New Zealand – South Africa – Du Toit Devastated, Fury The Surprise Guest: A Springboks Memoir
The Springboks won their second successive world title thanks to the brilliant Pieter-Steph du Toit whose defensive carnage greatly weakened the New Zealanders. For his part, substitute Dion Fourie compensated for his blocked shots with tremendous activity in the match.
Best grades
8/10: Peter Steve du Toit
The South African third-line giant played a leading role in the massive demolition project led by the Bucs family. At the end of the first half, he already had 14 tackles against just one miss. Often positioned at the end of the defensive line, the New Zealand winger was put under pressure, particularly in Will Jordan’s area in the first half and at the start of the second half. We saw him move the All Blacks throughout the game, especially early movers like Ardie Savea or Scott Barrett. In the second half, he was often called upon to connect on the first block to ensure catches. His tyrannical treatment of Jordie Barrett at the end of the match perfectly illustrates his destructive power. He finished the game with 28 tackles.
7/10: Faf de Klerk
Real poison. This is how we can describe Faf de Klerk, who once again used all his energy to put pressure on his opponents. Kidnapping attempts, leaving behind his mob, repeated attacks on Aaron Smith. In total, the blond Boks made 13 tackles, underscoring his role as a watchdog around his pack.
6/10: Cheslin Colby
A true asset of the Springbok attacking line, it was Kolbe who posed the New Zealanders the biggest problems in the kicking sector with his short kicks at the back that caused discord in the New Zealand defence. However, he greatly tarnished his record by committing a voluntary striker towards the end of the match which left his partners outnumbered. Fortunately, this did not deprive the Bucs of the final victory. But Colby spent the rest of the game with his face in his shirt, refusing to watch the game.
6/10: Bongi Mbonambi / Dion Fourie
It is impossible to mention Bonji Mbonambi, who came off after two minutes of play after sustaining a knee injury due to a clearance from Frizell, for which he received a yellow card. Dion Fourie had a difficult match, as he was fouled three times in the third period alone. Brody Retallick’s ordeal continued in the second half, but the former Grenoble and Lyon player made up for it with tremendous activity with or without the ball, including 17 tackles in less than an hour.
All notes
1. Stephen Kitschoff 6/10
2. Bongi Mbonambi / Dion Fourie 6/10
3. France Malherbe 7/10
4. Ibn Etzbeth 5/10
5. Franco Mostert 6/10
6. Siya Kolisi (Cap) 6/10
7. Peter Steve du Toit 8/10
8. Duane Vermeulen 6/10
9. Faf de Klerk 7/10
10. Handry Pollard 7/10
11. Cheslyn Colby 6/10
12. Damian de Allende 4/10
13. Jesse Creel 6/10
14. Kurt Lee Arends 6/10
15. Damian Willems 5/10
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