Kolisi just one of many Bok successes
The passion and will-to-win is back as Coetzee’s men subdue the French at King’s Park.
Man-of-the-Match: Siya Kolisi Rating: 9/10
One can’t believe this is the same player from a season or two ago. He was simply magnificent. He played a direct role in three of the Springboks’ four tries, and scoring one himself after a stunning midfield intercept. For the first try he ran brilliantly down the left-hand touchline, drew two defenders before putting centre Jan Serfontein into space to crash over. During the Boks’ final try, scored by Elton Jantjies, he turned over a ball by ripping it from a French player and ran valuable metres before off-loading in the tackle to the supporting Jantjies.
1. Beast Mtawarira Rating: 6/10
Didn’t let the team down in doing his job in the scrums by keeping the French props under pressure without really dominating, but his overall workrate needs to be addressed as he tends to drift from ruck to ruck.
2. Malcolm Marx Rating: 6/10
Didn’t quite get the same opportunities with ball in hand that he got at Loftus Versfeld, but was a tower of strength while doing his basic work in the scrums and lineouts well and played his part in a committed defence.
3. Frans Malherbe Rating: 6/10
Put on a massive display at scrumtime where he gave his French opposition Jefferson Poirot a torrid time. He picked up his work-rate from Loftus to play his part in the team’s great defensive display.
4. Eben Etzebeth Rating: 7/10
Much better performance than at Loftus and he almost saved the French first try scored by fullback Scott Spedding by chasing him down on the corner post. His physicality is a huge plus for the Boks.
5. Franco Mostert Rating: 8/10
It will be difficult to leave out Mostert again if he carries on in this vein. His workrate is absolutely out of this world and the staggering number of tackles he makes typifies his commitment and passion.
7. Oupa Mohoje Rating: 4/10
Only had 14 minutes to show what he can do before leaving the field with concussion and will miss the third Test. His concussion was caused by allowing French No 8 Louis Picamoles to run right over him.
8. Warren Whiteley Rating: 7/10
The skipper seems to get better and better with every Test he plays and again went through a mountain of work on defence, while acting as the ever-present link between his forwards and backs. One of the Boks’ best lineout options.
9. Ross Cronje Rating: 7/10
The cool head of the scrumhalf is one of the major reasons why Jantjies is allowed to make good decisions. He keeps the bad ball and gives the good ball to his flyhalf. Also showed his value on defence with a try-saving tackle on French centre Damian Penaud.
10. Elton Jantjies Rating: 8/10
The flyhalf is getting better with every game, while the accuracy of his goal-kicking has improved drastically having kicked 12 from 13 attempts over the two Tests. Fully deserved to finally score his first Test try after he was put through by Siya Kolisi.
11. Courtnall Skosan Rating: 4/10
The wing position remains one of the Boks’ less shining lights with both Skosan and Rhule looking a bit tentative on defence against bigger opposition and more work needs to be done in these positions.
12. Jan Serfontein Rating: 8/10
Finally realising the bright future that was predicted for him at age group level and backed up his great showing in the first Test with another five-star performance. Brilliantly ran himself into space to dive over for the Boks’ first try.
13. Lionel Mapoe Rating: 6/10
Severely tested the French on attack and almost slipped through their defence after doing well to spot the half-gap opportunities, but still looked a bit rusty. He should get better with more game time behind him.
14. Raymond Rhule Rating: 4/10
Was beaten too easily by his much bigger opponent Virimi Vakatawa, but did manage to scramble back effectively to make up for his lapses by nailing Vakatawa as he raced for the line.
15. Andries Coetzee Rating: 6/10
The fullback didn’t quite have the impact from Loftus seven days before, but can nevertheless look back at another workmanlike and satisfying performance, playing his part on defence and the few chances he got on attack.