Player Ratings: As bleak as can be
For large periods of the game, it looked like the visitors were playing without a game plan – they were quite shocking at times with ball in hand and and their defensive organisation gave England plenty to work with.
Lyndon Julius rates the South African players!
15 Willie le Roux:
The fullback made his presence known in the opening couple of minutes, but his aerial skills became very unpredictable and England used this to gain valuable territory.
4/10
14 Ruan Combrinck:
Not much ball reached the Bok wings, but the Lions utility back made good use of the ball when he had ball in hand. On defence, Combrinck seemed very unsure of his abilities and slipped a few crucial tackles.
3/10
13 Francois Venter:
On debut, all eyes were on the Cheetahs midfielder and much was expected from him to step up. His defensive abilities has to be questioned and he did not get quality ball to carve up a defence like he regularly does against some of the top Southern Hemisphere midfielders.
3/10
12 Damian de Allende:
His name was not mentioned much, which apart from his few carries that he made, was a very sub-par performance from the Stormer.
2/10
11 JP Pietersen:
His ability to absorb the pressure under the high ball was about all he did. Having only made seven metres, this has to attest to the fact that ball went dead in the midfield.
4/10
10 Pat Lambie:
Trying to cement his place as the Bok first- choice playmaker, Lambie did not set his midfield alight. His form off the kicking tee also leaves much to ponder for Coetzee. The pivot only made six passes, that is less than half of his opposite number.
3/10
9 Rudy Paige:
Not as fired up as he was in last week's stalemate against the Barbarians, the Bulls scrumhalf's service from the base was very slow. He made 53 passes but only six of this made it to his halfback partner.
4/10
8 Warren Whiteley:
The Lions captain is known for his ball carrying ability and his seven carries added a valuable 43 meters. His pass sent Johan Goosen over the Boks first try. But that was as good as it got for Whiteley.
5/10
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit:
His selection at the side of the scrum raised a few controversial questions. His physical prowess at the set piece did not deliver much for the visitors. He made 10 carries but only has seven metres to show for his runs. He was also very suspect on defence, missing three tackles, the most by any Bok player.
3/10
6 Willem Alberts:
Returning from a lengthy injury layoff, the Stade Français player made little impact with ball in hand. Known for his battering and defence breaking runs, he could manage only 10 carries gaining 18 metres in the process.
2/10
5 Lodewyk de Jager:
The lanky lock made good work of his length at the line-out, but that was about as good as it got for the second rower. De Jager found himself with ball in hand but looked like a man with no plan as he woefully attempted to break the solid England defence.
2/10
4 Eben Etzebeth:
The second-row enforcer had to leave the field after a terrible collision with Billy Vunipola just before half-time. The lock did not make any impression, however brief, while he was on the field. Making only two tackles and not carrying much of the ball.
4/10
3 Vincent Koch:
The Saracens prop was under huge pressure come scrum time. Koch came up against Mako Vunipola and he could not get the better of him.
3/10
2 Adriaan Strauss:
The captain found all his jumpers and was solid at the breakdown, but that was about it for Strauss. The hooker made 23 metres with ball in hand which he amassed with his seven carries.
4/10
1 Tendai Mtawarira:
The veteran prop was solid at the scrum, coming up against Dan Cole. Beast also got contributed on defence making seven tackles.
4/10
Replacements:
16 Bongi Mbonambi (On for A Strauss, 71st min):
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Steven Kitshoff (On for T Mtawarira, 56th min):
His scrummaging was solid and supported well at the breakdown, but that's as far as his contribution goes.
3/10
18 Lourens Adriaanse (On for V Koch, 56th min):
The prop saw little of the ball and was, much like his fellow prop, Kitshoff, left with little time to make an impact.
2/10
19 Franco Mostert (On for E Etzebeth, 31st min):
He made telling line-out takes, but that was about it. The Lions second rower seemed a little lost with ball in hand.
3/10
20 Nizaam Carr (On for L De Jager, 68th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
21 Francois de Klerk (On for R Paige, 63rd min):
Tried to get quick ball to his backs, but it was too late for the visitors.
3/10
22 Johan Goosen (On for P Lambie, 54th min):
He scored the first try for the Boks but his form off the tee was not too good. His visionary skills also left much to be questioned as he found himself attacking but with no plan.
5/10
23 Lionel Mapoe (On for JP Pietersen, 77th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
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