Springbok player ratings from Houwig

Willie le Roux: 5 Not one of the talisman’s better Test matches. Few opportunities to work any attacking magic, and he wasn’t too commanding a figure on defence, where Bok back-three organisation and positional acumen looked generally suspect. S’bu Nkosi: 5.5 Certainly tried hard to be combative, but an up-and-down performance. Beaten to a high ball near his own line seconds before Mathieu Bastareaud’s try, but swiftly made amends with his own, smartly-finished dot-down two minutes later. Jesse Kriel: 6 The Boks were so obsessed with box kicking that the outside centre didn’t get many quality ball-in-hand chances. When he did, he sometimes made strong yardage, and his defence was largely unblinking as well. Damian de Allende: 5 Failed to produce the energy displayed a week earlier at Twickenham, and missed a few tackles. Hauled off with just under 15 minutes left. Aphiwe Dyantyi: 5.5 Lively and predatory, as has become customary. He was nearly the match-winner as the final pass to him in the 83rd minute in his corner “try” was ruled just forward. But he does continue to be coaxed off his defensive line too easily, causing Bok trauma on the scramble. Handre Pollard: 7 Cool-headed showing, even if much of the tactical kicking was dominated by his halfback partner. His place-kicking was flawless, though, as his five penalties and two conversions (19 points) made a massive difference in the final analysis. Promising when he shifted to No 12, into bargain. Faf de Klerk: 4 Stays an enigmatic factor, as this was one of those “off” days for the little dynamo who has otherwise been so sprightly for much of 2018. Absurd over-emphasis on box kicking (though under instruction?) and many were misdirected. Unusual defensive indecision in French hooker Guilhem Guirado’s try. Warren Whiteley: 5 “Not a big factor in the game” was the verdict from former Bok No 8 and coach Nick Mallett, which was about right. Made some tackles and put occasional pressure on French lineout, but little oomph otherwise. Duane Vermeulen: 7.5 Was going well at flank too, but clearly enjoyed switching back to more familiar eighth-man in second half. Put his body on the line in trademark fashion, which was essential on a night where the French pack was right up for it. Won a turnover penalty, and relished putting in some thumping hits on home backline muscle-man Bastareaud. Siya Kolisi: 4.5 This tour’s increasingly looking a journey too far for an overworked (including from Super Rugby) Bok skipper this year. Another subdued personal showing, and even his leadership wasn’t as animated as it might have been. Leaked a penalty or two, though stole a French lineout. Franco Mostert: 7 His restoration to the middle of the lineout, including as manager, paid dividends in a department the Boks had been pretty awful at in the England loss. Lost one ball in contact, but was also at the fulcrum of the key maul that led to Mbonambi’s game-tilting late try. Pieter-Steph du Toit: 7.5 Did a decent job as front lock … but then really came into his own when shifted to side of scrum. Topped Bok tackle count with another high-teens figure, even if he missed a couple, but it was the strength of some of his hits that was lethal. One clattering effort from a kick-off directly led to Nkosi’s try. Must stay at flank now … surely? Frans Malherbe: 6 Bok front row would have been disappointed with relative lack of scrums … certainly including the tighthead, who looked threatening enough when they did get to pack down. Malcolm Marx: 6.5 The big thing with the Bok hooker this week was how impressively he banished his London throwing-in “yips”. Made one storming run (though he might have tried harder to find someone to offload to) and worked hard in contestation on the deck. Steven Kitshoff: 6 A little bit of the edge seems to have gone from his often commanding game, especially when it comes to carrying. But rock-solid in the miserly scrum opportunities. Standout substitute: Francois Louw and Elton Jantjies: 7.5 These two were the pick of the bunch, although Mbonambi also shone (including keeping his cool on the maul that led to his decisive try) in his modest 10 minutes on the park. Louw was immediately a huge factor over the ball at open-side flank, including a steal deep in Bok territory that helped work their way back up the park when all seemed lost late on, and Jantjies was refreshingly dangerous on the front foot for almost quarter of an hour at pivot.

Hirarious all round by Houwig. He misses Willie's brilliant try saving tackle on Thomas. Yet he praises Stephanie's 'clattering' effort that 'led to'the Nkosi try. Let's examine that little interlude. The Frogs had just put up a high kick that bounced near our line and Basteraud wrestled the ball away from Stephanie fora try......not a peep about that. Then the kickoff that should have been taken by the player behind, but the French 4 jumps backwards to catch it. But loses it....when Stephanie makes contact it's just touching the tip of his right hand. Stephanie knocks him down but he was heading down anyway. The ball was lost anyway. Another classical bit of hype. Nice that he recognized Mostert's role in the lineouts and Louw's pivotal role in winning the game. But why the constant stream of bias.....favouritism is the South African disease.

No one would have stopped that Fat Basterd so close to the line. 

Houwings ratings always need to be taken with a pinch of salt. He's become a bit of a laughing stock.

He was marginally involved in both tries....negative and positive...but only the positive is reported. That's the point. Flash ...unfortunately Houwing is the rule not the exception.

365 Ratings for the record....these are hardly better: African players! 15 Willie le Roux He only had a few opportunities with ball in hand. He was pretty quiet during the 80 minutes. 4/10 14 Sibusiso Nkosi Scored a try off a French mistake and that was pretty much it. His work rate was poor around the park. Then again, the Boks hardly took the ball wide. 3/10 13 Jesse Kriel He had a couple of good runs with the ball, but he was still very predictable with ball in hand. 5/10 12 Damian de Allende He went missing in this game. He only carried the ball three times and he missed a couple of tackles as well. 2/10 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi Another player who hardly had any opportunities with ball in hand. He could have looked for more work around the park. He also needs to work on his defence out wide. 2/10 10 Handré Pollard He kept the scoreboard ticking over with his accurate boot. But he was far from the general South Africa needs in that No.10 jersey in open play. 6/10 9 Francois de Klerk He kicked the ball away too much and he was just too predictable behind the rucks. However, he did put in few good passes. 5/10 8 Warren Whiteley He put in a couple of good tackles and that was about it. You hardly noticed him on the field. 3/10 7 Duane Vermeulen He was much better in the second half. He was strong with ball in hand and he made his presence felt on defence. 6/10 6 Siya Kolisi (captain) It was not a good performance by the captain. He looked lost running around the field and he missed a couple of tackles and gave a few turnovers away. 3/10 5 Franco Mostert He gave away two penalties and missed a few tackles as well. He made no impact with ball in hand. 3/10 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit He made more tackles than any other player in his team and he also missed more as well. He won a few turnovers. 5/10 3 Frans Malherbe He was strong in the scrums and did more work around the park as well. He was a good defender and he was aggressive with his ball carries. 6/10 2 Malcolm Marx He found his line-out jumpers this time and he was a menace at the breakdowns once again. It would have been nice to have seen him with more of the ball. 6/10 1 Steven Kitshoff Strong in the scrums and like Marx he was good at the breakdowns where he won a few turnovers. He had a few good carries as well. 7/10 Replacements: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi (On for Malcolm Marx, 73rd min) Made a couple of line-out throws in pressure situations and he obviously scored the winner as well. 6/10 17 Thomas du Toit (On for Steven Kitshoff, 63rd min) He looked strong with ball in hand. He put in a few big hits on defence as well. 6/10 18 Vincent Koch (On for Frans Malherbe, 60th min) Brought some power up front and did his part in a strong defensive display in the final 20 minutes. 6/10 19 Rudolph Snyman (On for Warren Whiteley, 50th min) Got his team over the gain line with a few big carries and he was important player in the set pieces in the final 30 minutes. 6.5/10 20 Francois Louw (On for Siya Kolisi, 67th min) He made a big impact in the closing stages. He won a few crucial turnovers for his team when he was on the field. 7/10 21 Embrose Papier Not used. 22 Elton Jantjies (On for Damian de Allende, 67th min) He looked good on attack when he came onto the field. 6/10 23 Cheslin Kolbe (On for Sibusiso Nkosi, 57th min) He had one excellent run to the tryline, but he managed to lose the control of the ball in a tackle before putting the ball down. It was a good cameo from the wing. 5/10