Chris Rattue runs the rule over the All Blacks' 27-20 win over South Africa in their Rugby Championship clash in Johannesburg this morning.
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Chris Rattue runs the rule over the All Blacks' 27-20 win over South Africa in their Rugby Championship clash in Johannesburg this morning.
Read more:
All Blacks
Israel Dagg 6
Adequate work but threw hospital passes, one drop, early exit.
Ben Smith 6
Three top runs including try finish but got isolated from game and beaten in air at re-starts.
Conrad Smith 5
The old firm outplayed by Boks' rookies - errors, off the pace, lacked creativity.
Ma'a Nonu 5
Much the same as Smith but sharp inside pass to Sopoaga created try.
Charles Piutau 8
Fantastic in many ways - rugged, busy, good cover - although a couple of errors.
Lima Sopoaga 7
Very satisfying for a debut in tough arena, outstanding try move, without being commanding.
Aaron Smith 7
Dealt with quite a bit of pressure. Brave but not his usual influence. One memorable covering catch.
Kieran Read 9
How the heck did the ABs win? Try the Read/McCaw double act in the trenches. No spectacular touches from the No. 8. but a lineout steal.
Richie McCaw 9
How will the AB's cope when he's gone? The ultimate warrior, yet again, plus winning try trick. The closer you looked, the better Read and McCaw got.
Liam Messam 6
Developing concerning penalty risks. Busy enough but some powder puff tackling for a blindside.
James Broadhurst 6
Decent half work wise without the physical grunt of a Luke Romano-type.
Brodie Retallick 7
Dare we say it, not the Retallick of old yet. The graft is there, the grunt still coming. Hardly used at lineouts.
Owen Franks 7
Another strong scrum effort and got around for some defensive work.
Dane Coles 9
Brilliant test, including sensational angle and run in try for the ages. Loads of perfect, often low tackling. Lineout strong.
Tony Woodcock 6
Keeps on keeping on.
RESERVES
Codie Taylor (Coles, 62m) 6
Looks the part and delivered the killer lineout throw. Saved from scrum tests.
Wyatt Crockett (Woodcock, 49m) 5
Good involvement, lungs helped by Golden Oldie scrums.
Ben Franks (O. Franks, 57m) 4
Penalty problems.
Sam Whitelock (Broadhurst, 41m) 4
Potentially disastrous yellow card...saved by scrum debacle.
Victor Vito (Messam, 57m) 6
Lots of good work apart from one drop.
TJ Perenara (A. Smith, 64m) 5
Efficient yet strangely anonymous compared to his Super Rugby form.
Beauden Barrett (Dagg, 51m) 3
Where was he? Super sub sunk almost without trace on this occasion.
Malakai Fekitoa (Nonu, 47m) 7
Sharp in and out then pass for Coles try. Big break from ruck. Bit of a statement on limited time.
SPRINGBOKS
Willie le Roux 7
Constant threat, fine try, and heavily involved although not a great tackle effort on Coles
Cornal Hendricks 5
Late replacement showed little to suggest he is in original selection JP Pietersen's league.
Jesse Kriel 8
Maybe some defensive questions but made and created tries in superb test. The Boks have found a centre pairing with big future.
Damian de Allende 8
Power game and loads of defence...making the most of Jean de Villiers' absence.
Bryan Habana 6
A few good touches but certainly not the Habana of old.
Handre Pollard 7
Ran to the line, gorgeous work for Kriel try. The Boks faded again though and so did he.
Ruan Pienaar 7
Has all the skills but another Springboks fade is a worry.
Schalk Burger 9
Matched Read and McCaw and clever ball work. Late life captaincy and No. 8 jersey suits.
Francois Louw 5
Injury troubled perhaps and not a big influence.
Heinrich Brussow 7
Punched above his weight, but the Boks still might have needed more punch from their loosies.
Lood de Jager 8
Big game from Victor Matfield stand-in, from lineouts to crunching the ball up. Millimetres away from crucial try.
Eben Etzebeth 7
Good tough game from the senior lock, at 23.
Jannie du Plessis 5
Strong start but injured on half hour and departed early.
Bismarck du Plessis 7
This is the real Beast, but mighty showing hurt by three costly lineout misfires.
Tendai Mtawarira 6
Good solid performance without living up to the imposing Beast name.
RESERVES
Adriaan Strauss (Mtawarira, 69m) 3
Called upon in strange uncontested scrum bizzo but offered no attack.
Trevor Nyakane (Koch, 61m) 3
His fault? Bizarre...his lack of tighthead ability cost the Boks via Golden Oldies scrum rule.
Vincent Koch (J. du Plessis, 41m) 4
Some decent work but butchered two try chances.
Flip van der Merwe (de Jager, 59m) 4
Close to anonymous.
Warren Whiteley (Louw, 42m) 4
Disappointing.
Cobus Reinach (Pienaar, 74m) -
A forward pass his only contribution.
Pat Lambie (le Roux, 62m) 3
No matchwinning heroics or anything much else this time.
Lionel Mapoe (Kriel, 77m) -
Token gesture.
OPINION: There are three key reasons to believe that they can.