Springboks Player Ratings: Pollard Stars In Imperfect Win vs. Wallabies
Springboks Player Ratings: Pollard Stars In Imperfect Win vs. Wallabies
Handré Pollard’s kicking led South Africa to a 30-22 Rugby Championship win over Australia. See the Springboks player ratings from Cape Town.
South Africa’s Rugby Championship campaign is back on track after a hard-fought 30-22 win over Australia at a blustery Cape Town Stadium.
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It was not a performance that would calm Rassie Erasmus’s nerves, however.
The Springboks were scrappy for large periods, inconsistent at the set-piece and far too reliant on the boot of Handré Pollard, whose metronomic goal kicking was the difference.
For the Wallabies, missed opportunities haunted them: James O’Connor’s three missed shots at goal, and a disallowed Fraser McReight try proved costly.
Here’s how the Boks rated in a win that was more guts than glamour:
1. Ox Nché – 8
Set the tone with a thunderous opening scrum, driving Taniela Tupou backward and laying down a marker.
His 10-meter carry midway through the first half completely shifted momentum, forcing the Wallabies onto the back foot and creating the platform for Kwagga Smith’s try seconds later.
Nché carried strongly throughout and added a crucial turnover at the breakdown just after halftime.
His only blemish was conceding a penalty when Damian de Allende clattered into Marco van Staden, but otherwise Nché delivered a standout shift.
2. Malcolm Marx – 5
The line-out remains his Achilles heel.
Consistently put under pressure by the Wallabies jumpers, Marx never looked fully comfortable throwing in.
To his credit, he grafted hard defensively—11 tackles and five carries—but by his lofty standards, this was a subdued outing.
A nearly 80-minute shift speaks to his engine, but South Africa needs its hooker to be sharper in the core set-piece.
3. Thomas du Toit – 6
Conceded an early scrum free-kick, but from that point onward, he locked things down and steadily applied pressure to Tom Robertson.
His best moment came in the 22nd minute, when he latched onto a loose ball near his own line and won a turnover just as the Wallabies threatened to score.
Solid and physical without being spectacular, du Toit can be pleased with his overall work rate.
4. RG Snyman – 3
A strangely muted performance.
Nick Frost disrupted him relentlessly in the line-out, and Snyman couldn’t find his usual rhythm or aerial dominance.
With only three carries and five tackles, there were no offloads, no sparks of creativity—the hallmarks of his game were absent.
A worry for Erasmus, as South Africa’s lock depth is beginning to look stretched.
5. Ruan Nortje – 3
Worked hard on defense with 11 tackles, but he struggled to impose himself elsewhere.
His one line-out win aside, he offered little attacking punch and was penalized for sacking a Wallaby lifter.
Subbed off early in the second half, it was a day to forget for the Bulls lock.
6. Marco van Staden – 4
A performance of highs and lows.
He gave away a needless penalty in the 16th minute, then immediately redeemed himself with a textbook jackal to win one back.
That sort of inconsistency summed up his day—energetic and aggressive, but too often undisciplined.
He needs to cut out the errors if he wants to hold onto this shirt.
7. Franco Mostert – 4
Endless graft, but very little impact.
Mostert hit ruck after ruck and finished with double-digit tackles, but he rarely disrupted or carried with any effect.
In a role where Pieter-Steph du Toit usually sets the tone physically, Mostert simply couldn’t match that influence.
8. Kwagga Smith – 5
Always busy, always physical.
He rag-dolled Nic White in the opening minutes, forcing the Wallaby scrumhalf off for a head injury assessment, and powered over for South Africa’s second try.
But that trademark energy was undermined by ill-discipline, conceding a needless penalty on the stroke of halftime that kept the Wallabies in touch. A mixed bag.
9. Grant Williams – 6
Looked far more composed with Pollard steering alongside him.
His box kicking was accurate, giving his wings plenty of contests, and his slick service helped set up Smith’s try.
He's still guilty of getting ahead of his pack at times, but this was a step forward.
He was replaced on the hour after 52 passes and a try assist.
10. Handré Pollard – 9
The general.
From the opening whistle, he dictated terms with authority.
He nailed two early penalties to settle nerves, then produced a brilliant cross-kick for Canan Moodie’s opener.
His goal kicking was flawless, his composure unshakable.
Quite simply, when Pollard plays like this, South Africa looks like a champion.
11. Cheslin Kolbe – 9
Outstanding in the air, relentless in the chase and a constant source of energy.
He kept Max Jorgensen under immense pressure and gave the Boks momentum when they needed it most.
Even without much joy ball-in-hand, his aerial dominance and work at the breakdown were critical.
Vintage Kolbe.
12. Damian de Allende – 6
A mixed showing.
Defensively, he worked tirelessly, finishing with 17 tackles, but in attack, he was guilty of poor decision-making.
Conceded a soft penalty after colliding with van Staden and inexplicably knocked on under no pressure in the second half.
By his standards, sloppy.
13. Jesse Kriel – 4
Struggled to influence the game.
He produced one decent line break, but never looked like exploiting Joseph Sua’ali’i’s inexperience.
A late fumble of an offload cost South Africa a chance to seal the game earlier.
Not the captain’s performance for which he would have hoped.
14. Canan Moodie – 6
Took his try well, showing superb awareness to gather Pollard’s kick and score untouched.
Brilliant in the aerial battle and chased relentlessly, but his positioning in defense left him badly exposed.
Two Wallaby tries came directly from his errors under the high ball.
A night of promise and frustration.
15. Aphelele Fassi – 7
Showed his attacking instincts with clever chips and grubbers, including a neat kick that pinned Australia deep.
He was more involved as a first receiver after halftime, but undone by defensive lapses—easily stripped by Corey Toole and beaten in one-on-ones.
Flashes of quality, but not enough control.
Replacements
16. Marnus van der Merwe – N/A
On too late to judge.
17. Boan Venter – 5
Solid in the scrum and steady in general play, but offered little beyond that.
18. Wilco Louw – 7
Made an immediate impact—powerful in the set-piece, carried hard and even showed some deft touches in open play. A strong cameo.
19. Eben Etzebeth – 8.5
A game-changer off the bench.
He exploded into contact, dominated the line-out and unsettled the Wallabies with his sheer presence.
He conceded a penalty but responded by scoring the decisive try minutes later.
Once again proved why he’s the Boks’ enforcer-in-chief.
20. Lood de Jager – 4
Worked alongside Etzebeth but lacked his old dynamism.
Functional, but far from inspirational.
21. André Esterhuizen – 5
Carried strongly and brought physicality, but he didn’t quite tilt the game South Africa’s way.
Still feels like an experiment Erasmus is testing.
22. Cobus Reinach – 5
Kept things under control and showed good composure in wet conditions, but he didn’t add much spark.
23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 5
A useful extra kicking option, though his high tackle late on was sloppy. Did the basics well otherwise.
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