Auge Ratings - RSA vs NZL (2018)

Starting XV

1. Kitshoff (7.5): Was physical, stamping his authority on the game. Great work around the field. Has made the no. 1 Jersey his own this campaign and can hold his head high. Great under pressure. 
   
2. Marx (8.0): Outstanding game. Was a nuisance throughout at the breakdown, strong carrying the ball and solid on defence. 
3. Malherbe (7.0): Always a steady performer without errors. Defends and carries well. Strong cleaner at the ruck and moves well around the field. Our scrum was strongest when he was on the field. A noticeable gap between the starting front row with and without Mal. Has made himself the first choice tighthead having had a very good campaign. Very reliable.
4. Etzebeth (8.0): A couple of errors, penalties. However, he was hugely physical and got over the gain line at will. His defence is bone jarring. A fierce competitor and leader, a real workhorse in the pack. 
5. Mostert (6.5): Had a better game this week. Always busy and contributed with good pressure on the All Black attack. 
6. Kolisi (7.0): The Boks were wayward in the first half, despite their dominance. He provided the directness to straighten the attack and got over the gainline well. Was more vocal around the field and kept himself present in the refs ear. Set up a beautiful try with a wonderful break. I'm still not entirely convinced, but cannot deny that the past three games has seen a growth in his game.
7. Du Toit (6.0): Was very quiet in the first half. He sprang to life in the second and was very prominent in the last 20 minutes as he tried to hold the game together. Lots of energy and good carries. He did concede a needless penalty though. Some costly errors which overshadow his positive contributions.
8. Louw (7.0): Was strong and looked noticeably quicker. More energy. Was quick to the breakdown and strong carrying the ball. His link play as good and was always looking to put a runner away. Surpassed my expectations. 
9. De Klerk (8.5): For me, the Bok of the game. His kicking was significantly improved, which pinned the All Blacks back and kept them. Under constant pressure. He was a nuisance the entire time he was on he field. He brings so much speed to the Bok attack and so many players in the game purposefully. Lots of positive energy and great communication. A little general.
10. Pollard (7.0): Had his kicking boots on. Was tough, direct and calm. Clearly our best 10, there can be no questions about that. He did get beaten on a couple of tackle attempts which lowers his rating. The halfback pairing have significantly improved the accuracy of their passing and both Faf and Pollard look fluid. A great partnership. 
11. Dyantyi (6.5): A couple for errors, but was lively. Constantly looking to create pressure and score. Was unlucky not to clinch an intercept. Works well with Kriel. Poor under the high ball though. If he can improve that area of his game he'll be an even greater weapon. 
12. De Allende (6.0): Was untested in the first half. Had a couple of good secure carries. However, he slowed the attack. Was languid as he decided what he was going to do, make decisions. His ball presentation at the ruck wasn't clean. He missed all of his open field tackles and was beaten in the 75th minute cleanly. Had he made that tackle, the All Blacks would not have scored from the subsequent phase. Failed to straighten the attack, but had the presence of mind to follow Kolisi and be in position for an offload for an important try. Hand little physicality in contact. The way he gave up on Ioane was very disappointing. He may not have stopped him , but this is the second time he just gave up on cross defence. No fight whatsoever. André chases these down with all his heart. 
13. Kriel (7.0): He is always full of energy. That doesn't always manifest in a coordinated way. He was begging for space in the first half as the Boks were far too lateral. His defence appeared to be better, though that's not the strength of his game. His interaction with the wings and Willie is what stands out for me. Am is better defensively, Kriel is more assertive ball-in-hand. He had a period where he totally dominated the All Blacks. He hits the line hard and fast. Great try.
14. Kolbe (6.0): Punches above his weight. Had a busy spell in the second half and showed some attitude on the line to score. May have missed a coupe of tackle, so I'll be be reviewing this.
15. Le Roux (8.0): The brain of the Bok backline. Was imposing and courageous on defence. He didn't deserve to lose this game. Put the All Blacks under all kinds of pressure and made great decisions at speed. 

1. Koch (6.5): Had a bad scrum, penalised. Seemed okay for while at least. Some good work tidying up play. 
   
2. Snyman (7.0): Was busy. Strong and combative. Came on as play began to break down. Was physical, but we missed Eben. 
3. Willemse (7.5): A much more accurate showing. Looks good at fullback. Very dangerous on attack. Alert and skilful. Very quick. I didn't detect errors. Will review later. 
4. Papier (6.0): He tried, and pulled off a dangerous break. Not bad, but not Faf. Not even close. Average. 
5. Notshe (5.0): I detected nothing of note. 
6. Mbonambi (6.5): Lack the power and presence of Marx. Average. 
7. Mtawarira (0.0): Too little action to be rated. 
8. Jantjies (0.0): Too little action to be rated. 

I thought Pollard might have got an 8.0

Willie failed a Head Injury Test and Faff was having cramps. I don't know why Marx had to go.

Thanks Hakwa - it blunts the attack on Erasmus somewhat,   

AO  - this was obviously taken from some or other publication - where did you get it from?    

I found the ratings of News 24 far more accurate than the above:-

Willie le Roux: 7.5

A lively and impressive display in his 50th Test. Made the break for the Boks' opening try, was solid under the high ball, kicked intelligently and is such an attractive attacking option when he joins as first receiver. 

Cheslin Kolbe: 6

Limited opportunities for the right-wing given how the Boks went about their business. Showed strength and determination to wiggle his way towards the line to score what should have been the winning try on the hour mark. 

Jesse Kriel: 7

One of the more memorable performances by a Bok No 13 in this Rugby Championship. Slowly starting to edge ahead in the race against Lukhanyo Am for that World Cup place? Superb finish for his try and ran hard, probing lines throughout. Sent Loftus delirious with second half turnover.

Damian de Allende: 6

Nothing flash, but De Allende does provide a solid base for the Boks to attack from after first or second phase. Ran a good line for his try, but was guilty of drifting 'sideways' at times. Also, a wasteful 'nothing' kick in first half.

Aphiwe Dyantyi: 5.5

Like Kolbe, limited opportunity with ball in hand. Struggled defensively, but did show glimpses of his natural pace. Find of the season by a country mile, but not his best day at the office as highlighted by aerial knock-on under no pressure. 

Handre Pollard: 7.5

Looking more and more like a flyhalf that can guide this side to something special in 2019. Flawless off the tee, intelligent tactical kicking, dynamic distribution and a couple of testing runs at the AB defence. 

Faf de Klerk: 7

Has been impressive all year, but so encouraging to see him get his kicking right. Was accurate with the box kicks, while he also found some handy space behind the AB defence. Service was crisp throughout, but did throw a pass into touch when a Bok try was on the cards.

Francois Louw 5.5

For me, the most disappointing of the Boks on the day. Drafted in at No 8, Louw was guilty of giving away penalties on the ground. Went a bit 'missing', especially given that his selection was based on providing muscle at the breakdown. 

Pieter-Steph du Toit: 7

Another monster shift from South Africa's Wellington hero. Du Toit continues to thrive at No 7 where he offers a lineout option, carries tirelessly and puts in hit after hit after hit after hit. Much of the same on Saturday.

Siya Kolisi: 7.5

Another very encouraging performance from the skipper. No Bok made more tackles on the day (12) and Kolisi is making the captaincy his own through such commitment to the cause. His offload for De Allende's try was as deft as they come. 

Franco Mostert: 7

Impressive. The Boks were largely solid at the lineout, using four different jumpers, and Mostert is comfortably ahead in the race for the No 5 jersey in Japan. Was a capable ball carrier while his work on defence and on the ground was also noticeable.

Eben Etzebeth: 6

Probably didn't have the impact on the game he would have liked, but was solid enough. Ran hard and straight at AB defence and, as always, made his presence known. Penalised at the breakdown and lost a lineout, but remains crucial to Bok cause.

Frans Malherbe: 6

Bok scrum was under pressure throughout the contest, but Malherbe played his part in stopping it from disintegrating. Always keen to look for work off the ball. The battle for the No 3 jersey is far from over, but Malherbe did his case no harm at Loftus.

Malcolm Marx: 8

Ryan Crotty said in the week that he would pick Codie Taylor as his hooker over Marx 'any day'. He may have changed his mind after this. Marx was immense, for the umpteenth time. His lineout work was sound, but he has superhuman ability over the ball and proved that again at Loftus. Put Boks on front foot with a few barging runs, too. 

Steve Kitshoff: 6

Proper heavyweight battle with Owen Franks in the front row, and Kitshoff more than held his own. The Bok scrum stood firm when it looked on the verge of disintegrating on several occasions, and much of that was down to Kitshoff. Becoming harder to justify leaving him out.

Standout substitute:

One moment of stepping magic from Damian Willemse while RG Snyman looked to get busy, but the bench was on the field during the Springbok implosion, so finding positives on that front is tricky. 

The ratings were my own, as explained in the title. Damian provided no platform for attack, cite one example. He was slow and passive. Nothing he did ball-in-hand worked. He failed, again. He cannot straighten the attack, which robbed Kriel and Dyantyi of space. He is not a 12.

Then it was as per normal so obviously twisted by BS p rejudice - it is at best not reliable.  

Go on. Cite all of Damian's creative attacking flair? Where was his defence? A goal line stand, and he rushes out, getting beaten cleanly inside. A passive unthinking player, sloppy, lacking physicality.

Carry on prejudiced BSter.   You are getting funnier by the day,

Just answer the question. If it's a fact, there must be tangible evidence. If you know I am wrong, you must know why. You clearly aren't shy to run your mouth, how about some evidence. Or is it, as you say, "more prejudiced BS"?