SPRINGBOK flankers Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi against Argentina at Mbombela Stadium last night. AFP
After only losing one match in the competition, the Boks added the title to the Freedom Cup, Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate and 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Independent Newspapers rates the Springboks’ performance.
Springbok XV:
15 Aphelele Fassi (8/10): Two tries and having that second playmaker role really suits the flyer. His kicking was excellent and how he fielded kicks, but dropped a couple of passes.
14 Cheslin Kolbe (9): The Boks’ wildcard keeps on dazzling. How he side-stepped the Argentinian defence on his way to his try was brilliant. Looked for work on attack and defended well.
13 Jesse Kriel (9): The never-say-die man in the backline of the world champions. How he keeps going, taking and making tackles, and running without stopping was brilliant.
12 Damian de Allende (9): There is no doubt that he is currently one of, if not the best, inside centre in the world. Gets metres over the advantage line and his defensive efforts were solid.
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (7): Gave away the penalty that led to Argentina’s first try. Looked for work all over the park and chased down kicks like his life depended on it.
10 Manie Libbok (9): Whatever he kicks out of hand turns to gold. He ran the show in the Springbok attack and had some soft passes that led to beautiful tries. His no-look kicks dazzled along with the high balls.
9 Jaden Hendrikse (8): What a performance next to Libbok. They were the architects of the Bok attacks that drowned their opponents. Some good sniping at the back of the rucks.
8 Jasper Wiese (9): Cementing his place more and more as the top No 8 in South Africa. Overpowered his opponents with his runs, tackled like a man possessed and controlled the scrums well.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (10): How was that over-the-ruck reach for his first try? Monstrous in the game and tackled everything he saw in front of him. Carried the ball brilliantly too.
6 Siya Kolisi (8): Made a brilliant turnover when the Argentinians looked to be getting their run on. As always, he carried strongly when he ran the ball and defended well.
5 Ruan Nortje (8): At this rate, no one will lift the youngster out of the No 5 jersey. He marshalled the lineouts excellently and carried the ball with some strong runs. Looks to have found his feet at international level.
4 Eben Etzebeth (8): A rock in his record-breaking 128th Test. Made some menacing runs and tackled with ferocity. The next target for him is 150 Tests.
3 Frans Malherbe (8): An impact from scrum number one and worked in tandem with his front row to dominate their opponents.
2 Bongi Mbonambi (8): Found his lineout jumpers and had some good variations. Worked hard with the ball and off the ball .
1 Ox Nche (8): A monster in the scrums. He kept the pressure on his opposite number and helped the Boks win plenty of penalties. Some good carries and tackles too.
Replacements:
16 Malcolm Marx (7): Fixed his lineout errors and scored a brilliant maul try. Kept the scrum pressure up too.
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (8): Picked up where Nche left off in the scrums and walked the visitors backwards. Strong carries and ruck work too.
18 Vincent Koch (8): Was on the receiving end of a nasty head shot but scrummed brilliantly when he came on.
19 Elrigh Louw (7): Should've passed to Malcolm Marx after a brilliant break through the defensive line. Good physical impact.
20 Kwagga Smith (7): A menace at the breakdown and with ball in hand when he came on. Defended strongly to keep Argentina away from the try line.
21 Cobus Reinach (7): Kept the pace up when he came on for Hendrikse to keep Argentina under pressure.
22 Handre Pollard (7): A good kick through that led to the try of Jesse Kriel at the death. Tried some attacking variations.
23 Lukhanyo Am (7): That breakthrough shows that Am is long from done, even though he is not starting. Some good plays and defending from the veteran.
Related Topics: