Springbok player ratings: Fantastic Fassi flies, king Pieter-Steph rules
The Springboks surged to a 48-7 bonus-point win to clinch the Rugby Championship title in stunning fashion in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Needing just one log point to secure a first Rugby Championship title since 2019, the Springboks did much for than that to make sure to bring the trophy home.
From the outset, the hosts were relentless in their pursuit of a victory, and for all their talk of taking the game to the Springboks, Argentina simply had no answer for the South African onslaught.
Rassie Erasmus’ fired up charges ultimately outscored the visitors seven tries to one to not only avenge their defeat in this fixture a week ago, but to be crowned the undisputed champions of the 2024 Rugby Championship.
With that in mind, here are some key player ratings for the Springboks based on their outstanding individual contributions.
SUPER SPRINGBOKS SHINE
Aphelele Fassi flays Los Pumas — 9/10
Fassi epitomises all that is good about this Springbok team and its current crop of players. He was released from the squad by Rassie Erasmus not so long ago to go work on and improve certain aspects of his game. Once back at the Sharks, he completed his homework exactly as ordered by Erasmus and soon he was recalled into the team.
Now he is not only just part of the squad, but Fassi is the Springboks’ primary fullback and it is looking more and more like he has made that his No 15 jersey ahead of Willie le Roux.
In this game, he inserted himself as the Springboks’ second playmaker and bar his excellent distribution in that role, Fassi scored two brilliant first-half tries. Simply superb.
Libbok shuts up the naysayers — 8/10
Throughout this entire week, Manie Libbok was crucified for his match-losing penalty miss against Los Pumas in Argentina, with many fans calling for his relegation from the match-day squad.
But Rassie Erasmus refused to buck to the outside noise and went on to select Libbok as the Springboks’ starting playmaker with Handre Pollard on the bench.
Libbok was relieved of the place-kicking duties though, with that responsibility falling to scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse. And it was a masterstroke by Erasmus, with Libbok masterfully orchestrating the Springbok attack with the kind of finesse and tactically kicking skills very few players in the team possess.
Ox Nche chows the Los Pumas scrum — 9/10
The big man not only anchored that Springbok scrum, he feasted on the opposition at that particular set-piece, so much so that Argentina’s Joel Sclavi was walked backwards every time, thus conceding numerous penalties.
What also sets Ox apart is his exceptional work rate in the loose. He’s trademark carrying game and his tireless work at the breakdown were also ever present again today.
Pieter-Steph du Toit doing Pieter-Steph du Toit things — 9/10
We’ve become to accustomed to Du Toit producing one monumental shift after another, that what he does sometimes goes amiss, especially when his less consistent teammates perform well.
Industrious and physical, Du Toit did the hard yards again today in the collisions and when he did roam in the wider channels, he was like a predator stalking its prey.
Creating several mismatch positions when running directly at any and all opponents in his line of vision, the powerhouse back row was rewarded with two grand tries to cap off another brilliant display by him.
As it stands, Pieter-Steph du Toit is the front runner for both the SA Rugby Player of the Year and World Player of the Year awards.
WHO WOULD YOU CROWN AS MAN OF THE MATCH?
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Springboks superstar Pieter-Steph du Toit. Image: Via X/@Springboks.
