Simply the best
Rassie’s heroes proved the mighty All Blacks can be beaten at home. The tigers in green and gold scored five tries and their highest number of points in a Test there – 36.
Rating: 8/10
It’s probably unfair to single out one player in a superb performance by the national team, but Du Toit’s input was best reflected in the enormous amount of tackles he made (30). Despite missing a tackle on fullback Jordie Barrett, who scored the All Blacks’ opening try, Du Toit’s performance ensured there was more stability to the balance of the back row.
1: Steven Kitshoff
Rating: 7/10
In his second straight start, Kitshoff proved to be more than just a handful for the All Blacks and it often required two or three defenders to contain him. His superb scrumming also ensured the All Blacks could not gain ascendancy or momentum in the vital setphase plays.
2: Malcolm Marx
Rating: 6/10
Back to his best, Marx worked superbly with the pack, and in tandem with Franco Mostert, to score a trademark driving maul try. Despite being guilty of an early lineout overthrow, he was active in all other areas and made the second-last pass in Aphiwe Dyantyi’s first try.
3: Frans Malherbe
Rating: 6/10
He responded well to claims that Wilco Louw should have started. Apart from a powerful scrumming effort, Malherbe improved with his work outside the scrum and made a powerful burst in open play, while adding his weight in the defensive display.
4: Eben Etzebeth
Rating: 6/10
His vast improvement in containing his short fuse complemented his general play, and he was a rock in the pack with his physical presence, with only his decision to take scrumhalf Aaron Smith out of play in the first half denting his sound all-round effort.
5: Franco Mostert
Rating: 6/10
As he usually does, the lanky middle rower punched well above his weight and got stuck in, while his tackle rate was second only to Du Toit. Mostert was again a leading force in the driving maul, despite landing on top of the maul ahead of Marx’s try.
6: Siya Kolisi
Rating: 6/10
The captain thrived, at last showing the passion and commitment the fans knew he had in him. Kolisi communicated well with referee Nigel Owens before leaving the captaincy to Warren Whiteley when he left the field with 13 minutes remaining.
8: Warren Whiteley
Rating: 7/10
The Lions skipper proved all his doubters wrong, perhaps producing his best Test performance to date. Whiteley covered well on the fringes and kept the team together in the vital final minutes after taking over the leadership from Kolisi late in the game.
9: Faf de Klerk
Rating: 7/10
After a less than satisfactory display in Brisbane, the nippy little No 9 was back to his exciting best and put a lot of pressure on opposite number Aaron Smith. Aside from an early box-kick which backfired, De Klerk was on top of his game.
10: Handre Pollard
Rating: 6/10
He composed himself well after the game started in the worst possible way, booting his kick-off over the dead-ball line. A menace in physically containing Beauden Barrett, he also worked well with Elton Jantjies after he moved to inside centre.
11: Aphiwe Dyantyi
Rating: 7/10
His spot-tackle late in the game, which led to an All Black knock-on, saved the Test and his two tries showed his finishing power. He was guilty on occasion, however, of shooting out of the defensive line too early and putting the wide channels under pressure.
12: Damian de Allende
Rating: 6/10
After delivering a solid presence on defence in the Bok midfield, he was forced to depart with a serious shoulder injury early in the second half, which required the Bok backline to be reshuffled. He nonetheless played his part in policing the Boks’ rush defence.
13: Lukhanyo Am
Rating: 5/10
Having improved drastically with his decision-making on defence, he too was forced off the field with a shoulder injury, with Jesse Kriel moving to the outside centre position and replacement Cheslin Kolbe coming on and taking his place at rightwing.
14: Jesse Kriel
Rating: 6/10
With the experience of 34 Tests, Kriel brought of stability, first on the right wing and then at outside centre in partnership with De Allende. He also combined well with Kolbe and made a try-saving tackle on left wing Rieko Ioane late in the contest.
15: Willie le Roux
Rating: 7/10
Proving his value, Le Roux rose to the occasion, despite being shown a yellow card. He made the last pass for Dyantyi’s first try and scored the second when he intercepted a wayward pass to give the Boks the lead for the first time at 14-12.
The bench 16: Bongi Mbonambi
Rating: 6/10
He had big shoes to fill when he replaced Marx late in the second half, but in his 10 minutes on the park, Mbonambi made the most of it with a strong, energetic presence on the field.
17: Beast Mtawarira
Rating: 6/10
Though he may not be considered an impact player, the veteran prop was worth his weight in gold, producing a powerful effort in the scrums while winning his 105th cap.
18: Wilco Louw
Rating: 6/10
Also rising to the occasion after replacing Malherbe in the second half, Louw continued the good work of the starting prop in the scrums, adding a real physical presence in the tight areas.
19: RG Snyman
Rating: 7/10
He replaced Eben Etzebeth at a vital stage, with just 20 minutes left in the contest, enhancing his growing reputation with his robust performance and ability to contest in the lineouts.
20: Francois Louw
Rating: 6/10
Coming on as a substitute late in the game when he replaced Kolisi with just 13 minutes left, Louw played his role well as defender and was a nuisance in the contact areas.
21: Ross Cronje
No rating
He was the only bench player not used by Rassie Erasmus, but considering Faf de Klerk’s influence and control on the game, one could easily forgive the coach for his decision.
22: Elton Jantjies
Rating: 6/10
Showing great vision when he replaced De Allende, which forced Pollard into inside centre, Jantjies showed great composure with a delayed pass, assisting in Dyantyi’s second try.
23: Cheslin Kolbe
Rating: 7/10
Coming on after Am’s injury, Kolbe responded superbly with his intercept try and great tackle on Ioane in a try-scoring situation, though he also missed a crucial tackle on the same player.