Category: Springboks

The Centres [7]
Not much for the young duo to do on attack, but when they did get chances invariably got the Boks over the advantage line.

13. Jesse Kriel [6.5]

Rugby365 [6] – A very quiet day at the office for the youngster. He did not get much of the ball on attack and when he did get his chances he was well marked out wide.

Sport24 [6.5] – Not a lot of space to play with in his channel, but one of several youthful Bok players to exhibit healthy ‘BMT’ on the day. Wriggled into a half-gap every now and then.

JOE UK [6] – Was exposed defensively at times again today. Still has a lot to learn about playing centre at the highest level.

Ou Grote [6.5] – Not many opportunities as the Boks focused on keeping the ball close to the forwards. Had a few strong runs but was well marked by the Scots.

12. Damian De Allende [7.5]

Rugby365 [8] – He is a monster with ball in hand and you could sense the fear in Duncan Weir and Matt Scott when he ran at them. He gave his team some good go forward ball and beat defenders with ease.

Sport24 [7.5] – Probably not quite 100 percent after knee injury against Samoa, but that didn’t stop him bossing the inside-centre duel. Particularly sturdy on defence, an area sometimes questioned, and also won a precious turnover under pressure. Strong leg drive in tight spaces.

JOE UK [6] – The focus on forward play meant the Springbok centres had very little to do.

Ou Grote [7] – Made his opposite number work hard on defense as he showcased his powerful running work. Always managed to get his team over the advantage line.

The Back Three [7.5]
Never really threated by the Scottish attack, the back three did well to look for work, as well as keep their opponents on their toes with their attacking potential.

15. Willie Le Roux [7]

Rugby365 [8] – Read the game well from the back and once again provided the Boks with an attacking spark when he joined the backline.

Sport24 [6.5] – The fullback made some early kicking errors, sometimes overdoing the policy or putting too much weight on his ‘dinks’. But he erased that trend as the game advanced, and was often well-positioned on defence and confident fielding aerial balls.

JOE UK [7] – Was never really challenged by a lacklustre Scottish attack.

Ou Grote [7] – Was good on defence, fielded some high balls, and offered good attacking support.

14. JP Pietersen [7.5]

Rugby365 [8] – Was a thorn in the Scottish side with his eye for the gap and he also got on the scoreboard again with a try. Notched up plenty of metres with his runs and was solid on defence as well. A fantastic performance by the wing.

Sport24 [6.5] – Was always going to struggle to match his productive, hat-trick feat against Samoa; there simply weren’t as many attacking opportunities on his side of the park. But no lack of industry, including great, scrambling tackle on Duncan Weir just before Scots got their breakout try. Penalised for one borderline tip-tackle.

JOE UK [7] – Finished his try nicely in the first half and caused trouble for Scotland throughout.

Ou Grote [7] – JP continues to rise to the occasion of the World Cup – was always an attacking threat, kept the Scottish defence guessing and put in some good hits. Unfairly pinged for a tip-tackle.

11. Bryan Habana [8]

Rugby365 [8] – Kept the Scottish on their toes under the high ball and also made a good couple of runs. It was a good outing for the veteran wing who also got a try.

Sport24 [7.5] – Turning into a compelling third World Cup for this 2007 winner. Fantastic sense of opportunism, high work-rate and useful bastion of experience and calmness outside some callow fellow-backs. Fine high-ball claim early on, and deserved his late try.

JOE UK [8] – Clearly not the unstoppable force he was in 2007 but was a nuisance for the Scottish defence. Showed his experience with a brilliantly finished try.

Ou Grote [7.5] – Great try from the veteran (his 61st) and as always looked for work around the park.

Springbok Team Rating [7.5]

• The Back Three [7.5]
• The Centres [7]
• The Half-backs [7.5]
• The Loose Forwards [7.5]
• The Locks [8.5]
• The Front Row [7]

Your Call

[poll id=”18″]

Best of the Bench

Rugby365: 8/10 Frans Malherbe
Turned the Springboks’ fortunes around in the scrum when he came on in the second half and looked like a man possessed with ball in hand.

Sport24: 7.5/10 Lood de Jager
You just can’t seem to keep the spring-heeled young athlete out of the fulcrum of the action this year, whether he is starting or making an impact off the bench for the national cause. Took over the baton from a firing Matfield with ease – and no lack of venom — after 55 minutes.

OuGrote: 7.5/10 Lood de Jager
Carried on where Matfield left off in the lineouts and was a constant menace on attack with his powerful running.

Sources: Rugby365 | Sport24

The Front Row [6]
Jannie wasn’t that great, Beast did what was needed, and Adriaan had a great game in the lineouts and the loose.

03. Jannie du Plessis [4.5]

Rugby365: 4/10
Was poor in the scrums and gave away some silly penalties. His place in the team is not safe.

Sport24: 5/10
Hurt a knee during first half, which impeded his mobility a bit, but had been struggling anyway to achieve both a scrummaging grip and efficiency in open play. Incurred penalty wrath of Wayne Barnes at breakdowns too.

OuGrote: 4.5/10
The incident where he injured his knee looked bad, but the doctor gave himself the all-clear. Ineffective in the scrums and gave away too many penalties.

02. Adriaan Strauss [7]

Rugby365: 7/10
Found his line-out jumpers with ease and was also at the forefront of a powerful Springbok pack.

Sport24: 7/10
Not everyone favoured omission of Bismarck du Plessis, but give the 50-capper his due: tigerish display for 68 minutes including some concerted carries and near-deadeye efficiency with his lineout throw-ins.

OuGrote: 7.5/10
Grabbed his opportunity to start with both hands and had an excellent all-round game. Accurate lineout throw-ins and strong runs around the park. Got up immediately after a monster hit.

01. Beast Mtawarira [6]

Rugby365: 6/10
Did not have a lot of the ball and was solid in the scrums. He did what was asked of him.

Sport24: 6/10
Blew hot and cold … there were more “Beeeast” chants this week, indicating that he had some forceful drives. But scrums were often poor by Boks, so must take some responsibility there.

OuGrote: 6/10
A couple of runs, and solid if unspectacular in the scrums.

The Locks [8]

05. Victor Matfield [7.5]

Rugby365: 8/10
Made his presence felt in the line-out with a few steals and ensured his team got possession on their own throw in. He was also the anchor in a powerful Springbok driving maul.

Sport24: 7.5/10
Some critics felt he should be demoted for this one: instead he got up for it superbly. Constant bastion of reliability in first half, either at kick-off collections or the lineout, where he caused mayhem on Samoan throw. Rousing applause as he left field on 55 minutes, sound job done. Had ice pack on left leg afterwards – hopefully just a 38-year-old’s lot?

OuGrote: 7.5/10
Absolutely dominated the lineouts on both Bok and Samoan throw-ins, poached some valuable ball, and controlled the driving mauls.

04. Eben Etzebeth [8]

Rugby365: 8/10
His aggression and physicality in the tackle was just what his team needed in the tight exchanges. He also carried the ball into contact well.

Sport24: 8/10
Absolutely oozed aggression, right from the kick-off when he went clattering in and won a penalty straight away. Maintained lustre (but composure also) at coalface, and aided Matfield in ensuring lineout angst for the opposition. Bits of deft handwork as well.

OuGrote: 8.5/10
One of the best players on the park – his many strong runs got the Boks over the advantage line and rattled the Samoan opposition.

The Loose Forwards [7.5]
Duane improved as the game went on, Flo played with intent and was a menace at the breakdown, while Schalk was back to his industrious best.

08. Duane Vermeulen [7]

Rugby365: 7/10
Took some time to get into the game but made some good carries in the second half. He also brought some much needed physicality to the Springbok team.

Sport24: 7/10
Yes, there’s obviously a way to go to get him back to vintage best after a 17-week layoff … but what a Trojan to go the distance on comeback. Supervised many lethal rolling mauls, and his ball-in-hand bursts only seemed to become more frequent as game progressed.

OuGrote: 7/10
Encouraging to see his improvement in the space of one match – at this rate he’ll be firing come the play-offs. Impressive return from neck surgery and a long layoff – especially the fact that he lasted the full 83 minutes.

07. Schalk Burger [8]

Rugby365: 9/10
Was at his very best and had a work rate that was second to none in the forward pack. A great all round performance by one of South Africa’s greatest players.

Sport24: 7.5/10
Loves a good scrap, so always seemed likely to rise to the challenge against these renowned combative foes. That old engine just keeps going and going.

OuGrote: 8/10
Work rate once again to the fore in an impressive outing where he was once again all over the park.

06. Francois Louw [7.5]

Rugby365: 8/10
Was a menace at the breakdowns throughout the game. He slowed possession down for the Samoans and also put in some big hits on defence.

Sport24: 7/10
Another Bok stalwart to warm increasingly to the challenge; now much nearer to own A-game again after injury layoff. Worked tirelessly at close quarters.

OuGrote: 7.5/10
Played with huge intent and physicality throughout the game – slowing down Samoan ball, putting in some big hits, and securing valuable turnovers.