Springboks:
- Nche (6.0)
- Mbonambi (6.0)
- Nyakane (4.0)
- Etzebeth (8.0)
- Mostert (5.0)
- Kolisi (5.0)
- du Toit (4.0)
- Smith (7.0)
- de Klerk (5.5)
- Pollard (8.0)
- Mapimpi (5.5)
- De Allende (5.0)
- Am (6.0)
- Kolbe (4.0)
- le Roux (5.5)
- Kitshoff (5.5)
- Malherbe (4.5)
- Marx (6.0)
- de Jager (4.0)
- Elstadt (Unrated)
- Willemse (5.0)
- E Jantjies (5.0)
- H Jantjies (Unrated)
REVIEW
Gameplan: The Boks were as they have been under Josè, a team that uses the boot to generate momentum and set piece dominance to keep the opposition pinned in their half. Against Georgia I tempered optimism by drawing attention to the scrappy skill om display when straining to use the ball. The team was much less structured on attack, it looked frantic; the Boks looked even worse in this game. Poorly timed runs, haphazard units that were at times hard to discern, sloppy passes, poor option taking, no synergy whatsoever. The boot was all the Boks had to create 50/50 chances of errors. Most of the Bok's crucial attacks centred on the bounce of the ball and the hope for a knock-on. The gulf in quality between the two sides in using the ball was shocking. Once the Lions got some phases together, they looked dangerous. Slick interchanges, quick and alert assessing the field and very well organised. Once the Lions got the better of the Boks physically, the Bok game went from mediocre to a dumpster fire. I can scarcely recall a time where they strung more than two stodgy phases together until the death where they looked totally impotent. What we mostly saw was a pod with 10 in behind or just outside, and a clustered mess operating well within the confines of the edge of the defence. This wasn't just a loss, it was a reality check.
Pollard: The only Bok back who looked like he belonged at this level. Was calm and authoritative, but the limited gameplan really didn't get the most out of him.
Etzebeth: Was the most physically dominant Bok. He stamped his presence onto the game, making many crucial stops. Lead by example.
du Toit: A shaky first half and he unravelled in the second. Penalties, defensive lapses, he struggled to make a decisive contribution. His biggest moment was latching onto a loose ball as three defenders over-ran him, affording him acres of space to freely run into.
De Allende: He had a lot of attacking ball and failed to generate any momentum whatsoever. There were at least three moments where a high ball fortuitously landed right into his chest area after bouncing off another player, allowing him to pad out the stat sheet. The pass to Am was clearly forward, as Am was a full body space in front of him before he released the ball! Struggled in the power stakes and as the ball made its way to him more as the second half progressed the Boks looked more toothless.
Kolisi: He actually made more contributions than I expected. A rare run on the seam in the first half, but more importantly some big stops. Overall, needs to do better, but above my expectations.
Kwagga: Kwagga was the pick of the loose forwards. He was strong and dynamic, niggly on the ground. Not my preference for 8, but at 6 he upgrades the team. Made a couple of errors under the high ball, but he fielded many more and was the best Bok fielding kicks.
Mapimpi: Tried to look for work, some opportunities to create something, but there was very little to work with. Outclassed by Duhan.
Kolbe: Like Mapimpi, there was precious little to work with. The WC model of hoping they can slip a defender or two and nab a try failed. Became a liability as the game went on. Mostly, our wings kick to turn a defender and try to outrun them to the ball. Didn't work.
Faf: A tough and nuggety player, he is not known for his technical ability. Some ugly kicking and passing. Was not the disruptive presence he was in 2019.
