Springboks player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Rugby Championship

The South African Springboks secured the Rugby Championship title with a clinical 48-7 thumping of Argentina in Mbombela. A blistering first half, followed by a clinical display at the death, means that this team now owns two World Cups, a British & Irish Lions series as well as the southern hemisphere’s top prize.

15 – Aphelele Fassi – 9.5His best performance in the green and gold. Brilliant hands, as he showed when he fielded high kicks under pressure and collected off his toes before passing to set up Cheslin Kolbe’s try. Scored two tries of his own off the back of scything runs. He has given Rassie Erasmus a major headache for the next 12 months.

14 – Cheslin Kolbe – 10Once again provided fuel to the narrative that it is he, and not Antoine Dupont, who is the best player on the planet. Like a literal springbok escaping much larger predators in the wild, he was elusive in contact, hot-stepping out of tight spaces and inviting contact when required. Simply sensational. It’s almost unfair to have him in the team.

13 – Jesse Kriel – 7Led the defence well and showed good wheels when given the rare space to gallop. Hardly put a foot wrong.

12 – Damian de Allende – 8Barnstormed over the gainline with almost every carry. Should have let go of the ball on occasion, especially when an overlap formed down the left in the first half, but was immense otherwise.

11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse – 7Busy and willing, but with most of the play occurring down the other wing, he had to go searching for work. Almost scored a wonderful try when he flung himself onto a bobbling ball from a Fassi cross-field kick.

10 – Manie Libbok – 8Without the responsibility of kicking from the tee, he could play his game with freedom and confidence. And how it worked! With lovely touches and confidence when kicking from hand, he proved that he is a world-class talent that deserves an extended run in the group. His delayed pass and surge into space in the build-up to the Kolbe try in the first half was a particular highlight.

9 – Jaden Hendrikse – 7Dependable with some fizzing passes, he benefited from a monstrously dominant pack in front of him. Still, he had to make the right moves and almost always chose the correct option. He might well have leapfrogged the competition with this performance.

1 – Ox Nche – 9Consumed the scrum for the opening half hour as if they were prime rib-eye steaks. An absolute monster in the set-piece. Pretty handy in the loose too. A vital cog in this Springboks machine. Replaced by Gerhard Steenkamp on 55 minutes.

2 – Bongi Mbonambi – 7Threw himself about and even managed to charge down a clearing kick. Accurate at the line-out and dependable in the loose. Replaced by Malcolm Marx on 44 minutes.

3 – Frans Malherbe – 8Played his part in South Africa’s scrum dominance. Not as mobile as Nche, and perhaps won’t steal as many headlines or penalties, but is a ballast in the set-piece. Replaced by Vincent Koch on 44 minutes.

4 – Eben Etzebeth – 7.5Began the day with tears in his eyes as he became the most-capped Springbok of all time. He’s certainly had bigger impacts across his 128 Tests, but that is not to say that he was poor. Made the first tackle of the game and provided a bit of variety at the line-out. This was a decent show from the big man.

5 – Ruan Nortje – 7Dependable, solid, and aggressive in the tight channels. Has he done enough to retain his place once an injured cohort returns? Perhaps not, but he’s certainly played his part.

6 – Siya Kolisi – 7.5Several big carries and commendable effort over the ball, this was a workmanlike performance from the skipper. Erred on occasion when he shot out with too much oomph on the defensive line, but his contributions in the trams are proving invaluable in this new attacking system. Replaced by Elrigh Louw on 60 minutes.

7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit – 8.5Once again he was brilliant. Soft hands in tight spaces and effervescent when asked to tackle or carry. His finish to score in the first half was nothing short of world class as he leaped over a slew of bodies to dot down in contact and added another for good measure when the game was done.

8 – Jasper Wiese – 8Numerous meaty carries from deep, this battering ram continuously punched holes in the Argentine line. Is he the complete No. 8? No way. Is he an effective ball carrier who provides continued go-forward ball for the Boks? Absolutely. Replaced by Kwagga Smith on 53 minutes.

16 – Malcolm Marx – 7Not necessarily at his destructive best but he scored a rolling maul try and was accurate from the line-out. Another decent performance from one of the best hookers of all time.

17 – Gerhard Steenkamp – 7Couldn’t match what had come before, but never took a step back.

18 – Vincent Koch – 7.5Like Steenkamp, he couldn’t exert the same dominance at set-piece, but remains an integral member of the Bomb Squad.

19 – Elrigh Louw – 7.5Averaged over six metres per carry. He proved that he has the power and legs to add value off the wood. Should have passed, though, once he benefited from a Cobus Reinach break.

20 – Kwagga Smith – 8Came on and did Kwagga Smith things. Stole the ball, made a nuisance of himself in the loose, and produced another world-class show off the bench.

21 – Cobus Reinach – 7.5With the game done his job was made easy. Still, he needed to produce, and he did, cutting upfield with a trademark canter and offload.

22 – Handre Pollard – 8Unerring off the tee. Composure personified and also showed his skill with a cute dink for Kriel’s late try. Despite the presence of flashy upstarts, his place in the group cannot be questioned.

23 – Lukhanyo Am – 7.5Doesn’t have the requisite punch to start games at 12, but his awareness and natural ability mean he cannot be discounted. A lovely cameo off the bench with one blistering run through the guts of the Argentine defence.

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