Springbok player ratings from 42-38 defeat to Wallabies in Perth

The Springboks suffered a narrow 42-38 loss to the Wallabies in Perth, following coach Rassie Erasmus's decision to make 13 changes to the starting lineup from their previous match against the All Blacks. The Wallabies took a halftime lead of 24-17, but the Boks responded with a commanding 42-17 lead with just 10 minutes left in the game. However, three converted tries in the final minutes by the Boks only managed to secure a 38-38 tie, ultimately falling short.

The Citizen provided ratings for the Bok players out of 10. Aphelele Fassi received a score of 5, criticized for several errors and missed passes. Edwill van der Merwe scored 7, praised for his tackling and try-scoring but also for knocking on in the in-goal area. Canan Moodie earned a 7, noted for his strong tackles and dangerous play, but also for losing possession.

André Esterhuizen earned a 6, praised for his strong carries but also for missing tackles. Ethan Hooker received a 7, highlighted for his consistent performances and tackling ability. Handré Pollard scored a 7, recognized for his crucial tackles and decent kicking. Herschel Jantjies scored a 6, praised for his improved performance after a long absence but criticized for not being a constant threat.

Marco van Staden scored a 5, criticized for his lack of effectiveness in his new position. Elrigh Louw received a 6, praised for his hard work and tackling but criticized for not making yards. Paul de Villiers scored a 7, noted for his strong presence at the breakdown and carrying ability, but also for being missing at times. Franco Mostert scored a 5, criticized for his lack of impact despite lineout efforts.

Eben Etzebeth scored a 6, praised for his presence in lineouts and rucks but criticized for not carrying as much. Zachary Porthen scored a 6, criticized for his scrum performance and lack of mobility. Johan Grobbelaar scored a 6, praised for his try-scoring and hard work but criticized for not being dominant in the scrum. Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored a 6, praised for his scrum performance and contributions but criticized for not being dominant.

The bench, including Malcolm Marx, Ox Nché, Wilco Louw, Morné van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, and Quan Horn, scored a 6, praised for their late-game impact, particularly in the scrums and energy contributions.