Player Ratings From South Africa’s win against Scotland

Beyond the opening night, there was another blockbuster clash between two of the world’s top five teams to be played this weekend.

And South Africa made a victorious start to the defence of their World Cup crown as they beat Scotland 18-3 in a low-scoring but entertaining clash at Stade de Marseille.

Who shone on the day and who wasn’t quite at it? Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock gives his player ratings from a hot, physical contest in the South of France.

South Africa

Damian Willemse – 8

You’ve got to be pretty special to keep Wille Le Roux out the team but his physical hits in defence and heroic try saver on Graham, combined with his big carries showcased why he’s the first choice 15. 

Kurt-Lee Arendse – 7.5

Did brilliantly to keep Russell’s kick in play in the first half and took his try well. Will hope to have more chances to showcase his hot stepping in weeks to come. 

Jesse Kriel – 6

Was unusually quiet in the Springboks midfield after his stormer against Wales in Cardiff and was often used as a decoy runner. 

Damian de Allende – 7

Knocked on 10m out when his side had good field position but provided hard yards in midfield. 

Cheslin Kolbe – 7

Made a lot of metres and was solid under the high ball. He would have liked more of an open game to strut his stuff although that being said he did his job well. 

Manie Libbok – 7

An inch perfect cross field kick that picked out Arendse in a moment of magic for his try but his place kicking errors were compounded by a wayward attempt from inside his own half. Was eventually alleviated of the kicking duties and you feel his inaccuracies from the tee could come back to haunt his side at some stage in the competition. 

Faf de Klerk – 8

Solid box kicking and relentless line speed being his usual nuisance self throughout. Stepped up to convert from a difficult angle after Libbok’s struggles. 

Steven Kitshoff – 5.5

Scrum penalties at the beginning but lost his way in the set piece before being replaced. 

Malcolm Marx – 8

Lineout darts were solid and his ability over the ball is second to none. Provided fans a scare when he was announced as being replaced in the first half but it was an announcer error and he was instead at his usual best. 

Frans Malherbe – 8

Multiple scrum penalties as expected which the Springboks leaned on when under the pump but isn’t a one trick pony showed by his deft handling. 

Eben Etzebeth – 6 

Welcomed the physical challenge and would have been devastated to come off injured in the first half as this was his kind of contest.

Franco Mostert – 8 

Blocked kicks, was a solid lineout option and made big hits in defence. Arguably one of the form locks in world rugby right now. 

Siya Kolisi (c) – 8

Fought hard for metres and led his side brilliantly by making sure his troops didn’t lose it when the game got heated in the first half. Also a formidable force over the ball. 

Pieter-Steph du Toit – 7

Potent from just a metre out as he burrowed over for a vital try at the start of the second half. Put in a good shift but did miss a couple of tackles that he’ll be kicking himself over. Great line speed forcing turnovers. 

Jasper Wiese – 8 

Always a threat in the loose bulldozing for solid metres and put in big hits until he was hooked on the hour mark rightfully receiving a rousing reception. 

Replacements

Bongi Mbonambi for Marx 57: Continued SA’s accurate set piece, 7.5

Ox Nche for Kitshoff 57: Wrestled back the Boks’ scrum superiority, 8

Trevor Nyakane for Malherbe 57: Such a threat over the ball, an immovable object, 8

RG Snyman for Etzebeth, 26: Very good in the lineout and destructive tackles, 7

Marco van Staden for Kolisi 65: Maintained the Boks power late on, 7

Duane Vermeulen for Wiese 60: Good to see him back with his big hits, 7

Grant Williams for de Klerk 75: Made a surging break from his own 22, 7

Willie Le Roux for Libbok 68: Almost gifted Scotland a try with sloppy hands off a scrum, 5

Scotland

Blair Kinghorn – 6.5

Sniffed out attacks and kicked well from deep but would have liked to have had more of an impact in attack. 

Darcy Graham – 7

Will not be popular back home for butchering a clear overlap by going himself in what could have resulted in a precious first half try. Did make strong line breaks in the first half with his blistering pace.

Huw Jones – 6.5

Good handling on display and put in a respectable defensive shift. Would have liked to have had more opportunities with ball in hand. 

Sione Tuipulotu – 6.5

A solid centre whose hard running was integral to Scotland’s attack in the first half but faded as the contest went on. 

Duhan van der Merwe – 5

The South African media in the build up said he had a target on his back after injuring Pieter Steph du Toit in the Lions series in 2021 and he was a marked man throughout. 

Finn Russell – 6.5

Grubbered when he had an overlap early on and would have hoped to be more influential. Hit a 50:22 and his penalty before half time rewarded Scotland’s scrum improvements. Was maybe fortunate to avoid a card for his high tackle on Arendse early on. 

Ben White – 6.5

Looked at home in the nine jersey with his box kicking and delivery. Thrive off a more open game but seems to be rightly first choice. 

Pierre Schoeman – 7

Fan favourite, who had his name belted out every time he touched the ball, won scrum penalties but couldn’t maintain Scotland’s scrum purple patch. 

George Turner – 6.5

His lineout wobbles cost Scotland at crucial times but was rock solid in defence and welcomed the physical challenge. 

Zander Fagerson – 6

Mixed bag. Problems at scrum time early on, recovered to win scrum penalties of his own but the Bomb Squad wrestled back momentum. 

Richie Gray – 7

Solid defensive shift, barely putting a foot wrong in defence but will be frustrated at Scotland’s Achilles heel of their lineout. 

Grant Gilchrist – 7

Put in a real dogged display but will be frustrated with lineout woes. Was up for the fight in a gladiatorial first half. 

Jamie Ritchie (c) – 7.5

Penalised early on for being too eager in defending a lineout maul but the young captain possesses a real follow me attitude with his work rate and never say die attitude. 

Rory Darge – 7

Couldn’t made much of an impact in defence but put in big hits at times. 

Jack Dempsey – 7

Made strong charges off scrums and put in a really solid defensive shift with 11 tackles.

Replacements

Dave Cherry for Turner 56: Lineout struggles continued, 4

Jamie Bhatti for Schoeman 56: Scrum was never the same, 4

WP Nel for Fagerson, 56: Same as above, 4

Scott Cummings for Gilchrist 56: Didn’t made physical impact, 4

Matt Fagerson for Darge 65: Strong carries but game was gone, 5

Ali Price for White 67: Too late to have made an impact, 5

Cameron Redpath for Tuipulotu 67: Kicked rather than going through the hands in try opportunity, 4

Ollie Smith for Graham 65: Didn’t have enough ball, 4

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