SOUTH AFRICA
15. Willie le Roux: 6
He’s so Jekyll and Hyde. One piece of brilliance is usually followed by a poor kick or a lot of lateral running.
14. JP Pietersen: 5.5
A mere passenger for most of the game and didn’t influence too much when it opened up.
13. Lionel Mapoe: 5.5
He’s a solid player but surely will struggle to keep his place next weekend.
12. Damian de Allende: 6.5
Ultimately won the Springboks the match with his power in attack but for such a big guy he shouldn’t slip off so many tackles.
11. Lwazi Mvovo: 5
Probably South Africa’s best back last week he looked like he had completely forgotten how to field a high ball this week. Poor showing.
10. Elton Jantjies: 6.5
Insipid first half but inspired once the substitutions were made in the second. Showed his domestic form and why he his first choice now.
9. Francois de Klerk: 7.5
The Springboks have unearthed a real gem here. Controlled the tempo and game beautifully as the men in green made their unlikely comeback.
1. Tendai Mtawarira: 5
Scrummaged well enough but no barnstorming runs worthy of note.
2. Adriaan Strauss: 5
Still big questions surround the captain. Disappeared for large portions of this game.
3. Frans Malherbe: 4.5
Hammered by McGrath and quite frankly lazy in attack. Two poor games in a row.
4. Eben Etzebeth: 6.5
Stole a crucial lineout late on and got through a lot of tackling.
5. Pieter–Steph du Toit: 7
Big game from the utility forward. Put his body on the line at every breakdown.
6. Francois Louw: 6
Came into his own when the game opened up but struggled with the Irish physicality in the first half.
7. Siya Kolisi: 5.5
Enthusiasm can never be doubted but gave away some needless penalties with his over eagerness.
8. Duane Vermeulen: 4.5
Quite clearly not fully fit and he waltzed around at times. Struggling for form and Whiteley who replaced him was superb.
Replacements: 9.5
They won this game for the Springboks without a shadow of a doubt. Ruan Combrinck won Man of the match from the bench but notable mentions for Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys and Warren Whiteley after they all changed the tempo of the game.
IRELAND
15. Jared Payne: 7.5
Becoming more and more assured as a test full back. Great reader of the game but couldn’t do anything to stop the Boks in the last 20.
14. Andrew Trimble: 7.5
Another performance full of graft. His clear out of Du Toit just after flicking the ball through his opposite numbers leg to set up Devin Toner earns a full point on its own.
13. Robbie Henshaw: 7
His physicality adds balance to the backline but his power and strength were to fore this week as he put Ireland into dangerous attacking positions.
12. Stuart Olding: 6
Tough first outing for Olding. Matched Springbok physicality for 60 but rigours of test match rugby and altitude saw him drop off very quickly in the last 20.
11. Craig Gilroy: 6
Always expectant when he gets ball in hand but his defensive frailties are there for all to see. Earls will be chomping to get back in next week.
10. Paddy Jackson: 7
Another inventive display but until his kicking percentage reaches the high 80% mark then Sexton will always have one over him. Six points left wanting that could have swung it the Irish way.
9. Conor Murray: 7
Superb first half but took some serious punishment in defence as the South African attackers poured through at him as sweeper. Missed De Allende for killer try.
1. Jack McGrath: 8
Has to be considered one of the best loose-heads in the world right now. Dominating at scrum and always offers something in the loose.
2. Rory Best: 7.5
A great captain’s shift. Stuck to the job description of a hooker to the letter.
3. Tadhg Furlon: 7
As first starts go, playing against the beast in Ellis Park and holding your own won’t go down as a bad one.
4. Quinn Roux: 6
A tough shift for the second row. Never gave up and made one barnstorming charge over Etzebeth but his 50 minutes proved why he will be down the pecking order when everyone is fit.
5. Devin Toner: 7
The sheer size of his engine still amazes. Did lose a crucial lineout with five minutes to go, though, which took some gloss of his performance.
6. Iain Henderson: 7.5
Never was a backwards step taken. He gets better week by week and his versatility makes him almost indispensable.
7. Rhys Ruddock: 7
Often the forgotten man of the Irish back row he put in a very physical performance that showed at just 25 years of age he still has plenty to offer.
8. Jamie Heaslip: 8
Towering performance as he mixed brain with brawn beautifully. His dummy and go for his try the perfect way to sum Heaslip up.
Replacements:4.5
The one area that Ireland clearly lost by a country mile. In short, the Springbok subs when them the game and the Irish subs never looked like stopping them.
By Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images