SPRINGBOK’S RATINGS: Big names produce big time to end Brisbane curse
THEY’VE DONE IT: The Springboks have finally ended their 11-year drought in Brisbane and these are the players that helped turn the tide.
The Springboks put on a show to end their winless 11-year winless streak in Brisbane courtesy of a 33-7 bonus-point victory over hosts Australia on Saturday.
Despite all their recent success, this Springboks team produced the type of performance that confirmed their evolution is still very much a work in progress.
Lineout variations, in-game positional switches, new never-seen-before attacking plays and a stubborn defensive system rarely challenged, this Springbok performance should sound warning bells to the rest of the world.
That said, these are the players whose contributions made that massive win possible.
SPRINGBOKS RAZZLE DAZZLE IN BRISBANE
Elrigh Louw 8/10
Is the Springboks’ search for a permanent No 8 finally over? It might well be. Elrigh Louw made a strong case to be Springboks’ first-choice eighthman with top performance. Much-like his predecessor Duane Vermeulen, he wasn’t very flashy, but rather quietly excellent. His power-game was unrivalled. He was direct and abrasive when carrying the ball and resolute in defence. Simply industrious.
Can anyone honestly say they remember when last Pieter-Steph du Toit had a bad game? No. That’s because he rarely ever does have one. Motoring on like a well-oiled machine, the man just never stops producing when he takes to the field in Springbok colours. The withdrawal of RG Snyman at the 11th hour, forced Du Toit to shift from blindside flank to No 5 lock, but he was unfazed by the move and just came up with another trademark display of guts and determination up front. His performance was rewarded with a well-worked try.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9/10
Since his meteoric rise into the Springboks’ ranks, all the talk has been about Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu potentially usurping Manie Libbok in the flyhalf pecking order. That prophecy has been fulfilled. But the question now is, is the 22-year-old about to move ahead of Handre Pollard? Judging by his razzle dazzle display against the Wallabies, that challenge is already in full swing. In this showdown against the Wallabies, Feinberg-Mngomezulu oozed an aura rarely seen in Springbok playmaker. Apart from early shanked penalty, he didn’t put a foot wrong. He knocked over all his conversion attempts, broke the Australian defensive line at will and set up a couple tries for his teammates to stamp his authority all over this game and leave his imprint all over the No 10 jersey.
Kurt-Lee Arendse 8/10
Scoring 17 tries in 19 Test matches is no small feat. But it seems just so easy for Kurt-Lee Arendse. The winger continued to improved his already remarkable strike rate in Test rugby with two more tries against the Wallabies, the first of which was a magical individual effort that saw him dance through the heart of the Australian defence. Brilliant.
Ben-Jason Dixon and the Springbok front rowers (starters and substitutes) were all superior in their respective positions and execution their roles to perfection.
THE OFFICIAL TEAM PHOTO
The Springboks pose for their team photo ahead of the clash against Australia. Image: X