Coetzee feels the heat as Boks destroyed
There were few positives against Ireland on Saturday, with questions likely to be asked.
Key player: Pieter-Steph du Toit Rating: 6/10
The transformed lock set an example for his teammates with his high work-rate and intensity. He never stopped trying, and along with Malcolm Marx, they were
1: Beast Mtawarira
Rating: 3/10
The veteran caught the eye with a few carries and did more work on defence. He struggled, however, against Irish prop Tadhg Furlong, and he conceded two early scrum penalties, first for going down on his knee after folding under pressure and then for walking around in the scrum.
3: Coenie Oosthuizen
Rating: - N/A He was not on the field long enough to be properly judged after he left on a stretcher as early as the second minute following a powerful tackle by Irish debutant Bundee Aki, who managed to lift him in contact and then turn him. Oosthuizen could be on the sidelines for quite some time.
8: Francois Louw
Rating: 4/10
He settled into his role after he was moved from No 8 to openside flanker, once the Bok braintrust realised the backrow was getting outplayed on the ground. Apart from a few good challenges, however, he came off second best to Ireland’s excellent CJ Stander in the breakdowns.
12: Damian de Allende
Rating: 2/10
The questions raised about his inclusion were justified as he was simply too sluggish on defence and too one-dimensional on attack. He lacked vision when he kicked the ball forward with a double overlap on his outside, and he failed to maintain the composure required to utilise those spaces. perhaps the only two Bok players who could hold their heads high. Du Toit competed well on the Irish ruck ball by wrestling and driving through the middle of a fired-up pack of forwards.
2: Malcolm Marx
Rating: 6/10
He made his presence felt with another workman-like performance, and the few times that he was offered possession as a ball-carrier he managed to get the Boks over the advantage line. He was one of the few threats at the breakdown, in an attempt to stop the Irish domination.
4: Eben Etzebeth
Rating:4/10
He again produced a strong physical performance and delivered a few good carries early in the game. But as skipper, questions were raised about his inability to keep the Boks together, especially in the last 10 minutes when the Irish ran in 21 points with three converted tries.
9: Ross Cronje
Rating: 4/10
His slow clearing from the base put the Boks under even more pressure after they were already in trouble against Ireland’s flat-lying and rushed defence, and while he did some great work on defence, he could be replaced by either Louis Schreuder or Rudy Paige for the next Test against France.
13: Jesse Kriel
Rating: 4/10
Though he showed far greater intensity on defence, on attack he remained a concern. Running and drifting sideways, he simply could not straighten the line. He seems lost when he doesn’t have an inside centre next to him like Jan Serfontein to create the space out wide.
5: Lood de Jager
Rating: 4/10
While he still hasn’t found the sort of form he showed two years ago, he was always in the middle of the action, trying to stop the flow of the Irish attack. His workrate was also better, but like the rest of the Bok pack, he became a bit disjointed as the beaten tourists started to lose their way.
10: Elton Jantjies
Rating: 3/10
Having seemingly lost his way, he appeared to be lacking in confidence. His defence remained questionable and he failed to get any distance with his pressure relieving touchline clearances, while his ball-in-hand approach behind the gainline has become way too predictable.
14: Dillyn Leyds
Rating: 3/10
Too predictable on attack, he needed to increase his work-rate in general play and on defence. Leyds seems toothless when there is not the kind of space he may be used to in Super Rugby or Currie Cup contests, and he needs variety in his approach at international level.
6: Siya Kolisi
Rating: 4/10
He was lively in open play and made his contribution in defence, but he displayed poor vision when he delivered a weak pass to wing Courtnall Skosan in the first half, which was one of only two realistic try-scoring opportunities. Kolisi formed part of a loose trio who were simply outplayed.
11: Courtnall Skosan
Rating: 3/10
His time in the national team could be numbered after once again being exposed under the high ball. He was targeted by the Irish, which led to their opening try by wing Andrew Conway when Skosan fumbled a ball in the air. His basic skills are not up to international standards.
15: Andries Coetzee
Rating: 4/10
While he had the drive to exert energy and intensity, and was involved in the action all over the field, like the rest of the back three he was found wanting in the air. He was able to contest, but he simply could not get there, while his aimless kicking under pressure remained a concern.