RWC final ratings: How the Boks and All Blacks performed in tournament finale
Shot Nothing: At Africa’s Misses A South Goal Pollard Drop Handre
t Such an influential presence at the rear, reliable enough defensively but with a playmaker’s skill-set to make a real difference in attack particularly with his kicking game. But it was his opportunism that did the damage, on hand to pick up for his try. 8
Jordan has X-factor presence as illustrated by his try-haul of 31 in 30 tests, tilting to be the tournament’s greatest ever try scorer but was well shackled and looked edgy, unable to make things happen. 5
The classy, sturdy outside centre comes from a line of distinguished no.13s who live by the creed of being in the right place at the right time, the perfect foil to those around him although it was a muted evening for him. 6
The rock around which so much is built defensively, the youngest of the Barrett brothers has been a mainstay of the Kiwi backline, such a reliable as well as intelligent operator as shown with his flung-out pass to Tele’a for the Barrett try. 7
The Blues wing was desperate to get back into everyone’s good books after his late-night indiscretion cost him his quarter-final place. His willingness to go looking for the ball is one of his great strengths and it duly paid off. 7
Right at the creative hub of this All Black side, Mo’unga has had to fight tooth and nail to make the coveted no.10 shirt his own. Did sterling service under the high ball at the rear but it was his attacking genius that was so thrilling. 9
One of the most enduring no.9s in the game, Aaron Smith has never quite earned the status of a great and that is wrong as he showed once again with the slickness of his delivery and all-round game management. 7
At the sharp end of New Zealand’s prospects for success, De Groot knew that much rested on his broad shoulders if his team were to secure the platform they needed to prosper elsewhere and although hugely under the cosh he did well. 7
There was a lot of pressure and scrutiny on the man in the middle of the tight scrummage as well as the lynchpin for the All Black line-out. Taylor wobbled with his throwing leaving New Zealand struggling but showed well with his running. 7
This was always going to be a tough night at the coal-face for Lomax, a task that got doubly difficult when the All Blacks were reduced to 14 men for a long stretch of the match. 7
Restored to the starting line-up, his heft and experience would be crucial if the All Blacks were to be able to go toe-to-toe with the well-resourced Springbok pack. Retallick was terrific in disrupting lineout ball. 7
The lock was not only to be seen where you might expect at the coal-face, grafting and chiselling, but also in the wide open spaces, felling would-be Springbok runners or linking with his backs. 6
The biggest noise on the night was the sigh of relief from Frizell after his early sin-binning for an illegal neck roll on Bongi Mbonambi stayed at a yellow card. It could have been red. 5
The maligned All Black captain had answered his critics during the knockout phases with all-consuming displays but that all counted for nothing after his calamitous red card. Cane transgressed badly here with his high hit on Jesse Kriel. Horrible for all concerned. 3
Ardie Savea deserves his place in the pantheon of all-time great no.8s, a blend of Buck Shelford and Zinzan Brooke, tough, durable but also blessed with wonderful athletic skills round the field. Had to step up as captain when Cane was sent off. 8
Sam Whitelock has been the backbone of the All Blacks for a decade and he was summoned into the fray early in the second-half to help withstand the arrival of the Bomb Squad, a hearty, unrelenting sort of player. The entire front-row were replaced eventually in the 65th minute with the task of seeing out the game. Aaron Smith gave way to Finlay Christie around the same time to bring the curtain down on a fabulous test career. 6
The Springbok full-back knew that much rested on their ability to stay out of injury trouble but also to be adaptable at the drop of a hat. The multi-layered Willemse filled that role well. 6
In the land of the giants, the small man also has a place as Kurt-Lee Arendse has shown time and again, the danger man waiting to pounce. Try-saving tackle on Ioane. 8
The Springbok midfield has been a thing of resilience during the tournament with Jesse Kriel prominent, a fine defender in the outside channel as well as a perceptive link man for the speedsters outside. 7
Most of the attention has been focussed elsewhere when analysing the reasons for South Africa’s success but the Springbok centre has been a powerhouse presence. 7
The dancing, darting feet of Cheslin Kolbe have had people on the edge of their seats and was once again in the thick of everything, lively and eager for the half-chance but blotted his copybook with his late yellow card. 5
From zero to hero, Handre Pollard was in danger of missing the tournament entirely when passed over initially but his call-up has brought huge dividends, at no time more tellingly then when winning the semi-final for his team. Kicked superbly again. 8
Another titch in a world of behemoths, the pocket battleship scrum-half sets the tone as well as the tempo for his team, pestering opponents with his all-action involvements and ever-present in the thick of the action. 8
A signed-up member of the Springbok front-union who goes about his business without complaint, working hard to secure ball in every facet. 7
A torrid week for the Springbok hooker who was in the eye of the race row storm with England’s Tom Curry continued into this match with Frizzell’s neck roll forcing the hooker off the field within three minutes. A miserable evening. 4
The tighthead is an immovable presence, the man who gives the rest of the forward pack such reassurance with his implacable play in the tight and his constant contributions in the loose. 7
As busy and bothersome as ever, a horrible opponent to deal with, messing with the opposition at lineouts and getting away with what he could. Such an influence. 8
An unglamorous grunt merchant, getting his head down and doing all the sleeves rolled-up sort of work, hitting hard at the scrum and at the breakdown. 7
This Springbok team is very much in the mould of their captain, the down-to-earth, humble Kolisi, an inspirational leader whose standards slipped when he too was yellow carded for a high challenge on Savea. Also fluffed a try-scoring chance. 6
What a performance from the man who hit the heights that once saw him named World Player of the Year, present at every point of contact and making good decisions. 9
The old slugger just keeps on going, doing what he does best which is to drive hard off the base and to attack the breakdown with real venom and accuracy. His energy levels never dimmed when he was on the field. 8
The 7-1 Split was always going to be a risk and it threatened to blow up in South Africa’s faces after just three minutes when the one and only dedicated hooker was carted off injured. Back-row forward, Dean Fourie, stepped into the breach and did so, so well. The destructive Ox Nche was in action by the 50 minute mark to pile on the pressure in the scrum aided by the bulk of lock, RG Snyman. Such was the willpower of the All Blacks, the anticipated advantage did not materialise quite as expected. 7