Springboks player ratings: Marx stars as South Africa edge All Blacks in Soweto

South Africa moved 2-1 ahead in the Greatest Rivalry series after beating New Zealand 29-24 in the third Test at FNB Stadium, with Ethan Hooker named Man of the Match.

Malcolm Marx was the standout performer in the Springboks’ victory, while several of South Africa’s forwards impressed in a physical contest in Soweto. Here are our ratings for the home side.

Starting XV

1. Ox Nche – 7 Nche supplied the power that South Africa needed at scrum time and played an important role in creating the penalty try before half-time. He was also effective in open play, showing excellent handling skills when the Springboks attacked.

2. Malcolm Marx – 9 A constant threat at the breakdown, Marx repeatedly competed for and won possession. He was reliable at lineout time, carried strongly and delivered several punishing tackles. His performance also included his 28th Test try.

3. Wilco Louw – 7 Louw’s work in the scrum helped South Africa establish a platform, with his performance one of the reasons New Zealand coach Scott Robertson appeared to resort to unusual measures around the scrum area. Louw was replaced in the 51st minute.

4. Eben Etzebeth – 8 After an excellent display in Cape Town, Etzebeth produced another influential performance. He covered an enormous amount of ground and committed himself fully to every challenge. The All Blacks again brought out the best in the experienced lock.

5. Ruan Nortje – 7 Nortje was highly effective in the lineout and contributed across the field. He worked tirelessly in defence and carried himself like an extra loose forward despite playing at lock.

6. Siya Kolisi – 7 The captain led from the front, tackling with aggression and making his presence felt at the breakdown. His energy and commitment were central to another strong team performance.

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit – 7 Du Toit delivered another display to be proud of, contributing in both attack and defence. He was regularly involved at the breakdown and remained a factor throughout the match.

8. Jasper Wiese – 8 Wiese made several powerful carries and consistently gained valuable ground. He played with intensity and passion, once again proving difficult for the All Blacks to contain.

9. Cobus Reinach – 6 Reinach’s kicking was less accurate than it had been the previous week, with several kicks travelling too far for South Africa to challenge effectively. He defended well and distributed the ball efficiently.

10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 7 Feinberg-Mngomezulu was shown a yellow card in the 10th minute. Although he did not reach the level of his performance in Cape Town, he still produced a solid display.

11. Ethan Hooker – 7 Hooker halted New Zealand’s momentum with an outstanding turnover. He competed well under the high ball and defended superbly, continuing to make progress at international level.

12. Damian de Allende – 8 De Allende played a major part in Kurt-Lee Arendse’s try and was extremely difficult to stop when carrying the ball. His defensive work was excellent and he made significant gains in territory.

13. Jesse Kriel – 7 Kriel had a relatively quiet first half but improved after the interval. He scored an excellent try in the 59th minute, organised the backline effectively and contributed well despite missing one or two tackles.

14. Kurt-Lee Arendse – 7 Arendse finished a superb try in the 22nd minute and was always willing to look for work. He helped create openings and again showed impressive strength and determination in defence.

15. Cheslin Kolbe – 7 Kolbe was playing well before being forced off in the 10th minute after taking a knock to the head.

Replacements

16. Deon Fourie – 7 Fourie made an immediate impact after replacing Marx. His performances reflected his passion for the Springboks jersey.

17. Gerhard Steenekamp – 5 Steenekamp had a quiet spell after coming on and was not able to see much of the ball.

18. Thomas du Toit – 6 Known as “The Tank”, du Toit brought his physicality to the contest after entering from the replacements’ bench.

19. Lood de Jager – 5 De Jager had limited involvement after replacing Etzebeth and did not see much of the ball.

20. Andre Esterhuizen – 7 Esterhuizen was extremely difficult to bring down and was a dominant presence in defence. He made a strong impact despite his relatively short time on the field.

21. Cameron Hanekom – 7 “Cammy Dog” showed plenty of bite in defence and carried the ball with real purpose. He looked eager for an extended opportunity and took his chance impressively.

22. Morne van den Berg – 7 Van den Berg’s box kicks were more accurate, while the tempo appeared to increase when he took charge behind the scrum and mauls. He was also excellent defensively.

23. Manie Libbok – 7 Libbok displayed excellent handling in attack and used his sidestep effectively to keep the All Blacks uncertain. His tactical kicking was another strength as he helped South Africa manage the closing stages.