Bok Player ratings; Rugby 365

A lot will be said about the weather but in the end a win is a win and the Springboks will be happy with having two points over their other Championship opponants. The Boks got off to a great start while the hail came down to get a Ruan Pienaar try from some good work through the forwards. From there the game turned into a tough arm-wrestle with the Argentinians showing that thaey are not a push-over team. In the end the ground-out win is a good win which will put the Boks into the right mind-set heading to Argentina next week. We rate the Springboks: 15 Willie le Rouxswitched his game to a kicking one and did well enough in that facet, but his defense and his ability to take the ball out of the air was exemplary.7/10 14 Cornal Hendricksbusy all over the park, came off his wing to help with defense and played his heart out.6/10 13 Damian de AllendeWas a good link to the outside men and made a few runs that set up some space for others.6/10 12 Jean de VilliersTried to get the ball moving to the wide areas where there was space but a relativily quiet game for the captain.7/10 11 Bryan HabanaVery quiet game, like his opposite number - ball didnt seem to get to him.5/10 10 Handré PollardNot a great showing for the innexperianced youngster with his kicks going awry and his composure lacking.4/10 9 Ruan Pienaarlooking more lively in a wet game that, he is propably used to these conditions and showed a steady hand.8/10 8 Duane VermeulenStood up strong in his tackles and ball carrying, he was able to bust tackles at will and put in a great all-round performance.9/10 7 Marcell Coetzeeworked hard to out do Louw as an out-and-out fetcher, he also added a lot with his carrying and tackling - full of energy, as always.8/10 6 Francois LouwStill showed that he ia a class act when it comes to playing towards the ball but tried to get a little to involved in the niggle.7/10 5 Lodewyk de JagerPut in an impressive defensive effort and added his bulk around the park where it was needed.6/10 4 Bakkies BothaContested well in the line-outs, stealing a few good balls and hasseling the Puma's forwards in the set pieces.7/10 3 Jannie du PlessisSeemed really under the pump at scrum time but tried his best in the loose despite a howler of a miss tackle.5/10 2 Bismarck du PlessisAdded to the turn-over rate, helping out his loosies on defense as well as getting over the ball.6/10 1 Tendai MtawariraSpent his whole day tackling and trying to hold his end up in the scrum.6/10 Replacments: 16 Adriaan Strauss (On for B. Du Plessis, 56 mins)Came out flying and looked really busy trying to get his hands all over the ball.7/10 17  Trevor NyakaneNot used. 18 Frans Malherbe (On for Du Plessis, 66)Came on and impressed in the loose like he known for making five tackles in his short time on the field.7/10 19 Eben Etzebeth (On for Botha, 41 mins)The dog has been released, he looked full of fury in his comeback game but his discipline was not brilliant 6/10 20 Teboho MohojoeNot used. 21 Francois HougaardNot used. 22 Morné Steyn (On for Pollard, 46 mins)Sured up the backline and looked far more comfortable and solid in response to Pollard's nery showing. 23 Jan SerfonteinNot enough time to be rated.

 Tough day for Pollard.

 Who wrote those ratings? A 10-year old? Hard to take a journalist serious who can't even nail basic spelling and grammar. Very optimistic ratings. And Coetzee better than Louw? Outdoing him as an out-an-out fetcher? Pull the other one.

Pollard did not have a good debut. The conditions created sloppy play, and the lineouts were a shambles without Matfield. It just goes to show how important it is to have a specialist number 5 lock of top quality. 

 Far better scores than moz except for bakkies who was a no show. Coetzee was better than louw. Vermeulen and willie were our best players. Willies display under the high ball in those conditions were fantastic.
Jean had a poor game