Kolisi is the Boks’ captain marvel

2021-08-01 -

PLAYER WATCH

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BY PAUL REES

LIONS 1. MAKO VUNIPOLA

Conceded a couple of penalties and struggled up front with South Africa straighter than the week before.

Rating: 5 2. LUKE COWAN-DICKIE

Wins penalties with his low carrying, but less effective than last week with the Lions’ maul neutralised.

Rating: 5 3. TADHG FURLONG

The tighthead was best of the starting front rowers and the one most likely to start the deciding Test. Rating: 6

4. MARO ITOJE

With the ball spending so much time in the air, he was less influential than the week before, but stole a lineout and forced a scrum after a lost fivemetre throw.

Rating: 7

5. ALUN WYN JONES (C)

Wore the scars of battle having thrown himself into everything and everyone, but there should have been a tactical shift.

Rating: 6 6. COURTNEY LAWES

Strong first half when he won a turnover and pinched a lineout, but unable to stop the tide going out.

Rating: 6

7. TOM CURRY

Should he have been considered at 8 given the tactics employed by the Lions which would have better suited Sam Underhill at 7?

Rating: 6

8. JACK CONAN

On an afternoon when the average carry for a Lion was some way below a metre, he was contained.

Rating: 6

9. CONOR MURRAY

Varied his kicking, going shorter after the break, but that was the only doubt implanted on the defence. Rating: 6

10. DAN BIGGAR

Only passed the ball three times and with the Lions lacking a Plan B on the bench, he kept kicking. Rating: 6

11. DUHAN VAN DER MERWE

Will do well to hold on to his place after getting away with a late challenge on Du Toit and then seeing yellow for kicking Kolbe. Rating: 5

12. ROBBIE HENSHAW

So close to a try, he was his side’s most threatening outside back, an option at 13 for Saturday.

Rating: 7

13. CHRIS HARRIS

Started with a hard tackle on Am, but only touched the ball three times and had just three tackles to make.

Rating: 6

14. ANTHONY WATSON

Targeted in the second-half, he struggled in the air with South Africa’s kicking and chasing precise. Booted the ball away on the one chance he had to run.

Rating: 5

15. STUART HOGG

Liam Williams would have been a better choice in a kicking contest, but although the Scotland captain struggled under the high ball he never hid.

Rating: 5

REPLACEMENTS 16. KEN OWENS

The reverse of last week with the Lions front row replacements swamped by the incoming tide, even his lineout throwing suffered.

Rating: 4 17. RORY SUTHERLAND Penalised at two scrums and dropped a lineout throw. Will not be buying the video.

Rating: 4

18. KYLE SINCKLER

What a difference a week makes. Powerless to change the game’s momentum. Rating: 5

19. TADHG BEIRNE

Only given ten minutes at the end, but an option to start on Saturday when the Lions will need fresh personnel as well as ideas.

Rating: 5 20. TAULUPE FALETAU

Not his game and was penalised for holding on when he eventually had a run.

Rating: 5

21. ALI PRICE

His kicks did not discomfort South Africa’s back three any more than Murray’s.

Rating: 5

22. OWEN FARRELL

One long raking touch finder marked a tactical tweak, but should be an option at 12 if Biggar keeps his place to provide a second-five.

Rating: 5

23. ELLIOT DALY

A curious choice on the bench instead of Williams with Henshaw covering 13 and Hogg the wing. Aside of the tactics, the soft surface did not suit his stepping.

Rating: 5

SOUTH AFRICA 1. STEVEN KITSHOFF

Started the revival by winning a scrum penalty a minute after the restart, more combative than last week.

Rating: 7

2. BONGI MBONAMBI

Struggled with his throwing and his discipline, conceding the penalty that gave the Lions their interval lead. Rating: 6

3. FRANS MALHERBE

Solid and unspectacular in the manner of a tighthead, a doublefigure tackle count and the upper hand over Vunipola.

Rating: 7

4. EBEN ETZEBETH

An early snarling exchange with Alun Wyn Jones ignored his fire, the dominant figure for South Africa in the second half.

Rating: 8

5. FRANCO MOSTERT

Reclaimed his jersey from last week’s doppelgänger, in the thick of everything and just as effective when he moved to flanker.

Rating: 8 6. SIYA KOLISI (C)

Denied Henshaw a try as he stirringly led by example, clearly more match fit than the first Test.

Rating: 9 7. PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT Injured after being taken out late by van der Merwe three minutes in.

8. JASPER WIESE

Rating: 5

Carried hard, he is more of a No.8 in the Vermeulen mould than Smith, a dropped restart after Mapimpi’s try saw him hooked.

Rating: 6 9. FAF DE KLERK

Got away with a poor challenge on Murray, set up his side’s second try and kept his forwards on the front foot.

Rating: 7

10. HANDRE POLLARD

Looked off the pace in the first half, although he had worked on his restarts, transformed after the break. Suckered Watson for the first try. Rating: 7

11. MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI

Hungry for the ball on a day when a prop could have played on the wrong, chased hard and was ready when his chance came.

Rating: 7 12. DAMIAN DE ALLENDE

Took exception to Itoje’s knee planted on his shoulder, his speed off the line and power in the tackle kept the Lions kicking.

Rating: 8

13. LUKHANYO AM

A case of Am not in the first half, but not in the second and quick to take possession of the loose ball. Questionable try, but he earned it.

Rating: 7 14. CHESLIN KOLBE

Had an early run, but was again largely a spectator. His tackle on Murray in the air should interest the citing commissioner.

Rating: 5

15. WILLIE LE ROUX

A less bumpy ride than he endured in the first Test and he knew what was coming with the Lions onedimensional.

REPLACEMENTS

16. MALCOLM MARXRating: 7 More like Groucho last week, far higher marks this. Sorted the line-out by throwing to Etzebeth, forced turnovers and scrummaged hard.

Rating: 8

17. TREVOR NYAKANE

Switched to loosehead without a loss of impact as he won two scrum penalties. Rating: 7

18. VINCENT KOCH

Went straight, in the scrum and with ball in hand. Enviable third choice at tight-head. Rating: 7

19. LOOD DE JAGER

A late knock-on did not mitigate the considerable impact made by another player who resembled his World Cup self.

Rating: 7 20. MARCO VAN STADEN

Replaced Kolisi late on and enjoyed the ride.

Rating: 6

21. KWAGGA SMITH

Came on for Du Toit on 22 minutes and made a nuisance of himself at the breakdown and didn’t stop running. Rating: 6