Player ratings from the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal between South Africa and Australia in Wellington:
5 - Schalk Burger (South Africa) - Immense, whether on attack or defence. Had no regard for his body as he tore into everything. One of the all-time great players.
4 - David Pocock (Australia) - An amazing amount of Springbok ball kept squirting out of rucks and for good reason. Pocock was terrific at the breakdown and when he wasn't pinching the ball he was slowing it enough to allow Australia's stretched defence to re-group.
3 - Jean de Villiers (South Africa) - A bit in the Burger mould. So hard and so committed to running straight, he often bent back the Wallaby defence.
2 - Gurthro Steenkamp (South Africa) - Becoming a bit of a cult figure and certainly a high-class rugby player. For a man of his size, Steenkamp again showed how good he is around the field.
1 - James O'Connor (Australia) - Kicked well, covered well and was tremendously brave with his ball carrying
Curiously even the Aussies had a South African connect. Pocock would probably have played rugby in RSA if his family hadn't left Zim.
And O Connor was eligible to play for the Boks, because he had South African grandparents.
There's something in the water....
