his playmaking skills proved so crucial in sending the likes of Cheslin Kolbe and Ethan Hooker flying down the wings, and that simply carried on when shifted to full-back.
He also took a lot of the load off Manie Libbok following his early entry into the game, which then allowed him to play his very best, too. Just a remarkable display, and a good reward for his patience.
Ethan Hooker
Handed his first start tonight in a show of faith, but he rewarded Rassie Erasmus with a fantastic performance. Hooker grew into the game more and more as time went on, capping it off with a lovely linebreak in the build-up to Kwagga Smith’s try, and his work both in the air and around the park was a big part of the Boks’ second-half riot.
Crucially, he looked really comfortable at this level, which will only be a good thing for the squad moving forward.
Jasper Wiese
Eight has been a real issue for the Boks during his ban, but tonight showed why he is so valuable to this side. He carried like he was angry at the ground tonight, charging into the All Blacks defence like a bull in a china shop with very little regard for his own health.
His power and ballast was exactly what they had been missing around the park for the past few Tests, as it got the Boks consistently on the front foot and allowed their high-powered backline to play with quick-ball.
Cheslin Kolbe
The Springboks went behind early doors to their rivals, but Kolbe jumped in at just the right time to change the pace of the game, intercepting an ambitious pass by Billy Proctor to score his side’s opening try. It was this score that would alter the balance of the match, with the men in black failing to build on their lead in the second half.
It was Kolbe once again, with his trademark step, who would touch down in the second half to take the Springboks further ahead and eventually out of touch.
Siya Kolisi
Reverted back to the flank tonight, and looked much better for it as he produced a real captain’s knock. He just never stopped working for his side around the park, throwing his body into every ruck, tackle and carry like it would be his last and helping his side get over the line.
Last weekend would have been tough for him, after seeing Jesse Kriel handed the captaincy, but tonight was another reminder of why he is such a figurehead within this side with that armband on.
Manie Libbok
He’s been pushed to the side in recent outings, but tonight showed he could thrive in this new attacking system. Libbok has always been a classy operator at fly-half, but never quite had that system around him where his skills are allowed to be the driver behind things. But upon his entry tonight, he took control of things and steered them towards a fine victory.
His eye for space was crucial in getting them playing in the right areas, putting the aerial skills of Hooker to good use with some kicks while sending the forwards powering through slightly different holes than they’re used to. Around that, everything was done slightly faster when he was on, which only aided in the rout.
Libbok will also have been pleased with his goal-kicking tonight, which has been an issue in the past, as he slotted six kicks off the tee.
Rassie Erasmus
It hasn’t been the Rugby Championship defence the head coach would have been after thus far, but this was a real statement of intent from his side. It seemed like the Boks of old at times, with the scrum tearing through the All Blacks at a rate of knots and the pack rolling through the middle, but it was then blended perfectly with the new ‘Tony-ball’ too.
Tonight’s win also proved he got his selection, and the changes from last weekend’s defeat, spot on, as it was almost a night and day difference come the final whistle.
This is the side we expected to see in this Rugby Championship, and it’s a win that puts their title defence back on track.
Leroy Carter
While this might not be a game the All Blacks will reflect on fondly, the debut of Carter was a pleasing aspect. The former Sevens star made an instant impact on things, making a lovely linebreak in his side’s first attack of the game and later scoring his side’s one and only try after 17 minutes, but he was a consistent threat ball-in-hand with his quick feet and raw pace hard to handle.
Wing has been a problem area for Razor this year, with Rieko Ioane and Sevu Reece underperforming by their usual standards, while Emoni Narawa picked up an injury early into last weekend’s victory. Carter now seems the likely option to continue for the remainder of the Championship and maybe long into the future, too, after a great debut.
Losers
Noah Hotham
After only just returning from a spell on the sidelines, Hotham will likely miss another chunk of gametime. The scrum-half was taken off after nine minutes with a head knock, and later failed his HIA.
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Boks injuries
This win also proved costly for the Boks, too, with four men picking up injuries. Lood de Jager was taken off early into the day, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu failed his HIA and Aphelele Fassi and Kolbe also came off with knocks either side of half-time as well. While their replacements certainly came on and added something to the game, with Andre Esterhuizen, RG Snyman and Libbok all scoring points, losing four key men will be a massive blow to Erasmus heading into their Tests against Los Pumas.
Scott Robertson
A week on from defending the Eden Park fortress, Razor is firmly back at square one. This wasn’t just a tough defeat to take, especially given their heroic display last weekend, but it was factually the worst defeat in the All Blacks’ 141 history. It started off so well, too, leading 10-7 at the break, but it just fell off a cliff from there as they were torn apart. The manner in which his side crumbled to defeat will be worrying, and something they need to address quickly if they want to hold onto the Bledisloe Cup.
Wellington
The capital has not been a strong hunting ground for the All Blacks in recent times, and that trend continued again tonight. In their last 11 Tests in Wellington, the All Blacks have lost five times (to Argentina, Ireland, Springboks twice and the British and Irish Lions), while also drawing twice (against the Wallabies and Boks). Around that, too, the last time they beat their biggest rivals at the Sky Stadium came way back in 2014, in a 14-10 victory.
Contrast this to their utterly formidable record at Eden Park, where they have only lost 12 times in their entire history and haven’t tasted defeat there for over 30 years, and it adds even more fuel to the fire of the ‘Wellington curse’.
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