Autumn Nations: South Africa Vs Scotland Player Grades

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Post on Nov 11, 2024

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Autumn Nations: South Africa vs Scotland Player Grades

A dominant Springbok display saw them demolish Scotland 30-15 at Murrayfield, extending their winning streak to eight matches. The Boks delivered a ruthless performance, showcasing their trademark physicality and clinical finishing, leaving the Scots with plenty to ponder ahead of their remaining Autumn Nations Series fixtures.

Here's a breakdown of the key players and their performances:

South Africa:

Starting XV:

• Handre Pollard (Fly-half): A - Orchestrated the attack with precision, finding gaps in the Scottish defense with his kicking game. Scored a try and controlled the tempo masterfully.
• Damian Willemse (Fullback): A- Made several crucial tackles and provided a steady presence in the backfield. His running threat was limited, but his defensive contributions were invaluable.
• Makazole Mapimpi (Wing): B+ - Dangerous with the ball in hand, scoring a try and creating opportunities for his teammates. His aerial prowess was also on display, securing crucial high balls.
• Cheslin Kolbe (Wing): B - Quick and elusive, he threatened the Scottish defense but didn't have the same impact as in previous matches.
• Kurt-Lee Arendse (Center): B+ - A tireless worker with a strong work rate. His powerful runs and ability to break tackles made him a constant threat.
• Lukhanyo Am (Center): B - Solid performance, but didn't quite reach the heights he's capable of.
• Pieter-Steph du Toit (Flanker): A - A relentless force in defense and attack, his physicality was a key factor in the Boks' dominance.
• Siya Kolisi (Captain, Flanker): A- - Led by example, making several key tackles and showing his leadership qualities. His impact was evident throughout the match.
• Marco van Staden (Flanker): B+ - A tenacious tackler and a constant presence in the breakdown.
• Evan Roos (Lock): A- - A formidable presence in the lineout and a force to be reckoned with in the loose. His work rate was phenomenal.
• Franco Mostert (Lock): A - Dominated the lineout, winning crucial possession for the Springboks. His physicality was evident throughout.
• Steven Kitshoff (Prop): A - Solid performance in the scrum and a constant threat at the breakdown.
• Malcolm Marx (Hooker): A- - A powerful presence in the scrum and a threat in the loose. His work rate was impressive.
• Ox Nche (Prop): A- - Solid performance in the scrum and a constant threat at the breakdown.
• Bongi Mbonambi (Hooker): B - Made a strong impact from the bench, adding dynamism to the forward pack.

Replacements:

• Jasper Wiese (Flanker): B+ - Energetic and impactful from the bench. His physicality and work rate were impressive.
• Elrigh Louw (Flanker): B - Added further depth and power to the forward pack.

Scotland:

Starting XV:

• Finn Russell (Fly-half): C - A frustrating performance, with several poor decisions and missed opportunities.
• Blair Kinghorn (Fullback): C+ Had moments of brilliance with the ball in hand, but struggled in the face of South African pressure.
• Duhan van der Merwe (Wing): C+ - Scored a try but wasn't able to replicate his previous form.
• Kyle Steyn (Wing): C - Limited impact, struggling to get involved in the game.
• Chris Harris (Center): B- - A solid defensive performance, but lacked attacking threat.
• Sam Johnson (Center): B - Worked hard in midfield but faced a formidable Springbok defense.
• Hamish Watson (Flanker): B- - A tireless worker in defense, but was outmuscled by the Springboks.
• Rory Darge (Flanker): B- - Put in a shift but lacked the impact of his teammates.
• Jack Dempsey (Flanker): B - A strong presence in the breakdown, but his influence was limited.
• Grant Gilchrist (Captain, Lock): C+ - Solid in the lineout, but struggled against the physicality of the Springboks.
• Jonny Gray (Lock): B- - Worked hard but was outshone by the Springboks' forward pack.
• Pierre Schoeman (Prop): C+ - Performed adequately in the scrum, but lacked the impact of his teammates.
• George Turner (Hooker): B- Solid in the lineout, but struggled against the Springboks' scrum.
• Ali Price (Scrum-half): C - Made some good runs but struggled to control the game.
• Matt Fagerson (Prop): C - Solid in the scrum, but lacked the impact of his teammates.

Replacements:

• Zander Fagerson (Prop): B - Added energy and dynamism to the forward pack.
• Ewan Ashman (Hooker): C - Had little time to make an impact.
• Sam Skinner (Lock): C - Came on late and struggled to make an impact.
• Nick Haining (Flanker): C - Came on late and struggled to make an impact.

Conclusion:

The Springboks dominated all facets of the game, with their powerful forward pack and clinical finishing proving too much for Scotland to handle. While the Scots showed glimpses of promise, they were ultimately outplayed by a superior South African team. The Boks will be confident going into their remaining Autumn Nations Series matches, while Scotland will need to find a way to improve their performance if they want to be competitive in the future.