Springboks player ratings after 66-7 win over Italy, Digi Mart USA News: Following the Springboks’ comprehensive 66-7 victory over Italy, Planet Rugby has rated the performances of Rassie Erasmus’s squad.
Fullback Damian Willemse had a rare error under the high ball in the first half but was otherwise fantastic, running a smart line and communicating it well to Jasper Wiese to score. He was replaced but returned quickly when Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s mouthguard was flashing after taking an elbow to the jaw.
Rated 7.
Wing Kurt-Lee Arendse got the better of Monty Ioane in the air for much of the match but conceded a few turnovers. He was lively as ever and put in a tidy performance.
Rated 6.
Center Jesse Kriel was not asked to do too much by the hosts but got the job done as usual, making good decisions and keeping the Italian defense honest. Rated 6.
Center Damian de Allende was the go-to ball carrier during his time on the field, regularly skittling Azzurri defenders backwards and often taking two or more tacklers with him. The veteran was hugely influential in an utterly dominant first half.
Rated 8.
Wing Ethan Hooker sent an Italian defender tumbling with almost every carry and was excellent under the high ball. Later in the second half he shifted to inside center with Grant Williams taking the wing, and he scored at the end.
Rated 7.
Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored a stunning try in the 8th minute that opened the floodgates, with the Springboks scoring five more before halftime. One came off a sharp 50:22 from the fly-half, who carried real swagger on the day.
Consistency has been an issue for him, but this was a reminder of what he is capable of, even with a few errors. Rated 8.
Scrum-half Morne van den Berg continued his strong form, with box kicks of the highest order and quality service from the base. He scored his eighth try in just 12 Tests and kept the Boks on the front foot.
Rated 8.
Flanker Jasper Wiese was one of six forwards who dominated the first half and was replaced early in the second with the job done. He was brutal on the carry when used, excellent at the attacking breakdowns and in the mauls, and made a stunning break before linking with Willemse to score.
Rated 8.
Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit was exactly what you would expect from the tireless back-rower. The Springboks won the collision battle for most of the match, and he was central to that on both sides of the ball and a pillar of the maul.
Rated 7.
Captain Siya Kolisi was immense during his shift. He won a penalty at the breakdown right after Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s opening try and scored off a fantastic maul.
He returned on the hour mark when Paul de Villiers needed a head injury assessment. Rated 7.
Lock Ruan Nortje got through a great deal of work and ran the lineout brilliantly, a lethal weapon in Turin. He was the least flashy of the forwards but no less important.
Rated 8.
Lock Lood de Jager was a late inclusion after an injury to Salmaan Moerat in the warm-up and made the most of his opportunity, running a dominant lineout alongside Nortje. He charged down Alessandro Fusco for Willemse’s try.
Rated 7.
Prop Thomas du Toit would have liked more from the scrum in the first half but held his own and was important to the maul’s success. He had his cameo interrupted by a gash near his eye.
Rated 7.
Hooker Malcolm Marx had a mammoth 40-odd minutes from the World Rugby Player of the Year, scoring twice and assisting another. He was 100% accurate in the lineout, big on the carry, and provided the pass for Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s try, a move that allowed Erasmus to remove him early.
Rated 8.
Prop Ox Nche made a strong carry near the Italian try line and won the scrum battle that led to Wiese’s break and Willemse’s try. Rated 7.
Replacements were brought on early with the game largely decided. Italy shifted into a gear resembling a Test team in the second half, but strong cameos came from Paul de Villiers, Wilco Louw and Cameron Hankeom.
Rated 6.
