PLAYER RATINGS: More than Irish Luck
Ireland outscored South Africa four tries no nil and produced a 38-3 record win over South Africa.
Angus Opperman rates Ireland's players!
15 Rob Kearney
Linked well with his back three and covered well when he had to under the high ball. Did very well on attack and defended well throughout the match.
7/10
14 Andrew Conway
Made a good break before being tackled by Skosan after a set move and generally did well on attack, and scored a good Try. Defended well and exposed his opposites on a few occasions
7/10
13 Robbie Henshaw
Solid on attack and kick chases to put pressure on the Boks to try to win the ball back for his side, gelled very well with his fellow back three partners and nullified Jesse Kriel on defence
6/10
12 Bundee Aki
Satisfactory debut for the Kiwi-born centre reads the Bok attacks well and closes down space, also slowed the ball down once when the Boks were on attack in the Irish half and was all over the show
7/10
11 Jacob Stockdale
Didn’t see as much ball as his wing partner, but did nothing wrong on the night. Was solid on the attack and defended well , was rewarded at the end with a well worked try
6/10
10 Johnny Sexton
Solid early clearance off the kickoff into the Springboks half. Got his first penalty kick over and outclassed Elton Jantjies and showed why he is rated as one of the best 10’s in the Northern Hemisphere. He controlled the game well as his forwards provided good ball along with his partner Connor Murray
8/10
9 Conor Murray
Provided good service to Sexton and working well with his outside backs here he got a long pass away. Knocked on a ball when his side was on attack inside the Springboks half. His box kicking was pinpoint accurate and also outclassed Cronje on the night.
8/10
8 Christiaan Stander
Solid carries and working hard throughout the match, didn’t had a standout game, but did nothing wrong. Did all his basics which was required of him
6/10
7 Sean O'Brien:
Tackled well and was in the faces of his opposite numbers. Disrupted the Springboks' ball at the breakdown and carried well into contact
6/10
6 Peter O'Mahony
Played well with his fellow loose forwards especially on defence, did well as a lineout jumper.
5/10
5 Devin Toner
Solid in the lineouts with his partner Henderson and did his basics well
5/10
4 Iain Henderson
Did well to in the one on one collisions, a real workhorse yet nothing flashy. Did well in the lineouts as well.
5/10
3 Tadhg Furlong
Applied good pressure on Mtawarira to earn a penalty at scrum time that Sexton converted. Held his own throughout the game and did out scrum his oppositions on a few occasions.
6/10
2 Rory Best
Solid with his lineout throwing, defended well and executed, won a turnover late in the second half when the Springboks were on attack.
7/10
1 Cian Healy
Scrummed well against the rookie Wilco Louw and put him under some pressure at times, did his basics well and worked well with his front row partners to dominate the Springbok front row on a few occasions
6/10
Replacements:
23 Darren Sweetnam (on for Kearny, 74th Minute)
Not enough time to be rated
22 Joey Carbery (on for Sexton, 74th Minute)
Not enough time to be rated
21 Kieran Marmion (on for Murray, 70th Minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Rhys Ruddock (on for O'Mahony, 52nd minute)
Won a turnover after coming on, also ran a good support line off a set move to score a try a the 71st minute.
5/10
19 James Ryan (on for Henderson, 70th minute)
Not enough time to be rated
18 John Ryan (on for Furlong, 70th minute)
Not enough time to be rated
17 Dave Kilcoyne (on for Cian Healy, 66th minute)
Not enough time to be rated
16 Rob Herring (on for Rory Best, 66th minute)
Scored a Try in the 76th minute but still not enough time to be rated.
By Angus Opperman
@Angyboyi
@rugby365com