Springbok Player Ratings

The Springboks failed to deliver and slumped to their first defeat under new coach Heyneke Meyer as they went down 26-19 to their Aussie counterparts. The Springboks looked composed in the first half and jogged into the change room leading 13-6. The wheels however came off after the break and couldn't pull the deficit back in the end.

I rate Springboks.

Springboks:
15. Zane Kirchner:
Was solid at the back, kicked well and chased well and was reliable on defense. One of his better games in the Bok jersey. 7/10.
14. Bryan Habana:
Was influential on attack and was all over the park. Had extreamly high work rate and capped it off with a superb try. 7/10.
13. Jean de Villiers (captain):
Had a quiet game. Solid on defense. Had limited chances on attack. Thought he should have gone for the 3 points in the end and chase the win. 5/10.
12. Francois Steyn:
Solid game. Was good on defense and attack. Kicked two monstrous penalties that kept the Boks in the game. 7/10.
11. Francois Hougaard:
Had a decent game on the wing. Chasing hard and his cover defense was good. Thought he could have looked for more work. 6/10.
10. Morné Steyn:
He was good on defense and showed some promise with ball in hand, but lost the ball in contact to often. Missed a penalty at posts which cost them in the end. 5/10.
9. Ruan Pienaar:
His service was crisp and his cover defense was good and kicked really well. He should ask more questions around the fringes. 6/10.
8. Duane Vermeulen:
Was solid in his debut. Made his tackles and caused a couple of turnovers. Could be a little bit more involved with ball in hand. 7/10.
7. Willem Alberts:
Was monstrous on defense, cleaned out well and carried the ball strongly. 7/10.
6. Marcell Coetzee:
Had a quite game to his standards. Made his tackles, hit the rucks and carried strongly. 6/10.
5. Juandré Kruger:
Marshalled the lineouts fantastically and wasn't shy in putting his body on the line. Hit the rucks very hard and I thought he was the best Bok on the field. 8/10.
4. Eben Etzebeth:
Carried well, made some big hits and cleaned out well. Was good in the lineouts. 6/10.
3. Jannie du Plessis:
Was solid in the scrums and defended and cleaned well. 6/10
2. Adriaan Strauss:
Found his jumpers with every put in and worked very hard. I don't think he was fully fit. 6/10.
1. Tendai Mtawarira:
Worked very hard at scrum time and his defense was solid. Got a silly yellow card that cost him a point. 5/10.

Replacements:
16. Tiaan Liebenberg:
On for Adriaan Strauss. Missed some lineouts and didn't have enough time to impose himself properly. 5/10.
17. Patric Cilliers:
On for Tendai Mtawarira. Battled a bit at scrum time, but was very effective in the loose. 6/10.
18.Flip van der Merwe:
On for Eben Etzebeth. Was very quiet and lost a couple of lineouts. 5/10.
19 Francois Louw:
Was a mennace at the brakedown as soon as he came on for Marcell Coetzee and didn't look out of place. 6/10.
20. Johan Goosen:
On for Morne Steyn. Was sharp on attack, looked composed and was very effective in organising the backline. Surely he should get a chance to show what he can do from the start. 7/10.
21: Patrick Lambie:
On for Zane Kirchner. Was solid at the back and although Kirchner had a solid game today should get a starting role. 6/10.
22: Lwazi Mvovo:
On for Bryan Habana. Made a crucial mistake on attack when passing for his skipper instead of holding on to the ball, but otherwise had a sollid performance. 6/10.

It was a shocking second half performance from the Boks and should up their game if they want to trounce the inform All Blacks.

Till later!!!
Barry-Jo