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Ireland v SA: Springbok player ratings
Saturday, November 28, 2009 (18:13:49)
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 SARugby.com brings you the player ratings of the Springboks who did duty in the 10-15 defeat to Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.
Fullback: Zane Kirchner – 7
One of the better backs on the day. His positional play was good and he chased and contested the high ball well.
Right wing: JP Pietersen – 6
Better than last week but still some way off the pace.
Outside centre: Jaque Fourie – 7
Lost his dual with opposite number Brian O’Driscoll but his short ball to Burger set the flanker away for the only try of the match.
Inside centre: Wynand Olivier – 6
Slipped too many tackles in midfield and had few opportunities on attack.
Left wing: Bryan Habana – 7
Had some enterprising runs and were solid on defence.
Flyhalf: Morne Steyn – 4
Steyn’s dire tour ended on the lowest possible note. The match-winning flyhalf has looked anything but on the Boks’ dreadful end-of-year tour.
Scrumhalf: Fourie du Preez – 8
Nice crisp service and quick at the rucks and mauls. Kicking wasn’t quite up to his usual high standards but still good in the icy Dublin wind. Best back on the day.
No 8: Danie Rossouw – 6
Not quite the impact he had last week. Showed his versatility when he moved to lock while Bekker was being stitched up.
Blindside flank: Schalk Burger – 6
Scored the game’s only try but failed to make his usual impact on the deck.
Openside flank: Heinrich Brussow – 8
Led the charge for the ball on the deck and won a number of turnovers at crucial times.
Lock: Victor Matfield – 6
Matfield was far from his commanding self in the lineouts.
Lock: Andries Bekker – 6
Was never going to be the one to emulate Bakkies Botha’s enforcer role. Overall, the Boks’ lineouts were uncharacteristically poor.
Tighthead: BJ Botha – 8
BJ had a dominant outing before he was replaced early in the second half.
Hooker: John Smit – 6
Not the performance the country was expecting from Smit back at hooker. His throw-ins in the lineouts were noticeably rusty.
Loosehead: Tendai Mtawarira – 8
Strong performance in the scrums from the man known as “The Beast.” Collectively, it was the Boks’ best scrummaging display since the British & Irish Lions tour.
Replacements:
16. Bismarck du Plessis – 6
A crucial overthrow in the lineout. Also undid his turnover by conceding a subsequent penalty for holding on.
17. CJ van der Linde – (Not enough time to be rated)
18. Francois Hougaard – (Not used)
19. Jean Deysel – (Not used)
20. Dewald Potgieter – 6
Thrown in at the deep end in his international debut but made a good run.
21. Ruan Pienaar – 5
With Steyn struggling, a reliable goal kicker was needed in the flyhalf channel. Pienaar’s kicking, both at goal and out of hand, is not up to standard at No 10.
22. Jean de Villiers – 7
Made quite an impact. Nice break in the latter stages. Solid all round cameo.
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Content received from: SARugby.com, http://www.sarugby.com/news
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