15. Willie le Roux: 7.5
Quite a quiet game by Le Roux’s standards but when he did get ball in open play his piercing running lines opened up the Eagles’ defensive line and created opportunities for others. His kicking game was not up to his usual high standards though.

14. Bryan Habana: 8.5
Habana is back to his best and level with the great Jonah Lomu in the Rugby World Cup try-scoring charts, scoring a well-deserved hat trick for all of his hard work. Read the game impressively and took his chances when they were presented to him.

13. Jesse Kriel: 6.5
A very ineffective first half but as the game opened up, Kriel came into his own. Cut the USA defence to ribbons at times and his defensive partnership with Damian de Allende is starting to gel as well.

12. Damian de Allende: 8
Is there a better ball carrying 12 at this world cup? Everything he did came good with a silky mix of tenacity and intelligence. Not only did he carry the ball up hard at first receiver but he ensured that he also knew when to avoid contact and keep the momentum moving in the right direction by spreading it wide.

11. Lwazi Mvovo: 6.5
A much better outing for Mvovo after his appalling performance against Japan, but he could have been a little hungrier for the ball. Showed some dazzling footballing skills for his (non) try at the death.

10. Handre Pollard: 7.5
Another mixed bag from Pollard. At times, he distributed well and gave the ball some air but he was tackled too often and regularly kept the ball tight to the breakdown when it was on outside. Defended well enough but better back row units will target Pollard as a weak link.

9. Fourie du Preez – 6.5
A quiet game for Du Preez behind a dominant pack. The scrum-half didn’t threaten around the fringe or draw the USA back row out. In the second-half, though, Du Preez came to life and his cut out passes on the gain line forced big runners through the holes. Delectable kick through for Habana’s first try.

1. Tendai Mtawarira: 7
You can only play what is in front of you and The Beast destroyed his inexperienced opposite number at scrum time after an early unnecessary indiscretion. He is still not quite offering enough in the loose though.

2. Bismarck Du Plessis: 7.5
One overthrow but other than that Du Plessis was on target with every arrow. He was bullish at the breakdown and earned his team numerous turnovers and penalties as he disrupted American attacking ball.

3. Frans Malherbe: 7.5
Took his chance with both hands. His raw power helped dominate the scrum but it was his work defensively that was most impressive.

4. Eben Etzebeth: 8
His defensive work is one of the most impressive features of his game and he showed that in spades. Everything he hit went backwards as he stopped any threat coming his way. Added his significant weight and size with ball in hand.

5. Lood de Jager: 8.5
De Jager’s form continues. At the lineout he caught everything cleanly and presented the ball on a plate to Du Preez, but his work rate around the field was second to none and his partnership with Etzebeth will have the Springbok coaches purring with delight.

6. Francois Louw: 9
Majestic. Two tries coupled with three of the most sumptuous turnovers you could wish to see. He smashed anything that moved, was a constant nuisance at the breakdown and his first steal in the second half helped set up Habana’s first try, and also set the tone for the second half onslaught.

7. Schalk Burger: 7
Burger continued his great form with big tackles, big carries and big offloads. He needs to be careful with the height of his tackling though as any sort of citing or ban could really upset the balance of this impressive back row unit.

8. Duane Vermeulen: 7
His physical presence was immense but when he had possession of the ball, his hands let him down. Still a bit rusty but getting better with every match.

REPLACEMENTS: 6.5
Rudi Paige gained his first cap and like most of the other replacements, did nothing wrong but didn’t stake any claim to be in the match day 23 come the knockout stages. Schalk Brits made an impression with his sizzling side-steps and carried on where Du Plessis left off at the lineout.

By Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images