Springbok Player Ratings vs Japan

15. Zane Kirchner 2
Rugby365: 2/10
Made early mistakes and never recovered at all. Added poor decision making to his performance as well.
Sport24: 5/10
Many preconceived views on this player … yet one of the better Boks on this ghastly day, in truth. Moment of early ball-in-hand promise, some gutsy front-on tackles and a big touch-finder just before halftime. Not type to pull a game from fire, though.
Ougrote: 0/10
Really? When the team was announced I stopped reading at number 15.

14. Bryan Habana 3
Rugby365: 5/10
Never had enough of the ball to make a real impact and was forced to come inside to look for work.
Sport24: 4/10
Body language of this senior pro perhaps needed to be better – morose sort of game, though deserved to be irked by Bok inability to create proper space for their fliers.
Ougrote: 0/10
Who needs wings when you’re just going to try and bash it up through 9 – 8?

13. Jesse Kriel 3
Rugby365: 4/10
Barely saw the ball and had no attacking opportunities, no fault of his own though, so he was forced into defence mode.
Sport24: 4.5/10
Did try hard to make things happen, working desperately to wriggle out of low tackles and earning mini-break or two. Fatally swatted off in lead-up to popular winning try, though.
Ougrote: 0/10
His shocking defence lost South Africa the match in the last move of the game.

12. Jean de Villiers 3
Rugby365: 4/10
Failed to ignite the speedsters on his outside and took the contact too many times.
Sport24: 5/10
Looked, frankly, like the under-pressure veteran he is; had an effect on his normally vibrant leadership. Couldn’t get into space, plus some rare blemishes in defensive positioning.
Ougrote: 0/10
The most useless player on the field by a long margin. If anyone was ever past their sell-by date it’s him.

11. Lwazi Mvovo 3
Rugby365: 5/10
Looked very dangerous when he had the chance to carry the ball but saw too little of it.
Sport24: 4.5/10
So little came his way as an offensive factor that it is hard to judge him. No glaring errors, which is something?
Ougrote: 0/10
Saw little ball.

10. Pat Lambie 4
Rugby365: 6/10
Controlled matters nicely and found a good balance between tactical kicking and passing but a few errors crept into his game.
Sport24: 5/10
Wasn’t empowered enough to take charge: lots of forwards seemed to smash it up laboriously off Pienaar. Glimpses of promise, but also a horribly shanked kick into touch straight after break.
Ougrote: 0/10
Spectator to the 9 – 8 bash.

9. Ruan Pienaar 2.5
Rugby365: 4/10
Was poor on defence and tried to hide himself but his service from the rucks and scrums remains slow. His tactical kicking is nowhere.
Sport24: 3.5/10
All he really did was serve as a shovel. And not always the zippiest one, at that. No hint of verve or inspiration, and we’ve said this about him often before.
Ougrote: 0/10
Really came into his own in the northern hemisphere conditions. Not. Piss poor as usual.

8. Schalk Burger 3
Rugby365: 5/10
Attempted to use his brute force to out muscle the Japanese but seemed to be trying too hard at times and it affected him negatively.
Sport24: 5/10
Arguably the hardest-working Bok player, to his credit. That mustn’t be overlooked. But also a bit too cavalier and prone to mistakes; could have protected ball better when in possession.
Ougrote: 0/10
The usually reliable Schalk had his worst game ever in a Bok jersey – seemed to be trying too hard to make up for the baffoons around him.

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit 4
Rugby365: 7/10
Made a big statement as he rose to the occasion with some big hits and a high work rate at the breakdowns.
Sport24: 4.5/10
Tough gig having to come in as late blindside flank replacement for Willem Alberts. No special “wow” factor (where did we see that from SA as a whole?) but stuck determinedly enough to his guns.
Ougrote: 0/10
Only Meyer knows why he chose a lock at flank when a specialist flank was available on the bench and dozens more were sitting watching at home.

6. Francois Louw 3
Rugby365: 5/10
Very slow to get to the breakdowns but had some strong carries.
Sport24: 4.5/10
Long way off his best, albeit another Bok who is well short of a recent gallop. Struggled for turnovers as the intended main man there, but did other solid work at close quarters.
Ougrote: 0/10
Rusty. Slow. Shit.

5. Victor Matfield 4
Rugby365: 6/10
Mr Reliable showed all of his experience at the set pieces but failed to make an impact anywhere else on the park.
Sport24: 6/10
For little it’s worth, lock combination was probably Boks’ best by position. Matfield was right in the trenches for the duration, including trying to lead by example in dramatic closing minutes when SA were heavily under cosh: good stuff for man of 38.
Ougrote: 0/10
On the one or two occasions the ball made it past 9, Victor was there at centre to cock it up. At least he’s not dying his beard any more to hide the fact that he’s over the hill.

4. Lood de Jager 5
Rugby365: 8/10
The standout player was a menace in the line-outs, broke the advantage line with some strong carries and kept the Japanese on their toes.
Sport24: 6.5/10
Highlights Bok muddy waters in selection that he probably wouldn’t have played had Eben Etzebeth been fully fit! But not for first time in 2015, possibly the standout SA player. Consistently industrious in tight-loose, and lovely athleticism for tearaway try.
Ougrote: 0/10
Best player for South Africa, but played in a team that lost to Japan so still gets 0.

3. Jannie du Plessis 2
Rugby365: 3/10
Absolutely ineffective and seemed to hide himself on the field.
Sport24: 4/10
Made bright enough start in open play; good mobility and purpose. (Was he denied only a second Bok career try by poor TMO work?) But his game receded rather violently, along with Bok fortunes.
Ougrote: 0/10
How low can you go?

2. Bismarck du Plessis 3
Rugby365: 5/10
A massive work rate as usual but was too eager at times and conceded too many penalties.
Sport24: 4/10
Always the sort of player to push boundaries, and sometimes that works amazingly. But here he was heavily pinged at breakdown or offside line – three penalties – so unavoidably has to be marked down.
Ougrote: 0/10
Still a penalty liability.

1. Tendai Mtawarira 2.5
Rugby365: 4/10
Looked to carry the ball over the advantage line but made no significant metres.
Sport24: 3.5/10
Particularly innocuous and disappointing, I thought. Turned over in an early carry, and the bug just spread through ranks. Struggled for real scrum oomph, too.
Ougrote: 0/10
What? He was on the field?

Sources: Rugby365 | Sport24