Shaun Goosen rates the Springbok players’ performances following their 45-12 win over Wales in their final Test of the year at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Thomas du Toit – 8
Initially named to start at tighthead, the late withdrawal of Ox Nche saw du Toit shift to loosehead where he ended up delivering a supreme scrummaging showing that resulted in Wales’ tighthead Archie Griffin being substituted after just 35 minutes. The Bath man was a big reason behind the Boks’ dominance at set piece and his overall displays on tour should see him included in Rassie Erasmus’ longer-term thinking.
Johan Grobbelaar – 7
Grobbies remains a solid third-choice option at hooker for the Boks and on Saturday produced another tidy shift that included a 100% line out success rate (9/9), while he also carried strongly into contact.
Wilco Louw – 7
Like du Toit, Louw’s recent performances merit more international game time going forward. In tandem with his fellow front-rankers, the 30-year-old caused havoc at the scrum.
Eben Etzebeth – 7
Went off injured inside a half hour but scored a try and looked busy during his short stint on the Principality pitch. Hollywoodbets Sharks supporters will hope his knock is nothing serious.
Franco Mostert – 9
Sous was back at his best after missing out on so much Test footy this season, scoring a try carrying for 30 metres and putting in 12 tackles in a Player of the Match performance.
Siya Kolisi – 7
The captain ended his year with another quality display and shows no signs of slowing down. He should become a Test centurion next season.
Elrigh Louw – 7
Grabbed a first Test try in a workmanlike showing, particularly on defence. He also made 20 metres in the carry and won two lineouts.
Jasper Wiese – 8
Wiese was his typical brutal self and finished his 61-minute performance with 69 metres with ball in hand and 15 carries across the gainline.
Jaden Hendrikse – 6
Not as slick a performance as we’ve come to expect from such a smooth operator, though certainly not bad by any means.
Jordan Hendrikse – 6
Scored a try and kicked five from seven but like his brother perhaps didn’t stamp his mark on the game like he would have liked to.
Kurt-Lee Arendse – 9
One try and two assists for Arendse in a game that also saw him rack up 82 carry metres, 10 carries across the gainline and four clean breaks. Could easily have been Man of the Match as well.
Damian de Allende – 8
All class again from the consistency machine
Jesse Kriel – 8
Copy and paste from the de Allende comment.
14. Cheslin Kolbe – 8
Not as influential as the week prior but still contributed six offloads and 63 carry metres.
Aphelele Fassi – 7
Grabbed a nice try after some Arendse magic and assisted one himself while also making 91 carry metres and a clean break. Overall, Fassi has progressed well on tour.
Bomb Squad – 8
RG Snyman ended up playing more minutes than he would have expected but stood out, while the replacement front row picked up where the starters had left off. Cameron Hanekom also got busy on debut.
