Springboks player ratings: ‘Human battering ram’ the shining light as several stars fail to fire in ‘humiliating’ All Blacks loss
Springboks number eight Jasper Wiese and scrum-half Grant Williams (inset).
After their 33-16 defeat against the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry encounter at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, here’s how the Springboks team performed on Saturday.
Springboks player ratings v All Blacks
15 Damian Willemse: The 28-year-old was brilliant in the air as he dealt expertly with several high balls from his opponents and also had some good attacking moments, but his influence waned as the match progressed. Finished the game in the midfield after an injury-enforced backline reshuffle. 6
14 Cheslin Kolbe: The diminutive flyer was on the field for 58 minutes before being forced off with an unspecified injury and when he departed, the Springboks‘ chances of winning this Test disappeared. He was his team’s designated goal-kicker and kept them in the match as he delivered a perfect performance off the kicking tee, finishing with an 11-point haul after slotting three penalties and a conversion. 7
13 Jesse Kriel: The experienced outside centre was shifted to the left wing during the early stages of this Test after Kurt-Lee Arendse was forced off due to a head injury. However, he had little influence on proceedings and was restricted mostly to defensive duties. 5
12 Damian de Allende: The veteran midfielder was making his 100th appearance for the Springboks but it is not a day he will remember fondly as his efforts went unrewarded. Although he made some good attacking runs, it did not make the necessary impact in the grander scheme of things and he was quiet on defence. 5
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse: Took a knock to the head early on and left the field for a HIA which he subsequently failed and was replaced by Andre Esterhuizen. N/A
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu: The talented playmaker had little influence on proceedings in this encounter as his decision making was poor and he made a plethora of unforced errors. Shifted to full-back in the final quarter with Manie Libbok slotting in at fly-half after replacing Kolbe. 4
9 Grant Williams: Not his best day at the office as his efforts had a direct influence on this humiliating defeat for the Boks. Looked dangerous on attack early on but missed a tackle on Tupou Vaa’i in the build-up to Josh Moorby’s try. Had a clearance kick charged down by Fabian Holland, who regathered the ball before dotting down, and also missed a tackle on Luke Jacobson when he scored a try. Played the final quarter on the wing after Kolbe left the field. 4
The forwards
8 Jasper Wiese: Was like a human battering ram with ball in hand as he gave the Springboks good momentum with several barnstorming runs which had the All Blacks scurrying on defence. Unsurprisingly, Wiese finished with a match-high 63 metres gained and 17 carries made but had little support from his team-mates. 8
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c): The Springboks’ stand-in skipper produced his usual excellent all-round performance as he ran hard, defended well and was a handy option in the lineouts. However, he was kept in check by the visitors’ defence despite giving his all throughout. 6
6 Paul de Villiers: The rookie tearaway emptied the tank on defence as he finished with a team-high 12 tackles made and won a crucial turnover before being replaced by Marco van Staden in the 62nd minute. 6
5 Ruan Nortje: He competed ferociously in the lineouts and won his fair share of possession in the set-piece while also completing nine tackles. 6
4 Eben Etzebeth: The Springboks’ most capped player put in a huge effort at the coalface of their forward effort as he did what was expected of him in the lineouts and cleaned out the rucks with great intensity. Replaced by Cobus Wiese in the 74th minute. 6
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3 Wilco Louw: The Stormers-bound front-row was brought into the starting line-up to do a job and he did just that as he delivered a powerful scrummaging display. Louw had All Blacks loosehead prop Ethan de Groot back-pedalling at the set-piece on several occasions before Zachary Porthen replaced him after 61 minutes. 8
2 Malcolm Marx: The current World Rugby Player of the Year was in the thick of the action from the outset as he was a willing ball carrier. Went close to scoring a try in the opening half but lost the ball while crossing the whitewash. Had to play for the full 80 minutes and emptied the tank as a ball carrier at close quarters while also winning a turnover but his efforts went unrewarded. 7
1 Ox Nche: Came into the run-on side after some time on the sidelines due to injury and delivered a fine scrummaging display where he had his direct opponent Tyrel Lomax in trouble on several occasions. Replaced by Gerhard Steenekamp in the 46th minute. 8
Replacements: Although Esterhuizen provided a genuine attacking threat early on – which resulted in the Boks’ only try – and tested the visitors’ defence with some powerful carries, the hosts’ bench players’ overall efforts were not what head coach Rassie Erasmus would have wanted. Van Staden and Cobus Reinach received yellow cards in quick succession which did not help the cause while non of the other replacements stood out. 4