15. Willie le Roux: 6.5
Started unbelievably well and took some incredible high balls. Put people through gaps but disappeared as the game wore on. His kicking out of hand was poor and never helped in releasing the pressure valve as he encouraged the All Blacks to counter-attack a tiring defence.
14. JP Pietersen: 6
The wrong sort of weather and game for Pietersen to shine in attack. Safe enough under the high ball and managed to keep Julian Savea at bay.
13. Jesse Kriel: 5.5
Like Le Roux, he started very well and made a clean break but thereafter never really worried his opposite number.
12. Damian de Allende: 7.5
De Allende took his opportunity to face one of the world’s best in Ma’a Nonu and gave him a real battle. He carried like a charging rhino and his defence proved that soon enough he will be regarded as one of the best in the business.
11. Bryan Habana: 5.5
Chased every high ball and leapt like a salmon to take two picture-perfect takes above Nehe Milner-Skudder, but a defensive lapse for the first try and a yellow card is not what you need from someone so experienced.
10. Handre Pollard: 5.5
Pollard’s goal-kicking was spot on but other than that he looked very nervy. Kicked aimlessly into open field and looked hesitant when he did so. He will not have filled the players around him with any confidence.
9. Fourie du Preez: 6
His service was at its usual high standards but his decision making was strange at times. Boxed-kicked well early on and then all of a sudden his tactical kicking ability just deserted him.
1. Tendai Mtawarira: 6
His performances haven’t changed during this world cup. Not much effort in the loose but his scrummaging is rock solid and that is why he is persistently selected.
2. Bismarck du Plessis: 6
Ran himself into the ground but a hooker’s job is to hit his man at the lineout and Du Plessis didn’t manage this enough.
3. Frans Malherbe: 7.5
Malherbe has rubber stamped his name into the starting line-up for the foreseeable future. Incredibly strong in the scrum and some of the hits he made early on would have taken the wind out of many an All Black’s sails.
4. Eben Etzebeth: 6.5
Etzebeth will be around for years and will learn from this experience. One soft penalty cost his team easy points but in defence he is a real weapon. Holds the attacking player up in the tackle and slows the ball down impressively.
5. Lood de Jager: 6
Completments Etzebeth well but De Jager’s attempted tackle on Kaino was far too high and led to the first score but again, the youngster will only be stronger for the experience.
6. Francois Louw: 8
Louw’s warrior-like work rate was incredible yet again. Two turnovers on his own 22 cut out dangerous looking attacks in the first half and his tackling showed he has no regard for his own body.
7. Schalk Burger: 5.5
Burger does link the play well but far too often he found himself a spare part in the backline. Tackled and carried well but an extremely careless knock on led to Beauden Barrett’s try.
8. Duane Vermeulen: 7.5
Vermeulen was a giant for the Springboks at the weekend. As the rest of his forwards starting going backwards in the second half he kept tidying up and making positive yards.
Replacements: 4.5
Jannie du Plessis may have to hang up his international boots after his latest showing killed any dominance up front that the Springboks had. Willem Alberts slipped off tackles uncharacteristically and Victor Matfield couldn’t improve the lineout. Patrick Lambie slotted a tricky penalty to keep the dream alive but couldn’t unlock the Kiwi defence.
By Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images