South Africa player ratings: The Springboks hope to win Nations Championship dealt a potentially fatal blow on Friday night as they lost 21-19 to France in Paris.
It was a game where the world champions ultimately left themselves too much to do in the second half after a sloppy first half – with one try denied – leaving them 21-7 up at the break.
After some tactical play before the match by Rassi Erasmus, changes its initial first rowreleased his starting three from the bench before half-time, and the scrimmage took control of the match, winning a total of nine penalties.
But Les Bleus somehow managed to hang on and keep their lead, almost.
As good as the Boks looked at times, there were a few performances that let the side down, and a yellow and a 20-minute red card were costly. Here’s how the players rated it:
15 Damian Willemse – 6
He spilled an early high ball, which resulted in an offside penalty, and his contribution in the first half was largely reserved for one-on-ones when the French broke – which he rose to. In the second half, he caught the ball more often, made 15 tackles, and South Africa’s attack looked more dangerous.
14 Kurt-Lee Arendse – 5
Barely caught out of position when Antoine Dupont shot 50:22 into the first half, he was then perhaps harshly punished by Andrea Piardi for obstructing France from getting the ball. However, it provided the hosts with the platform to score a second try. He appeared to bounce an attempted long throw on the line, but it went in 10 yards.
13 Jesse Kriel – 6
He defended aggressively and tried to stop the ball that was sent wide of the goal, but it was not always successful. He had to wait until he struck with ball in hand, but his drive 50 meters from his own line seemed to change the momentum after constant pressure after the break. A few minutes later he could have been cleared down the left flank, only for Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang to knock the ball down improperly as a result of the pressure created.
12 Damian de Allende – 6
Peato Mauvaka had the ball ripped from his clutches and didn’t make a big shot in hand in the first half, instead leading the offense on defense, making 11 tackles in the first half alone. His carry, with his limbs pumping furiously, set the stage for Cobus Reinach to score and draw first blood in the second half. His holding as a whole was far more effective in the second stanza as the world champions enjoyed more ball and court position.
11 Ethan Hooker – 5
He broke through the French defense early on with a well-worked move from a long throw, but left too much space for Grandidier-Nkananga to score the first try in the corner with a rush. Then again, it was a difficult decision. He took a defensive risk again after the break by trying to cross the Frenchman’s 22, which, fortunately for him, only went backwards. He did not enjoy the same air superiority that he had in the past.
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 5
He had a few chances early on to be outwitted, but most of his touches on the ball were attempts to clear the ball. With Bok’s strike looking so powerful, the penalty was inexcusable just before half-time, but he responded with a clean break moments later, resulting in a yellow card for Maxime Lucu. He never really took control of the game during his 65 minutes on the pitch, losing the ball three times, and mostly relying on South Africa’s strength up front to control the game. Outplayed by Antoine Dupont.
9 Morne van den Berg – 6
Linked well with Hooker from a long throw to start the first stop of the match, but his contribution was mostly defensive this week, with his shooting game used to clear the ball for touch rather than bring his wings into play. He also showed his work on the ball, winning a penalty in France’s half, only for his teammate to clear the ball.
17 Gerhard Steenekamp – 7
One of three last minute promotions to the starting XV and a pawn in some of Erasmus’ late games and delivered what his manager would have wanted with the first calm of the match, winning a penalty. They also move around the field, competing hard in the breakdown and they have some success there. Removed after 35 minutes, clearly a planned move by Erasmus, but his cameo was strong.
January 16-Hendrik Wessels – 6
Starting this week in the last minute, which of course reduced the flexibility of the bench position, and he got off to an awkward start, pinged for accidentally being offside after a knock-on. He redeemed himself soon after with a long line that created the break to score his side’s first try of the match after a seemingly unstoppable strike. The lineout worked well and contributed with 8 tackles in his 35 minute spell before being replaced by Malcolm Marx.
18 Thomas du Toit – 7
He was initially demoted to the bench this week after starting against Italy, only to return to the starting XV shortly before kick-off. Part of a tremendous counter-thieving effort to win his side a fight in the French 22 after just 10 minutes, only to have a penalty disallowed for another foul. Let in another scramble to bring down Jean-Baptiste Gros on 30 minutes to win a penalty and present a position for the Boks to score first. Six moves to display it.
4 Lood de Jager – 6
A year on from his red card against Les Bleus, the lock would have been worried as thousands of France fans jeered at footage of his high tackle on Lucu in the first quarter, but on this occasion it was just a yellow card. It happened a few minutes after he pulled off an athletic steal in the first game on 10 minutes five meters from his own line. Constantly in freedom, without the necessary separation.
5 Ruan Nortje – 6
He knocked the ball into the French 22 early on, although it was a tricky ball to take, then knocked the ball again when he hit the deck a few minutes later as South Africa re-entered the French 22. He kept coming back though, and his work rate was high again.
6 Siya Kolisi – 6
Mauvaka caught him off guard as the French whore sneaked past him in a breakdown as the French scored their third try. Too slow to get into position and could only watch as France made the break. The game, however, was played at a wild pace at times, with the skipper rolling up his sleeves with nine tackles before leaving the field just before the hour mark.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit – 8
After a fairly quiet showing against Italy by his standards, there was no doubt that one of the greats of the game would appear in Paris. He saw a lot of action early, getting his hands on the ball and being able to get his hands free in contact, and he looked particularly threatening in the wider channels of the field. He finished the match with the most carries, 16. Defensively, 11 tackles were even for the match, but his penalty beat the ball in the final five minutes in his 22 was a world-class intervention.
8 Jasper Wiese – 3
He went through his carry in the first half, making eight, the most for his side, but to no great effect with a strong French defence. He may have wanted to make more of an impact after the break, but that spilled over into a reckless, mindless foul play in a tackle on Calvin Gourgue, which earned him a 20-minute red card for tucking his arm and leading with his shoulder.
Substitutions
2 Malcolm Marx – 7
Introduced in the 35th minute of what was originally called kick-off, he looked set to hit a long throw to Arendse for the winger to run in untouched, but the effort was ultimately denied. He was penalized in the second half for failing to brake on two occasions, although Wessels was at fault in the first, resulting in a free kick. Scored another try off the back of a rolling maul.
1 Keeper of the Ox – 9
Part of a front-row overhaul before half-time and he enjoyed the same success in the tackle as Steenekamp, if not more, winning penalty after penalty as the Bok scrum took complete control of the match. After four consecutive penalties in the game, Regis Montagne received a yellow card in the last quarter. He did everything he could to almost secure a big comeback win.
3 Wilco Louw – 8
The third member of the rotation of the first half was made by Erasmus, and he had the French scrum in the palm of his hand. Although he didn’t produce the number of penalties that Nche was able to generate, he was still powerfully dominant, putting immense pressure on both looseheads he was up against.
19 Franko Mostert – 6
A fairly quiet cameo off the bench, with his role mostly reserved for punching backpacks. One carry and one sack in 25 minutes didn’t change the game.
20 Cameron Hanekom – 6
Carried with a lot of ferocity as he took to the field to restore South Africa to their full complement of players.
21 Paul de Villiers – 6
Another player who was steady after coming in without making a game-changing contribution.
22 Cobus Reinach – 7
The only addition to the squad since last week’s success in Italy, he made an immediate impact, firing in from close range to score just seconds after coming on. He enjoyed more or less one-way dominance of his side during his 30 minutes on the field.
23 Manie Libok – 5
Welcome to the game by taking a big hit from Émilien Gailleton. His missed conversion after South Africa’s third try was ultimately what left the visitors short, and that won’t help the perennial concerns hanging over his shooting.
