South Africa A Player Ratings v The British & Irish Lions

South Africa A Player Ratings v The British & Irish Lions

The British and Irish Lions suffered their first defeat of their tour of South Africa, going down 17-13 to a Springboks 'A' side in Cape Town.


Here is how we rated the hosts. 

15. Willie le Roux - 6

 
Few opportunities to ignite the attack but he did shift on the ball well when required to. 
 
Solid enough defensively before he was replaced after 55 minutes. 
 
14. Cheslin Kolbe - 8.5
 

Brilliantly set up his captain Lukhanyo Am for the second South Africa 'A' try. Had a good hit on Louis Rees-Zammit and marked the Welshman well. Contested well in the air and a threat each time he touched the ball. Didn't get too much space on attack but made it work and defended well overall. 
 
 
 
 
13. Lukhanyo Am - 8
 
Ran an excellent line to finish off the try created by the magic of Cheslin Kolbe. Made some hefty and important tackles on defence. Communicated well enough with referee Peyper too. 
 
 
 
 
12. Damian de Allende - 6.5
 
Won an early penalty at the breakdown and continued to be a real threat in this department as the South Africans dominated the rucks in the first half. 
 
 
 
Fewer touches of the ball as the Lions dominated possession in the first half but he did manage to assist Nkosi for a try. Defended well before being replaced early in the first half.  
 
 
 
11. Sbu Nkosi - 8
 
Chased de Klerk's kicks well to put the Lions under pressure. He did his job as a winger to finish off the opening try and had a few strong moments on defence. 
 
 
 
10. Morné Steyn - 7
 
Missed a long-range shot at goal but was otherwise accurate both from the tee and with his kicking game. At 38, he does not look out of place at test level. Solid with the one error of taking his eye off the ball, luckily on penalty advantage. 
 
 
 
9. Faf de Klerk - 6
 
Was shown a yellow card for a silly tackle. His kicking was sharp as too was his passes. Nuggety and in the face of the Lions. Place for him to improve and shake off some of the cobwebs. 
 
 
 
 
1. Steven Kitshoff - 6.5
 
The scrum was better in the second half for South Africa 'A' but the first half struggles were on the opposite side of the scrum. Kitshoff was strong defensively and had a few strong carries. 
 
 
 
 
2. Joseph Dweba - 6
 
 
A few struggles at scrum time and one failed lineout where he conceded a turnover. However, Dweba was busy around the park in the first half before he was taken off. He carried well making 19 metres and made seven tackles. 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Trevor Nyakane - 4
 
Had a torrid time in the scrum as he was penalised in the first set piece and it just didn't get better for him. Made all his tackles before he was replaced at half time by Vincent Koch. 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Eben Etzebeth - 8
 
Charged down Owen Farrell to set up the first try for South Africa A and was brutally effective throughout. He smashed Liam Williams in the early knockings of the game which set the tone for his performance. He was excellent in the lineout and dismantled the Lions' mauls too.  
 
 
 
 
5. Franco Mostert - 8
 
Called the lineout well, with the one blooper in the first half, but managed to steal one off the Lions. He also did well to aid Etzebeth is stalling and stopping the Lions' driving mauls. 
 
 
 
 
6. Marco van Staden - 7.5
 
A real threat over the ball when the Lions were on the attack. He was guilty of giving the odd penalty or two away but was physically strong and improved his chances of further involvement for South Africa in the coming games. Made at try saving tackle on Louis Rees-Zammit in the second half.
 
 
 
 
 
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit - 6
 
Busy and physical in the first half but a head knock ended his game early. 
 
 
 
 
8. Jasper Wiese - 6

Hard physical carries but the Lions managed to mark him well enough. 
 


Replacements: 
 
 
 
16. Malcolm Marx - 7.5: Had the odd issue at the lineout but was fantastic over the ball. Tackled furiously and carried well. 
 
17. Coenie Oosthuizen - 6: Solid in all departments. 
 
18. Vincent Koch - 6.5: The scrum was far better with him on the pitch. Defended well too. 
 
19. Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg - 6: Busy in the rucks and didn't put a foot wrong. 
 
20. Rynhardt Elstadt - 6: Confrontational and abravise. Penalties hurt his rating. A different presence to Pieter-Steph du Toit on the side of the scrum.
 
 
21. Herschel Jantjies - n/a: Got 8 minutes on the wing. Did well enough but not long enough for a fair rating. 
 
 
22. Jesse Kriel - 7: A real threat over the ball and defended superbly. Even packed down on the side of the scrum
 
 
23. Damian Willemse - 7: Got through a ton of work on defence but had limited chances with ball in hand. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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