The Rugby Paper

NICK CAIN’S PLAYER WATCH...

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SOUTH AFRICA 1. TENDAI MTAWARIRA

No red letter day this time. Turned by Sinckler to concede scrum penalty Rating: 5.5 out of 10

2. CHILIBOY RALEPELLE

Not the same impact in the loose as Mbonambi and Van der Merwe Rating: 4.5

3. FRANS MALHERBE

Just managed to hold his corner, but Marler had the edge at scrum time Rating: 5.5

4. RG SNYMAN

Powerful in contact the Springboks have found the real deal in the Bulls lock Rating: 6.5

5. FRANCO MOSTERT

The best of the Bok forwards. Got traction going forward and good line-out operator Rating: 7

6. SIYA KOLISI (C)

Couldn’t swing a win on his home ground, but mobile, and made his tackles Rating: 6

7. PIETER STEPH DU TOIT

Did not have his 2nd Test impact but big engine and a glutton for punishment Rating: 5.5

8. DUANE VERMEULEN

Much quieter. Unable to get up the head of steam he managed earlier in the series Rating: 5.5

9. FAF DE KLERK

Mighty mouse. Pushed Hughes 10 metres back, box-kicking superior to Youngs Rating: 6.5

10. ELTON JANTJIES

Bad attack of nerves, missing easy kick and spilling the ball before Pollard came on Rating: 4

11. APHIWE DYANTYI

Surprising­ly strong in contact, stays on his feet well – a good find for the Springboks Rating: 6.5

12. ANDRE ESTERHUIZE­N

Covered the bases in defence but not the impact he wanted to make in attack Rating: 5

13. JESSIE KRIEL

Dynamic. Battered past Slade to create the pressure point that led to his try Rating: 7

14. S’BU NKOSI

On a learning curve. Should have pulled Brown outside to put Kriel clear on inside Rating: 5

15. WARRICK GELANT

Neat chip set up Kriel’s try, but dropped catch paved way for Cipriani's precision kick Rating: 5

ENGLAND 1. JOE MARLER

Impressive at scrum and had the power to meet the Bok front five head on Rating: 7.5 out of 10 2. JAMIE GEORGE

More like his old self – but line-out losses will irk him Rating: 6 3. KYLE SINCKLER

Did his stint making hard yards, and made comeback against Mtawarira Rating: 6

4. JOE LAUNCHBURY

Much more urgency. High work-rate and put the brakes on the Springbok line-out Rating: 6.5

5. MARO ITOJE

Stood tall. Always in the face of the Bok big men, and at the heart of this win Rating: 7.5

6. CHRIS ROBSHAW

Tireless. Conditions suited him and disrupted much more effectivel­y than in 1st Test Rating: 7

7. TOM CURRY

Won a couple of turnovers and good hands too – making headway at openside Rating: 7

8. NATHAN HUGHES

Not fit enough and goes in too upright. Not the gain-line threat he can be Rating: 4

9. BEN YOUNGS

His box-kicking radar malfunctio­ned too often, and his service is too laboured Rating: 4

10. DANNY CIPRIANI Precision kick for May clinched this win, and focus unwavering despite glitches Rating: 7 11. MIKE BROWN

More comfortabl­e when he went to fullback. Ran hard, but couple of spills too Rating: 6.5

12. OWEN FARRELL

Great goal-kicking underpinne­d this win – and had tactical head on when it counted Rating: 7

13. HENRY SLADE

Dropped off too many tackles here for comfort, and Kriel try came as a consequenc­e Rating: 4

14. JONNY MAY

Mr Rapid. Burned off Bok cover for his try, and his cover saved England more than once Rating: 7.5

15. ELLIOT DALY

Not one of his best days, and his stint at fullback is an inconclusi­ve experiment Rating: 5.5

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