How do we and you rate the Springbok Player Performances today?
Heyneke Meyer in Photo by Denese Lups/ Rugby15
We may all see the game differently – but this is why we need to debate and motivate how we saw the game. We decided to give a mark out of 10 and a short motivation. Feel free to agree and disagree. This is the ratings from some of our editors:
[Ratings by Nelio and Jonckie]
1 Beast (8)
Strong performance in scrum, also good commitment to clean up at rucks.
2 Bismarck (7)
Strong ball in hand, good defense, not his best performance overall & lineouts.
3 Jannie (7)
Quiet day on pitch, but his commitment at scrums was crucial for Boks to get overhand up front. Had a great support run in the movement that led to the try of Morne Steyn.
4 Eben (6)
Boks lineout wasn’t at its best, also a little late at rucks, but satisfying performance by our locks. We have a lock pair that can dominate in next few years. Gave away an early penalty for not rolling away. Expecting a lot now that first game butterflies are gone.
5 Juandre (7)
Can be very satisfied with his game today, mixed allot upfront, played Bakkies role upfront.
6 Marcel Coetzee (6)
Did well for his first cap, had a few good ball carries. Lost the battle to the rucks but hard player and never stopped trying.
7 Alberts (9)
Most powerful flanker in world rugby, definitely a prospect to take over at 8 soon. Great defense taking England back in tackles, ball in hand he was just like a steam roller flattening the white jerseys in front of him.
8 Spies (5)
Lucky to get 5, he didn’t really do anything wrong, but also didn’t really do anything ‘to remember. A few ball carries but that’s where it ended. Hard work lies ahead for him.
9 Hougaard (6)
Was great in defense, but around rucks his defense was weak. He delayed the phases too long and allow England to counter ruck and get turn- over possession. When he speeded things up, it went much better. His kicking was very slow which allowed English to block it. Not his best performance.
10 Steyn (6)
Played an average game, he defended his channel very well, some great play from him at times. Scored a nice try. Goal kicking not the best, but definitely our best 10 in SA at present.
11 Habana (9)
Best performance of Habana in last 3 years, it was awesome to see him play so hard & faultless. Made a massive impact for Boks along with Alberts and could easily have been man of match. Defense, attack, rucking, ball carries, all top performance.
12 Frans (8)
This guy forced 3 England players or more each time to stop him, makes it fun for JdV to play next to him. Think he shouldve been used more for touch kicks and goal kicking
13 Jean de Villiers (7.5/8)
Played his heart out for Boks, he was very busy organising the Bok backline and communicating very well with his backs. Will get better at 13 as understanding with Steyn grows. Tackled well and only slipped one. A great leader.
14 JP (4)
Didn’t see him first half. Tried a bit more second half but also gave away a penalty after running away from support players and held on.
15 Zane (5)
He was solid at back but didn’t offer much on attack.
Replacements
Strauss (7)
Powerfull scrummer, made it tuff for England front row, hard player and played very well in the few minutes he played.
Ruan (6.5)
He was in much better form than Hougie, got the ball quickly to backs, his channel was solid on defense and England struggled to disrupt him.
Olivier (?)
Not enough time on field to rate
Coenie (8)
Scrummed England into another blood group on both sides of scrum, amazing young talent for Boks, big future. Great defense, crushing the English with his ball carries. Almost got a few turn overs. Committed nicely to clean at rucks. Did a perfect 180 degree demolishing scrum on loosehead.
Lambie (7)
Not much time to play, but in the short period he played he made a difference, showed his class, amazing young talent
Flip (6) He had a steady performance on 2nd half. Won his lineout balls and committed nicely to rucks. His discipline was good. He did put in some effort at scrums as well
Daniels (6) Not much game time but did all that was expected of the Sharks captain.
Ratings by James:
Zane Kirchner – 6
Zane did nothing wrong but was not spectacular either. He did what was asked from him.
JP Pietersen – 5
Unfortunately he never saw the ball and only started looking for work in the second half.
Jean de Villiers – 8
Solid performance by the captain. Led from the front and topped it off with a well worked try.
Frans Steyn – 7
Was good on defence and kept a few defenders busy when he had ball in hand.
Bryan Habana – 9.5
Unbelievable game by the Bok veteran. Work rate was exceptional and his runs destructive.
Morne Steyn – 4
His kicking out of hand was good and he relieved the pressure a few times but goal kicking was below average and that is unacceptable at Test level.
Francois Hougaard – 5
Unfortunately the game plan counted against him and he was not allowed quick ball from the rucks. He is clearly not a kicking scrumhalf and was under pressure. On defence he was great and made a few crucial tackles
Pierre Spies – 5
Still not attending enough rucks and not playing a traditional 8th man role. He was solid at the restarts.
Willem Albert – 9
The human wrecking ball is back. Bone-crunching tackles on defence and powerful runs. Deserved man of the match.
Marcell Coetzee – 6.5
More than satisfactory performance from the debutant. Could get a bit more involved in counter rucking and a fetching role. Has big boots to fill with Brussow not present.
Juandre Kruger – 7
Was immense on defence and drove the English runners back numerous times. Good at scrum time as well. Good debut.
Eben Etzebeth – 6
Good in the scrums and on defence. Did not have any of those stampeding runs on attack.
Jannie du Plessis – 6.5
Along with his fellow front rowers had the English treading back in the scrums.
Bismarck du Plessis – 6.5
Great in the scrums and slowing down the ball at the breakdown. Not his best night at line outs.
Beast Mtawarira – 6.5
Scrummed very well. Would have liked to see him carry up more ball.
Replacements:
Adriaan Strauss – 7
Made an impact immediately. Got all over the park on defense. Scrums and especially line outs were solid.
Coenie Oosthuizen – 8
No doubt a future Bok star. Demolished the English in the scrums and carried up ball very well. Also slowed down English ball at the breakdowns
Flip van der Merwe – 6
Did what was asked from him.
Keegan Daniel – 6
Good on defence and a good work rate.
Ruan Pienaar – 7
More suited for the kick-and-chase game plan employed by the Boks. Distributed ball quickly and well when needed.
Patrick Lambie – 6.5
As with Kirchner he was solid at the back and joined the line well in the build up to a try.
Wynand Olivier – Not enough time to rate.
Replaced Habana only temporarily in first half for blood.
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