The Springboks' latest tussle with the All Blacks ended in a glorious 43-10 thumping, thanks in no small part to Damian Willemse, who you, the fans, have crowned as the MVP with a whopping 58% of the votes. Not far behind, though considerably, were the swift Cheslin Kolbe with 13% and the dynamic Ethan Hooker who snagged 7%.
At just 27, Willemse showed a masterclass in versatility. Initially lighting up the field at inside centre, he later shifted to fullback without missing a beat. His highlight reel got a significant boost at the 61-minute mark, turning a tight 17-10 lead into a more comfortable margin. He snagged a high-flying pass from Manie Libbok, dodged a couple of All Blacks, and carried another over the try line for good measure. The man simply couldn't be stopped, amassing 94 metres from 14 carries, breezing past six defenders, and making two clean breaks. On the flip side, he was also a wall in defense with four tackles and a crucial turnover.
"Damian Willemse was magnificent – he brought playmaking, physicality, stepping, offloading and strength,"
said former Springbok coach Nick Mallett, singing his praises on the Talking Boks podcast.
Post-match, Willemse shared,
"This performance was for Bevin,"
reflecting on the team's mindset, "We reviewed last week's game, spotted our mistakes, and tonight, we were much more clinical, especially in the opposition's 22."
Cheslin Kolbe, who also shone brightly with two tries, echoed the sentiment of redemption. "We owed ourselves a big performance," he declared, highlighting the squad's determination to bounce back.
So, who was your top Bok in Wellington? The stats are in, but the debate might just be heating up. With performances like these, the Springboks are showing they're not just participants in The Rugby Championship, but heavy contenders.
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The Springboks' latest tussle with the All Blacks ended in a glorious 43-10 thumping, thanks in no small part to Damian Willemse, who you, the fans, have crowned as the MVP with a whopping 58% of the votes. Not far behind, though considerably, were the swift Cheslin Kolbe with 13% and the dynamic Ethan Hooker who snagged 7%.
At just 27, Willemse showed a masterclass in versatility. Initially lighting up the field at inside centre, he later shifted to fullback without missing a beat. His highlight reel got a significant boost at the 61-minute mark, turning a tight 17-10 lead into a more comfortable margin. He snagged a high-flying pass from Manie Libbok, dodged a couple of All Blacks, and carried another over the try line for good measure. The man simply couldn't be stopped, amassing 94 metres from 14 carries, breezing past six defenders, and making two clean breaks. On the flip side, he was also a wall in defense with four tackles and a crucial turnover.
"Damian Willemse was magnificent – he brought playmaking, physicality, stepping, offloading and strength,"
said former Springbok coach Nick Mallett, singing his praises on the Talking Boks podcast.
Post-match, Willemse shared,
"This performance was for Bevin,"
reflecting on the team's mindset, "We reviewed last week's game, spotted our mistakes, and tonight, we were much more clinical, especially in the opposition's 22."Cheslin Kolbe, who also shone brightly with two tries, echoed the sentiment of redemption. "We owed ourselves a big performance," he declared, highlighting the squad's determination to bounce back.
So, who was your top Bok in Wellington? The stats are in, but the debate might just be heating up. With performances like these, the Springboks are showing they're not just participants in The Rugby Championship, but heavy contenders.
Teams: Springboks, All Blacks