Player Ratings
15.Zane Kirchner (6) Some good hard running and solid on defence. His big boot was useful in clearing well into England territory. He did miss a crucial tackle that Hougaard had to mop up though. Otherwise a solid showing.
14.JP Pietersen (6) JP went looking for work running some great lines, held his nerve to send Jean through for an important try and was solid on defence.
13.Jean de Villiers (5) He was bettered by Manu who, in the end, sought after Jean. frail on defence, but he did dot down for an all important try. The Boks lacked leadership for much of the game, the void left by Smit was evident and Jean needs to make a big step up next week, both as a player and captain.
12.Frans Steyn (6.5) Was a monster on defence knocking down all before him, his lateral defence was solid and he easily had the better of Manu and numerous England forwards. We saw some deft offloads in contact and a good sense of the players around him. His distribution was very good, adding much length to the Bok attack as they started to open up for periods in the second half. The Boks need to bring Frans into play much more next week and much of that will depend on an improved showing at the breakdown and in contact.
11.Bryan Habana (8) Those foolish enough to believe the media bleatings that he was done were, again, humiliated. He made some serious in-roads into England's defence beating many defenders. his kick-chase was superb as he pressured and harassed the English under the high ball. His defence was at times bruising and, above all, accurate. Sent a monstrous touch finder deep into England territory and looks to be enjoying the new era and finally casting aside the spectre of the Peter era.
10.Morné Steyn (6) Morné did very little wrong in general play. Unfortunately he rarely got gold of the ball in the first 40 as the Boks stuttered and could provide little of a platform for the half-backs. As the game went on he showed glimpses of what he can do combining well with Frans. He was solid on defence. With game 1 under their belt he should settle his kicking.
09.François Hougaard (8) He has taken some criticism for his showing, but in fact came through impressively. At times he received no protection whatsoever as England were allowed to swarm all over him. The Boks were poor in their presentation of the ball which slowed down the Bok attack. That said, Hougaard cleared his lines and was a nuisance around the ruck fringes. His liveliness often creating something out of nothing. His cover defence was superb as he was simply everywhere all game long. In the second half he had more freedom to showcase his ability.
08.Pierre Spies (5) A very quiet game from Spies. He did little wrong, but little stood out either. He had one strong burst forward and often got over the advantage line. Defensively he was solid without being dominant. A workmanlike showing.
07.Willem Alberts (9) Alberts was immense in all that he did. His carries were monstrous as he ploughed into the English time and again; they simply had no answer for him the entire game. Even on defence, particularly in the first half, he kept driving back attackers and stifling their momentum. It is by far his strongest showing in a Bok jersey. Should he continue to build on this performance he will be the new Juan Smith and perhaps even more then that!
06.Marcell Coetzee (6) He was largely inaffective throughout the first half and only started to come to life midway through the second half. He had one big carry that took the Boks into the England 22. His defence was creeky and had no answer to England's poachers at the breakdown. All-in-all, a shadow of the player Brussow is in all facets of play in the position.
05.Juandré Kruger (7) With mighty big shoes to fill he did not by any means shame himself. He was authorative in contact, once simply running over his opposite number and was assured at lineout time. Looks to have potential with Eben as the two look a good prospect as the future of Bok rugby.
04.Eben Etzebeth (7) Like Kruger, a solid showing, conceded a silly penalty early on but did very little else wrong throughout. A solid showing.
03.Jannie du Plessis (7) Dispelled fears over his recent slump in form. Was strong in the scrum and good in general play. Did very little wrong.
02.Bismarck du Plessis (5) Bismarck carries a big reputation that deflated yesterday. Most of what he did was inaccurate with very poor defence around the fringes, very weak defence and creeky ball carries. He made one turnover in the first half, but did very little else positive. As the Boks got the better of England in the second half he started to make more ground with each carry, but looks very insecure taking the ball into contact. No leadership skills were on display and he was very lucky not to be pinged for attacking Manu's face. It was a very poor showing all round.
01.Tendai Mtawarira (5) Beast? Was he there? he had one big tackle and did very little else. On defence he was nowhere and well of the standards set by Steenkamp over the last two years. Was easily surpassed by Coenie. Perhaps it would be wiser to use Beast as an impact player.
Replacements:
16.Adriaan Strauss (7) Was powerful ball in hand and strong on defence. A very strong showing from the Freestate captain. Looked assured and authorative at all times, his run right over an England lock was particularly pleasing.
17.Coenie Oosthuizen (8) A massive showing the scrum that left Mears looking rather pale. A massive step up from Beast and one of the changes that really seemed to lift the side with far greater intensity and purpose.
18.Flip van der Merwe (5) Hardly anywhere, the most notable involvement whilst he was one was s slipped tackle that allowed England to venture into our 22. Was well off the pace of Eben and Kruger.
19.Keegan Daniel
20.Ruan Pienaar (6) Did nothing wrong, but nothing spectacular either. Perhaps that was a good thing as he just got work providing a good service from the base. Was overshadowed by Hougaard though.
21.Patrick Lambie (5) Again, didn't do an awful lot wrong, but made very little impact at any stage of the game. His defence lacks bite and his carries and runs lack purpose or power. He does not look strong in any sort of contact and was merely a link at the best of times. His touch finders lack distance as well. The harder running of Kirchner edged this one comfortably.
22.Wynand Olivier (5) Played a bit part as a blood sub, very little time to make an impact and he certainly didn't provide any spark whilst on. Solid but quiet.
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Points of Interest
01:09 - Ruck inside England 22, Bismarck fails to hold off England counter-ruck which stalls the whole process. Kruger, Beast and Jannie have to stabilize the situation - our second pod out of position this destroying our chance to attack England.
01:26 - A poorly protected ruck and, once again, Hougaard struggles to get the ball as the backs are slow in getting into position. Turnover England.
02:20 - Habana, as has been doing over the last four years - fields and England kick; he proceeds to beat five defenders, the fifth only just scragging him from behind.
02:23 - Frans given ball with little momentum; he holds up the tackle and passes behind which results in a break down the touchline. Jean eagerly passes to JP instead of engaging 11 which results in 11 drifting and bringing down JP.
04:11 - A tap-and-go by Bismarck; he infringes, England have the penalty and clear their lines just outside the Bok 22.
05:08 - Manu attacks the outside shoulder of Jean, he proceeds to hand-off Jean and get behind him. Jean attacks the feet of Manu from behind to bring him down. Frans immediately contests the ball, but two Englishmen well on hand to recycle quickly.
05:48 - Etzebeth not rolling away, penalty England; 0-3.
09:32 - Hougaard's kick is charged down as Bismarck fails to guard ruck fringe; Morné regathers from behind takes it forward, bearing one defender, driving two Englishmen backwards and presents ball cleanly.
09:37 - Alberts goes on the charge. He beats two defenders and knocks England 9 to the ground. He is eventually dragged down by 7, but offloads to Bismarck who loses the ball in contact.
10:09 - Ashton runs head-on into Bismarck; who drives him backwards until Kruger joins in.
10:45 - Kirchner fields a kick just outside the Bok 22, gains good ground. The following ruck is poorly protected which leaves Hougaard scrambling back with the ball, eventually the Boks are turned over.
12:25 - Habana chases kick, but is cleared out of the way which leaves the tackled player unprotected. Alberts rushes in and picks up the ball in a fluid move and charges into England's 22.
12:42 - Morné cross field kick, perfectly weighted and placed. Kirchner just unable to win the aerial battle.
16:13 - Bismarck attempts to contest the ball, but is literally turned over like a beetle onto his back, but this time he gets the ball as well. Turnover Boks.
19:18 - Bismarck with a skew throw at lineout.
20:33 - Slow ball at ruck in England 22, Hougaard though snipes through ruck fringe beating two defenders. Offloads to Spies in front of third defender.
21:25 - England clear downfield, Kirchner gathers loose ball. He steps 14 and takes the contact. Habana clears 14 and allows Bismarck to come in behind him and seal off the ruck.
22:06 - Hougaard with the box kick, Habana fields kick and almost gets a pass away to Kirchner for a try.
25:27 - Bismarck gets handed-off as Englishman makes his way deepp into Bok 22. Bismarck and Kruger bring him down near Bok tryline. England penalty, 3-6.
28:05 - Jean shoulder charges Manu's face sending him to the ground. (Jean the ball carrier).
28:30 - Bismarck with the carry, but is turned over. Boks have the advantage though.
30:09 - Spies fields kick-off, bumps of 4 and makes good ground.
30:01 - England surge into Bok 22. Hougaard charges in from behind and brings 14 to ground, who stepped Kirchner just outside Bok 22.
43:43 - Manu knocks Jean over with a powerful run but trips over the would-be defender in the process.
45:33 - Bismarck tries to assert himself at ruck time with little impact, he then resiorts to attacking the face of Manu whose back was turned and unable to defend himself.
46:11 - Jean attempts to take the outside gap and beat 14 but is easily dealt with
46:34 - Boks rumble through Alberts and Jannie into the England 22. They have numbers as England scramble desperately, as it was, Hougaard spent an age digging in the ruck to retrieve the ball.
46:48 - Hougaard looked to dot down as England left the inside shoulder of the ruck exposed, but Alberts flies in off his feet and smashes him carelessly. Opportunity almost lost but eventually Morné dots down well.
59:40 - A big break from Habana beating two defenders and dragging a third for good ground. Morné spreads it wide and Boks overwhelm England to dot down in the corner through Jean.
61:55 - Habana drives 14 into the dirt with a trademark tackle.
71:15 - Manu runs, stops and thumps Jean backwards, Frans moves out and thumps Manu to ground.
Pro1,098 posts
10 Jun 2012, 08:10
#1
10 Jun 2012, 08:10#1
