We pick five players that shone during the Springboks’ 32-15 win over Scotland in the opening game of their Autumn Nations Series campaign at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Thomas du Toit
Du Toit made the most of a rare start in the Green and Gold by producing a stellar all-round performance that included 25 carry metres, seven tackles (two of which were dominant) and even a try. As expected, the Bok scrum dominated Scotland and that was due in no small part to the efforts of the former Hollywoodbets Sharks skipper.
With Trevor Nyakane now seemingly out of the picture, there is a prop position that needs to be filled in the squad going forward, and the Tank may have done enough to take that place ahead of his would-be challengers.
🏃 Props on the loose!
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 10, 2024
🇿🇦 @Springboks prop Thomas du Toit finds the ball in his hands and trots over the line!#SCOvRSA | #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/QQCyvt4GCT
Eben Etzebeth
The living legend just doesn’t have an off switch, with the second rower picking up the Player of the Match award after a massive 80-minute shift that included two turnovers won, 14 carry metres and 11 tackles. Having been named captain on the day, Etzebeth well and truly led from the front in a characteristically big innings –he even had time for a minor scuffle or two.
Willie le Roux
Die Strandhond isn’t finished just yet, with the 35-year-old veteran pulling some trademark tricks out the bag on the occasion of his 98th Test cap. Le Roux’s clever dink set up Makazole Mapimpi for his second try, while his kicking out of hand and positional play was rock solid as he gets increasingly closer to becoming Bok centurion No 7. With two tour games left, let’s hope we see him raise the bat this month.
Makazole Mapimpi
Rassie Erasmus acknowledged post-match that it would be a sad day when Drex’s time with the Boks was finally up after the fan-favourite speedster dotted down twice in Edinburgh to bring his international try tally to 32 tries in 48 Tests. Mapimpi himself admitted recently that another World Cup campaign may be a bridge too far, with Father Time surely set to call his name soon. When that day comes, he would have left one helluva legacy behind.
Willie le Visionary.
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) November 11, 2024
Would love to pretend this was scripted, but this is all Le Roux and Mapimpi🧠.#SCOvRSApic.twitter.com/62jIoOZnYP
Andre Esterhuizen
The hulking midfielder was all class in his first Test back since his sending off against Portugal in July. In total, Esterhuizen made 48 metres in the carry, eight carries across the gainline and 12 tackles. The 30-year-old is another reminder of the Boks’ ludicrous player pool, with Esterhuizen, easily one of the best No 12s in the game, only being kept out of the starting XV by an all-timer in Damian de Allende.
