Some good player ratings from NZ's Chris Rattue

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11487062

Rattue certainly shows more intelligence in his ratings than the average SA rugby writers. The ratings of the Bok substitutions in particular are telling. We've got no fire on the bench.

Our bench is definitely an issue! With Jean, Vermeulen, Coetzee, Fourie Du Preez (Arguably) and a few others that will hopefully be back in time, things might be a lot better, but I feel this does expose some depth issues we have. 

 Pakie
Thanks for the posting.  There was not much difference in how I rated the players and what was in the ratings.  For instance I rated both De Allende and Kriel as 8/10 and also De Jager and Etzebeth as 8/10.
My rating of for instance of Jannie was 5,5/10 and differ from the raving of mozart and some others on him.  
I think the problems on the bench is not really an issue.  It is the selections and timing of the replacements that is problematic.  I have no problem with the prop replacements and the fact that Koch was injured was not what could have been foreseen.  I would not have Flippie as a lock replacement.  Matfield is a no-no - he destroys the Tight 5 all on his own.   I would have put Du Toit on the bench now - he is back in training and should be the bench lock.  The loosies remains a problem - we need a player that can add to line-out value as well as contribute to the rest of loosie play.  I would say Coetzee should be in the mix and we need to add a line-out jumper - since the two option line-out is to my mind out of the question.  There are quite a number of loosies that would fill that void.
As to the backline I do not think the change in options would be necessary.  The passive game of Pienaar is rubbish and have my doubt about Pienaar as well.  Will du Preez be a contributor when he comes back from injury?  He was barely averagte last year in June and at 33 he is unlikely to be any better - too much reputation and too little performance I am afraid.  I would put De Villiers on the bench in the remaining two tests - if he does not last Meyer should bring in another more solid player than those we had on Saturday.  
There are good alternatives - but Meyer did not pick them for the squad and that remains a serious problem.          

Those ratings are spot on - unlike the crap we get from the SA writers.  

Don't agree with every rating, but I liked the way he was willing to be honest. Our guys wrap their views in so much rugby politcal correctness they are hardly worth reading.