Springbok player ratings from 45-0 win against Italy in Gqeberha
Makazole Mapimpi scored one of the Springboks' seven tries against Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
The Springboks beat Italy 45-0 in the second Test between the teams in Gqeberha on Saturday to seal a 2-0 series win after also winning the first Test in Pretoria 42-24 the week before.
This is how The Citizen rated the performance of the Springbok players on Saturday, out of 10.
Willie le Roux 6: The newest member of the Bok 100-Test club delivered an erratic performance. He made a few basic errors, but also made the kick for Edwill van der Merwe's second try. Left the action in the 56th minute.
Edwill van der Merwe 8: He scored two tries, both of them excellently taken. He made some good runs in attacking play, chased the high kicks well and was busy throughout the match.
Canan Moodie 6: He scored a wonderful try after a powerful run in the midfield, made some good tackles and also contributed in other defensive efforts. Sadly didn't get too many chances to show his full range of skills.
Canan Moodie in action against Italy on Saturday. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
Andre Esterhuizen 7: It was a solid all-round performance from the centre. He made several carries, and tackled strongly, he received kick-offs well and packed down at flanker because Jasper Wiese was red carded.
Makazole Mapimpi 6: He didn't get too many chances, but he made a good pass to Grant Williams for the scrumhalf's try, he won a breakdown penalty, he chased kicks and also scored a try.
Manie Libbok 7: He was solid in everything he did though he missed two early kicks at goal. In the end, his distribution was solid, his kicking out of hand was decent, and he slotted five conversions. He also did some cleaning up in defence.
Grant Williams 8: A very satisfying outing by the scrumhalf. He scored a try after some excellent following up, and his line break and offload led to Moodie's try. He was busy around the rucks and fringes.
Jasper Wiese 4: He was only on the field for 22 minutes before getting a red card for a head butt. In that time he made some good carries, tackled strongly and got involved in plenty of the action – maybe a little too much.
Jasper Wiese received a red card early in the game. Picture: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
Pieter-Steph du Toit 6: In his first game back after a long injury layoff, he took some lineout ball, carried hard at times and put in some tackles, but it was not the vintage Du Toit we have come to know.
Marco van Staden 6: He busied himself at the rucks and he got stuck in all over the field for a satisfying performance. He also got pinged at the breakdown on occasion. Left the action after 57 minutes.
Ruan Nortje 8: He is the new Franco Mostert … always working hard and getting stuck in all over the field. He took lineout ball, cleaned rucks, carried over the gainline, tackled Italians … all in a hugely busy all-round performance.
Salmaan Moerat 6: He knocked on badly on one occasion, and also gave away a penalty at a ruck. He won a few lineouts and carried well at times. He left the action after 56 minutes.
Wilco Louw 7: The Bok scrum was dominant throughout the contest, without ever really getting their reward. He scrummed well and carried nicely at times, but he also picked up a yellow card for head contact.
Malcolm Marx 8: His lineout throwing was again excellent, as it was the week before. He won a breakdown penalty, carried strongly and got stuck in. He also scored a try after some excellent general maul play in open play.
Thomas du Toit 5: He was pinged early on for a few mis-timed early shoves by the Boks and battled to settle. He cleaned a few rucks and carried on occasion but was surprisingly taken out of the action in the 30th minute.
Bench 7: It was a better showing than the week before, with Ox Nche making a big impact at scrum time when he joined the action for Louw. Jan-Hendrik Wessels missed a number of lineout throws, but was busy in general play and he scored a try at the end.
Cobus Wiese and Evan Roos carried strongly and worked hard to keep the Boks on the front foot, while Asenathi Ntlabakanye did his bit in 20 minutes to help the Boks win the game.
Among the backs replacements, Cobus Reinach kicked a bit much, while he pulled off two good tackles, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ethan Hooker had few chances to do much in attack, but they helped ensure the Boks remained the dominant team until the end.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Boks score big — and so do Nelson Mandela Bay businesses
Gqeberha's hospitality scene came alive this past weekend as the Springboks delivered a 45-0 win over Italy — and a major win for local bars, restaurants and fan parks. From packed beachfront joints to shuttle services ferrying fans, it was the Bay's biggest sporting boost since the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Beyond the 45-0 drubbing of the Italians at the NMB Stadium on Saturday, the Springboks brought a week of gees, good vibes and a major cash injection for the local hospitality industry. Some of the Bay's most popular establishments said they had not seen this kind of support for a sporting event since the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and bookings were made weeks in advance to secure seats in front of the big screens. Some rugby fans might have enjoyed the gees a little too much. At least 12 rugby fans had a less than ideal weekend after they were arrested for drunk driving when leaving the stadium on Saturday night. Business bonanza Barney's Tavern, a beachfront institution in Gqeberha, had a bumper weekend, with the first fans arriving from as early as 8am on Saturday. Owner Craig Mittens said the rugby season was crucial for business in the winter months, and while they expected good support, this past weekend had been exceptional. 'I don't think we've seen this kind of business since the 2010 World Cup. We had guys flying into Gqeberha stopping by for breakfast at 8am, and the last customers walked out of here after 1am on Sunday. 'And at 8am on Sunday, we were almost packed again as guys stopped by for breakfast before catching their flights back home. It was crazy.' Mittens and his team ran a shuttle service that transported 120 people between Barney's and the stadium before and after the game. While he still needs to crunch the numbers to determine exactly how good business was on Saturday, Mittens said he would not be surprised if they reached record-setting figures. In Good Company, a hospitality collective based in Gqeberha, also believed they reached record numbers as their establishments showed an increase in activity for the entire week leading up to the Springbok-Italy clash. 'We had bookings coming in for the rugby about a month in advance, and even our stores not showing the rugby were packed. It just goes to show the ripple effect that an event like a Springbok game can have on business,' operations manager Anle Marais said. With one of its beachfront restaurants, Something Good, only a stone's throw from the Springboks' hotel, Marais said they had fans coming and going the whole week as Siya Kolisi and his teammates frequented the establishment. Bridge Street Brewery collaborated with Castle Lager as an official fan park and was bursting at the seams until closing time at 2am. Meanwhile, despite not even having TVs, business at Hello! Beach and Hello! It's Me Walmer was also booming. 'Some people came for a bite before going to watch the game, while we definitely saw some wives come out while their husbands were at the rugby. The knock-on effect of these big events is immeasurable,' Marais noted. Safety and security Director of Traffic and Licensing in Nelson Mandela Bay, Warren Prins, applauded establishments that offered shuttle services to and from the stadium as it helped to reduce the number of inebriated drivers. 'From the Metro Police, we had upwards of 40 officers manning 22 points around the stadium before, during and after the game. We also had officials at the event to help other law-enforcement agencies to monitor and manage the crowd.' Prins said besides a handful of petty crimes such as pickpocketing, the event was a major success from a safety and security point of view. 'No major incidents, especially violent incidents, were reported to us, and we arrested 12 people for driving under the influence after the match. Overall, I believe the crowds were generally well-behaved and we saw little need for serious intervention,' Prins said. DM
Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Delizioso! Italian rugby stars savour a taste of home at Gqeberha restaurant
Seven Italian rugby players, 11 pizzas, and two very proud restaurateurs. Quitschy's in Gqeberha scored big before the Italian rugby team took on the Springboks in Nelson Mandela Bay on Saturday — serving up authentic Italian food and making unforgettable memories. Lucia Zanella could barely see past the shoulders of the towering visitors who ducked through the doorway of her cosy pizzeria in Walmer, Gqeberha. 'They made me feel so tiny — I'd never seen such big people before!' she laughed, recalling the unexpected arrival of seven Italian rugby players at Quitschy's Pizza & Restaurant in Walmer. Lucia and her husband, Stefano, moved their restaurant from Jeffreys Bay to Gqeberha in 2021. The Italian players arrived at their restaurant on Friday, ahead of their match against the Springboks at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium, which Italy lost 45-0. When the restaurant owners asked the players why they chose the unassuming spot tucked away in Gqeberha, their answer was simple: they were craving something that tasted like home. 'They said they wanted authentic Italian food,' said Lucia, 'and that's exactly what we do — everything made from scratch, with proper Italian ingredients. Nothing fake, nothing rushed.' For the Zanellas, it was a full-circle affirmation of the heart and heritage they pour into every dish. From the wood-fired pizzas to the hand-rolled pasta, Quitschy's is a little slice of Italy in the Eastern Cape — now with a stamp of approval from some of Italy's finest athletes. 'Seeing them enjoy our food felt like a win for us,' smiled Lucia. 'Our food is authentic Italian cuisine, delicately served with love and respect. We want people to enjoy it. It's not fast food — it's about the company and connection,' said Stefano. And boy, did the Italian team connect over their pizzas! Eleven pizzas were shared among seven players, each telling the other to taste their food. 'They could not have any alcohol because they were preparing to play, but they really enjoyed the food, and kept laughing and teasing each other. They're such a warm, kind bunch — even interacting with our other customers,' said Stefano. On game day, Stefano and his wife backed different teams. Lucia, who was born in Italy, said she would always back her fellow Italians, while Stefano was all in for the Boks. He 'was born in Pretoria and lived there until my teen years before my parents and I moved back to Italy. I also played rugby in high school, so the Springboks have a special place in my heart.' Something else that has a special place in his heart is homemade fish and chips, when he's not enjoying Italian food, of course. For Lucia, steamed bread made the traditional isiXhosa way is a weakness. 'I often ask my staff to make me that steamed bread in those enamel dishes; the taste is just so amazing!' Reflecting on what makes Quitschy's so special for her, she said, 'We're blessed with some of the best customers who truly love authentic food and come here for the culture as well. We hope to never lose that.' DM
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Willie Le Roux shares message to young players after 100th cap
Springbok Willie Le Roux has shared an emotional message after making his 100th test match appearance. Images via Instagram: @wjjleroux Willie Le Roux has encouraged up-and-coming rugby players not to give up on their dreams after he made his 100th test appearance for the Springboks over the weekend. The 35-year-old made his debut for the South African national rugby team in 2013. He has played in three Rugby World Cups, the last two of which the Boks have won. WILLIE LE ROUX SHARES EMOTIONAL MESSAGE AFTER 100TH CAP In an emotional Instagram post, Willie Le Roux thanked the public for their well-wishes on his 100th test match. The cap took place on Saturday, 12 July, in South Africa's game against Italy at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha. ADVERTISEMENT SA won the game 45-0. Sharing a collage of pictures for the special occasion, Willie posted: 'Playing my 100th test match for the Springboks is something I've wanted since I was a child. It's a moment that feels so surreal and incredibly humbling. 'The journey to get to here was never easy…there were definitely some tough times – injuries, doubts, setbacks – moments where the road ahead felt way too steep. But I held onto belief and kept pushing. Because when you love something this deeply, you find a way to keep going. Willie le Roux used his own experience to encourage other aspiring rugby players. He continued: 'Believe in your dreams. No matter where you come from, no matter how far away your goals may seem – it is possible. It does, however, take a lot of hard work, discipline, sacrifice, and heart'. WHO IS THE HIGHEST CAPPED SPRINGBOK? The highest-capped Springbok is currently Eben Etzebeth, who has made 132 appearances in green and gold. Last October, the 33-year-old surpassed Victor Matfield's previous record of 127 caps. Apart from the duo, only six more Springboks have surpassed 100 test caps: Bryan Habana, Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit, Jean de Villiers, Percy Montgomery, and now Willie le Roux. In an Instagram post, Eben congratulated Willie on his achievement. He posted: 'What a privilege to know you and share a rugby field with you for the last few years. You are a legend, my brother and an incredible person'. He added: 'WLR100 sounds just about right!'. HOW MANY CAPS DO YOU THINK WILLIE LE ROUX WILL MAKE IN HIS CAREER? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
