Willie le Roux....made a few mistakes, but added bite to the Bok backline. He is a feel player and will get better if he believes that he belongs, but his handling, tackling and sense of space were a quantum leap forward.
Basson is not my favourite, but in today's company he was fine. The problems will emerge against big NZ or Oz wings.
Engelbrecht was a mixed bag. He really should have scored two more tries. He never slowed up in the last strides before his knock on...at that speed he would have done better kicking it over the line and falling on it. The other try was a sure fire slide into home base. But he did back up the Habana break, something Jaque Fourie often failed to do....and the pace is truly exciting. He may be the fastest 13 in the game...but Nokwe and Chavanga were lightning and never made it. There's lots of work ahead.
Jean is just playing great rugby....his defence, handling and timing on break outs is outstanding.
Habana.....say no more. He should never have had gaps like that to run through.....but what he did with the opportunities was text book.
Morne looked like a flyhalf playing by the numbers....little inside passes....but the missed tackle was disappointing. Seems to have really found his kicking boots though.
Vermaak was industrious and didn't look at all over awed. It's a shame about the hammie. Pienaar came in like a well fitting glove, slipping seamlessly into the Bok pattern. This guy is our best scrummie at top level, even if fans don't appreciate his style.
Beast was under the cosh from Castro. I have seen a lot of negative comments about Jannie, but I think the Beast was far more fragile and the scrum peeled up from his side. He looked like a wet rag on the bench. But then Castro is a mighty prop.
Strauss was outstanding all game. His handling, avoidance of penalties, lineout work and power on the burst make him very hard to leave out. I think he could surpass John Smit as a pure captain.....what a dilemma with Bismarck.
Jannie was ok today I thought......picked up one technical penalty but scrummed pretty well. The problem is he is simply a scrummager....not a bull in the loose like Coenie.
Eben had a fine game, but even a fine game for this giant creates a sense of disappointment. You were waiting for him to do a "Bismarck" on Castro, or something like that. Still he did his job and more.
Juandre Kruger after some great games for the Bools had a damp squib. He hardly challenged in the lineouts and wasn't seen that much in defence. With the competition he's likely to face, that performance wont make his place any more secure.
Francois Louw was outstanding in the early stages of the test. His numbers look good with a high tackle count. What a difference a real pro makes.
Botha had a good test.....not quite as explosive as I had hoped. He wasn't unleashed on any of his trademark runs. Still he tackled ferociously and used his strength in the mauls. He might need to do a bit more to make his place secure.
Having said that Spies seems to do almost nothing test after test and still get picked. This seems to be some kind of security blanket thing.....although why Meyer feels he needs him beats me. This guy never learned to use his speed to get in among the backs and his tackling is pretty ordinary. He is no corner flagger like Big Joe.
Just a word on Serfontein. This kid came onto the test park as if to the manor born.....no nerves just a desire to get on with things.He had nothing to do, but looked good doing it.
