Springbok players showed their class in second Test despite Perth rain – here’s how they fared

Even the rain and wind in Perth couldn’t halt the Springbok train as the world champions recorded a second consecutive bonus-point triumph in their 30-12 Rugby Championship victory over the Wallabies on Saturday.

Here is how we rated the world champions’ display at Optus Stadium ...

Aphelele Fassi: 7/10

Was solid under the high ball in tricky windy and rainy conditions, and even looked for work at close quarters. Finished a sparkling move for the first try.

Cheslin Kolbe: 8

Was a threat throughout with ball-in-hand. Sliced open the Wallaby defence early on, but his offload was dropped by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Nearly scored from an intercept as well. Kick on the full into touch gave Wallabies a 22m line-out.

So close to a 50-22 😲

What can't Cheslin Kolbe do? 👏👏

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Jesse Kriel: 7

Was as busy as ever in making his tackles and hard carries into the Wallaby defence, but the wet conditions meant he didn’t get much space to work with.

Good hands to find Mapimpi for Fassi’s try.

Lukhanyo Am: 8

Brought something different on attack to the inside centre channel, where normally Damian de Allende has to crash-ball into the defence.

Some classy touches with ball-in-hand, and even a box-kick. Got the ball away quickly to Kriel in the Fassi try, and was tackled in the air by Nic White.

Lukhanyo Am. pic.twitter.com/iTVrYPYxkL

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Makazole Mapimpi: 6

Should have scored in the 12th minute, but had the ball dislodged by Tom Wright. But made up for it with a wonderful grubber for Fassi to score. Didn’t have to shout down Nic White this time.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu: 5

A difficult night in the rain after a brilliant outing last week. Left-footed cross-kick went into touch early on, and then knocked-on with an open tryline after Kolbe’s break.

Booted a kickoff straight into touch just before halftime, and was run over by the Wallaby No.8. But slotted his kicks at goal, and maintained the width on the Bok attack even in the wet conditions.

Morné van den Berg: 3

The slippery conditions made it even tougher for a man making his first Test start. Van den Berg’s box-kicks were a bit short, he had a pass to no-one five metres from the Aussie tryline, kicked the ball away after a seven-phase Bok attack, and conceded a penalty.

Elrigh Louw: 5

Dropped the very first kickoff in the wind and rain, and later lost the ball in contact. But got stuck in physically throughout on attack and defence.

Pieter-Steph du Toit: 9

The ‘Malmesbury Missile’ just keeps on going. Carried tirelessly at close quarters, and nearly scored with a late charge down the touchline. Grabbed a few line-outs too, and never stopped tackling.

Marco van Staden: 6

Didn’t get many chances for breakdown turnovers, and was penalised at a ruck two metres from the Wallaby tryline. But took his maul try well, and played his part in the Bok defence.

Ruan Nortjé: 7

Things didn’t always go the Boks’ way in the line-outs, but Nortjé won the throw-ins that led to the maul tries by Marco van Staden and Malcolm Marx, and worked hard on cover defence and did the hard graft.

Salmaan Moerat (captain): 6

Nearly pushed a Wallaby maul into touch, and put in a big hit in the build-up to the first Bok try. But had to leave the field after 19 minutes due to a knee to the head, and was replaced by Eben Etzebeth, who put in a solid shift as usual.

Thomas du Toit: 6

Played his part in the Boks getting on top of the Wallaby scrum in the first half, as well as the mauls, but didn’t get many opportunities to use his big frame to carry at close quarters.

Johan Grobbelaar: 5

Had a tough old time with the lineout throws due to the wet ball, and it didn’t help that he had two rookie Bok locks to aim at as well – but found his jumper for the Van Staden maul try. Tried hard to slow down the Wallaby breakdown.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels: 7

Was unlucky to concede a scrum penalty when he had the upper hand on Allan Alaalatoa, but got his revenge by drilling the Wallaby captain later. Impressive hands in the build-up to Fassi’s try, and put himself about around the field.

Best off the Bench – Malcolm Marx: 8

Apart from the two maul tries, brought some assurance to the Bok line-out, and put his considerable frame to good use on attack and defence.