After a frustrating outing against Italy last week, the Springboks delivered a crushing response this week — and then some. I asked for a winning margin of 30 points… they gave me 45. Even more impressive, they kept the Azzurri scoreless. That’s no small feat — especially considering they played most of the game with 14 men after Jasper Wiese’s foolish red card for a needless headbutt.
Still, the men in green and gold flexed their depth, their grit, and their class. Here’s how the players rated:
PLAYER RATINGS
15. Willie le Roux – 6.5/10
On his landmark 100th test, the veteran was steady and composed. Orchestrated the backline well, though he didn’t set the match alight.
14. Edwill van der Merwe – 9/10
A sensational performance. Electric with ball in hand, relentless on the chase, and full of fire. Fully deserved the Man of the Match award.
13. Canan Moodie – 7.5/10
Always a danger in space. Scored a slick try, defended smartly, and looked like a natural fit in the midfield.
12. André Esterhuizen – 8/10
Physical, direct, and dependable. Added extra value by packing down at flank after the red card — a true hybrid asset.
11. Makazole Mapimpi – 7/10
Sharp as ever. Grabbed a well-taken try and stayed busy roaming off his wing.
10. Manie Libbok – 6.5/10
Better control and solid goal-kicking, but let down by poor touch-finder and off-target kicks and a couple of defensive lapses.
9. Grant Williams – 7.5/10
Injected pace and unpredictability. A real livewire around the fringes, keeping Italy guessing all night.
8. Jasper Wiese – 3/10
Started well but undid it all with an inexcusable red card. Headbutts have no place in the modern game. Must reflect and grow — fast.
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit – 8/10
The engine room. Physical, tireless, and dependable at the breakdown. Classic PSDT performance.
6. Marco van Staden – 8/10
Another textbook outing from the fetcher. Disrupted breakdowns, tackled everything, and never stopped working.
5. Ruan Nortje – 8/10
Outstanding in the lineouts and industrious in open play. A mature, commanding shift.
4. Salmaan Moerat (c) – 4/10
Struggled to impose himself. Gave away penalties and lost key lineouts. Needs to lift his game in leadership and execution.
3. Wilco Louw – 7.5/10
Strong scrummaging and a rock in contact. Would’ve scored higher if not for the yellow card.
2. Malcolm Marx – 8/10
A breakdown machine. Dominated the contact zone and threw darts at the lineout. Mr Reliable.
1. Thomas du Toit – 6/10
Solid while he was on, but replaced early after just 25 minutes. Did the basics well.
THE BENCH
16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 6.5/10
Effective impact. No major errors and brought good energy.
17. Ox Nché – 8/10
Crushed the Italian scrum. Arguably the best loosehead on the night. Powerful and confrontational.
18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye – N/A
Didn’t get enough time to make a mark.
19. Cobus Wiese – 6.5/10
Made some strong carries and big hits. A solid debut, though discipline needs work.
20. Evan Roos – 5/10
A quiet performance. Failed to assert himself and looked a bit off the pace.
21. Cobus Reinach – 6/10
Mixed bag. Some clever play, but his kicking decisions were questionable at times.
22. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 6.5/10
Limited chances but showed flair and confidence with the ball in hand.
23. Ethan Hooker – 6.5/10
Composed on debut. Didn’t shy away from contact and looked eager to impress.
COACH’S CORNER
Rassie got the reaction he was after. The team looked sharper, more cohesive, and far more clinical, especially with their defensive systems. Italy wasn’t allowed to breathe. However, discipline remains a concern. Wiese’s red and Louw’s yellow could’ve cost us dearly in a tighter test. That said, the player rotation is working, and some fringe players made massive statements.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Up next: Georgia. Expect another rotation as the Boks fine-tune their combinations before the real fireworks of the Rugby Championship begin. Will Rassie continue experimenting, or will he settle on his core squad?
What the ratings mean
10 – World-Class: A flawless, unforgettable performance. Dominated every aspect of the game.
9 – Outstanding: Nearly perfect. Played a crucial role and made a big impact.
8 – Excellent: A top-tier display with strong contributions throughout.
7 – Very Good: Reliable and effective. Did the basics well with a few standout moments.
6 – Solid: Decent shift. No fireworks, but they held their own.
5 – Below Average: Mixed performance. Some good, some shaky.
4 – Disappointing: Struggled to influence the game. Too many errors or missed opportunities.
3 – Poor: Lacked composure and execution. Clearly off their game.
2 – Very Poor: Frequently exposed. A performance to forget.
1 – Nightmare: Completely out of sorts. Arguably cost the team.