Bloem boys deliver for Boks
25 Jul 2009
Home town boys Heinrich Brussow and Bismarck du Plessis gave their disciples in Bloemfontein much to celebrate with outstanding performances.
15 Frans Steyn (6) - Few attacking opportunities, especially from broken field, in the first half, but became more prominent as the game opened up in the second. Still takes some poor options but his value is in his unpredictability and ability to commit numerous defenders, thereby freeing up space for those on his outside. Also kicked a 52m penalty.
14 JP Pietersen (5) - First handled the ball 34 minutes into the Test and not that often after that. Not called upon to make many tackles, but never let the side down when he was.
13 Jaque Fourie (6) – Like Pietersen, his involvement on attack was limited by decisions his inside backs were making, but the class of the man was seen in the fact that he was on hand to score when it mattered most.
12 Jean de Villiers (6) - A hybrid of the good and distinctly ordinary. Showed nice awareness to pop the ball up to Ruan Pienaar in the flyhalf’s try, but played too directly at times, targeting Stephen Donald when he should have been looking to attack the 10-12 channel. On defence he kept a lid on Ma’a Nonu and led the defensive line well alongside Fourie.
11 Bryan Habana (5) - Chased and competed box kicks well, but was in the same boat as fellow winger Pietersen in seeing little ball in the opposition’s half. Both wingers have in the past shown that they are dangerous when they play off their wing and hit up in the flyhalf or midfield channel, and the Springboks would have benefited from having that dimension to their play.
10 Ruan Pienaar (5) - Substituted with an injury at half-time, but his poor goal-kicking in the first 40 minutes is cause for alarm, as he sunk just one from five attempts, including missing one just before half-time that would have given the Springboks a 14-point lead. On attack he was average with the highlight of his performance being when he doubled around in support, creating the overlap for his try.
9 Fourie du Preez (7) - Does he ever have a bad game? The simple answer is no. His box kicks were more often than not perfectly weighted, and his positional play in fielding kicks was flawless. Should probably have varied his play a little more though, but a strong performance nonetheless.
8 Pierre Spies (6) - Drove well off the back of the scrum in the lead up to Pienaar’s try, and central to the second as well, hacking the ball ahead and effecting the tackle on the player who collected it. Tackled manfully all game. Did well with ball in hand considering that the Blacks’ often posted two defenders to blunt him.
7 Juan Smith (6) - Lost count of how many tackles he made. Phenomenal defensive effort. Also showed superb desire by running in support of Spies in the second try, then making the pass to Fourie. Less of an impact with ball in hand though, but still good in his role as a strike runner on second and third phase.
6 Heinrich Brussow (8) - Excellent at the breakdown, stifling the Blacks’ ability for recycle the ball quickly, and this was key in restricting the Blacks’ ability to pressure the Springboks. Considering the fact that he gives up at least 10kgs to most of the Blacks’ forwards, he never stepped back in defence and also carried the ball with determination.
5 Victor Matfield (7) - The lineout master, excelled in his area of specialisation. He snatched the ball out of the Bloem sky, but his true value was his ability to disrupt the Blacks’ feeds. He had their number, they knew it, and they cracked.
4 Bakkies Botha (6) - Typical Bakkies performance. Physically intimidating, and uncompromising in his ruck cleans. The big man put in an even bigger performance.
3 John Smit (7) – Held his own against the highly-rated Tony Woodcock, and got on with the hard graft that gets few plaudits. Lead well throughout the contest, his presence alone brings a sense of composure to the side. That’s invaluable.
2 Bismarck du Plessis (8) - Now becoming the heartbeat of this side. More physically imposing on attack and defence than Botha, and unrelenting in both facets of play. He sets the marker for physicality and intensity in the side. Let’s not forget that he found his jumpers on seven of eight feeds. Great performance.
1 Beast Mtawarira (7) - Like Du Plessis, displayed phenomenal physicality, particularly in defence. Struggled in the scrums at first, but then rebounded well to achieve parity.
Subs:
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle - Not on for long enough to be rated
17 Jannie du Plessis - Not on for long enough to be rated
18 Danie Rossouw - Not on for long enough to be rated
19 Ryan Kankowski - Not used
20 Ricky Januarie - Not on for long enough to be rated
21 Morne Steyn (6) - On at half-time in place of the injured Pienaar, and kicked a penalty two minutes after his introduction and finished with three from four attempts at goal, including a 51m effort to seal the result. He did slip the tackle that allowed Conrad Smith to break and score, but that was a rare blip in an otherwise steady showing.
22 Wynand Olivier (5) - On in the 68th minute, and his contribution was limited to defensive duties, which he did well.
By Ryan Vrede
66 Comments
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26 Jul 2009, 07:49 am
#42 Tacitus: It is about bloody time too that Spies has a 1/2 decent game. Yes he was good, but not close to a MOTM performance.
26 Jul 2009, 08:28 am
Brussouw will be nominated for IRB player of the year, mark my words
26 Jul 2009, 08:45 am
poor set of ratings these, should be much higher all the way round. Most the guys played out their socks, only real poor quality were Ruan’s missed kicks, the ball that came out the back of the our scrum where both Spies and FdP missed it and resulted in a penalty for them (could have been a try), and Morne’s missed tackle on Smith.
My MOM candidates were Bismark, he was everywhere making tackles and carrying it up and in their faces all game long, Bakkies, Brussow, and Spies had a good game no question. I reckon I might have given it to Bismark on the day.
26 Jul 2009, 08:53 am
#52 JL1: I agree
26 Jul 2009, 09:00 am
#53 skopskiet: Agreed, what would a guy need to do to get a 9? We out thought them yesterday and for once the Ab’s got blown up for their illegal tactics. Mind you off-side lines were a bit hazy there, but that’s how they play.
That said, Ritchie spoke well, good on him.
26 Jul 2009, 09:04 am
#53 skopskiet: morning Skop. How are you mate? Agree entirely. MOM could have got to any one of five players, with little room for arguement. Haapy with Brussouw, he being the youngest/newest of the pack and needing the confidence boost for his next outing in the curryhouse.
26 Jul 2009, 09:07 am
#56 TASSIES: Howdy Tassies, yeah we saying same thing now on both threads, they all played like true warriors yesterday, whole team deserves accolades, only somebody, Percy or Smit, should have given Frans the kicking duties after the 2nd or 3rd Ruan miss.
26 Jul 2009, 09:07 am
#52 JL1: Howzit JL. Bit early for that prediction boet. But if he continues on his present trajectory then certainly. What a wellbalanced unit the boys are now. Makes like poetry I could get to enjoy.
26 Jul 2009, 09:09 am
#57 skopskiet: that was the concensus around the table I was sitting at yesterday. Now I’ve never been part of FS’s fan club but yesterday I think I saw him come of age. No fancy stuff. Just solid quality play allround, including that 50m chap. Well done frans. May this continue.
26 Jul 2009, 09:11 am
#55 goyougoodthing2: morning Goody. Hows Durbs this am? Folk walking around with sore heads? Like us Kaapenaaars.
26 Jul 2009, 09:14 am
#59 TASSIES: FS has found his niche, I reckon the boy is a natural, he is brave, solid, dependable at the back, and takes it up with confidence, one can rest comfortably knowing most times he will come good at back, and yesterday looks like he was eager to take the kicks and relieve RP, someone should have made the call earlier.
26 Jul 2009, 09:16 am
#60 TASSIES: Anyway hope you good, give Grant my regards if you talk with him.
So long see you around. Nice game yesterday. Lets hope next week only gets better, loss of JdV (and possibly Ruan) worries me a little.
26 Jul 2009, 09:17 am
#60 TASSIES: Friday I had a sore head, we are all smiling yes just like you guys.
Durbs is fine, 23 degrees and ready for a day around town…
and my Superbru is on track too!
27 Jul 2009, 07:54 am
Ryan
Instead of rating the players. Why don’t you give the a combined team from the day’s performance. I think it is more fun to debate whether you McCaw or Brossouw played the best than whether Ruan deserves a 5 or a 6. Here is mine:
1. Woodcock
2. Bismark
3. Smit
4. Matfield
5. Bakkies
6. Brossouw
7. Kaino
8. Spies
9. FDP
10. Donald
11. Habana
12. Div
13. Smith
14. No real contender
15. Steyn
27 Jul 2009, 08:35 am
#64 Dumb Supporter: Maybe you’re not such a Dumb Supporter…
Not much I disagree with there, excet maybe to replace Habana with Rocothoco, considering the contributiorom each (not neccessarily Habana’s fault)
27 Jul 2009, 12:00 pm
JPP has to be the most overated springbok rugby player in SA.
I finaly figured out this weekend why he never really stands out unless he scores a try, (usuly finishing off a move that other did the hard work).
He does nothing .. he is lazy .. a speed bump on defence, there is always someone there to save his bacon. He does not look for any work, just sort off hangs around. Does he ever keep his eye on the ball when on occasion chasing an up and under .. he just sort of sticks his hand up.
He can’t be seen as the k@k player he is, because he does not do enogh in the game to show it.
No, if there is a weak link in the team that played on Sat, it is him.
I would have rated all the bok players between 6 – 9 for Sats game. JPP would get about a 1.
Surly we can find better than him.
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