Springbok Ratings: Failure at fullback to dynamic De Villiers as Boks fall off their perch in Perth

The Springboks suffered a significant loss at fullback in their recent match against Australia in Perth, as the Boks struggled to maintain their dominance. The Aussies appeared more aggressive and energetic, while the South African side seemed lethargic. Aphelele Fassi had a disappointing game, mishandling a forward pass that resulted in the loss of a try opportunity for the Boks.

He also failed to take an aerial bomb, which allowed Australia to score. Edwill van der Merwe had an impressive game, scoring a try and almost pulling off an acrobatic one. Canan Moodie delivered a standout performance at outside centre, showcasing his strong defensive skills and active running. Andre Esterhuizen passed a long ball that set up Van der Merwe's try and made softer passing touches.

Ethan Hooker was busy but made a few mistakes, including a tackle that went too upright and holding on in a tackle. Handre Pollard missed an early touch finder but demonstrated strong goalkicking and effective game management. Herschel Jantjies passed crisply from the scrumhalf, marking a commendable comeback performance. Marco van Staden was penalized for clumsily playing the ball on the ground and did not seem comfortable in his No 8 position.

Elrigh Louw put in a lot of effort but made several errors, including three-point giveaways. Paul de Villiers was one of the best Boks, winning turnover penalties and displaying excellent loose forward play. Franco Mostert was penalized for going off his feet at a ruck, hindering a fine aerial take by Pollard. Eben Etzebeth delivered a polished overall performance, excelling in lineouts and mauls.

Zach Porthen was penalized for not staying on his feet at a ruck and had minimal impact in the scrum. Johan Grobbelaar made a reasonable effort but failed to make a significant impact. Jan-Hendrik Wessels did not have the desired influence and showed some reckless play. Malcolm Marx, the world's best player, helped alter the game's flow, as expected from his position.

However, he missed an opportunity to pass to an unmarked teammate for a certain try near the end. Ox Nche had a substantial scrumming impact and made significant ball carries. Wilco Louw destroyed his opposite number when he entered the game. Lood de Jager failed to catch the ball in an important attacking lineout. Jasper Wiese was busy throughout and played a significant role in the comeback.

Morne van den Berg demonstrated classic scrumhalf skills, solidifying his status as the Boks' preferred choice for the position. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu looked lively from the moment he came on, marking his best performance this year. Quan Horn lost an aerial contest and had an average game.