Damian Willemse, wearing the number 15 jersey, started strong, displaying skillful handling of high balls and contributing offensively. However, his influence diminished over time, especially after an injury shuffled him into the midfield. He scored a 6.
Cheslin Kolbe, number 14, was pivotal until an injury at 58 minutes cut his play short. His impeccable kicking, resulting in three penalties and a conversion, kept his team in contention. Kolbe earned a 7.
The seasoned Jesse Kriel, number 13, found himself playing on the left wing early in the game due to a teammate's injury. Mostly confined to defensive duties, Kriel struggled to make a significant impact, scoring a 5.
Damian de Allende, celebrating his 100th cap, found little to rejoice about. Despite some robust runs, his efforts as the 12th player didn't translate into points, and he also scored a 5.
Kurt-Lee Arendse, number 11, exited early for a head injury assessment, which he did not pass. His early departure marked his score as not applicable (N/A).
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, number 10, had a challenging day, overshadowed by errors and a late switch to full-back. His performance reflected in his score of 4.
Grant Williams, number 9, experienced a tough game, with missed tackles contributing to critical All Black scores. His day ended with a score of 4.
Jasper Wiese, at number 8, was a standout, bulldozing through the All Black's defense with powerful runs, gaining the most metres (63) and making 17 carries. His efforts earned him an 8.
"It's about keeping our heads up and learning from these experiences," said Jasper Wiese after the match.
Pieter-Steph du Toit, number 7 and the stand-in captain, was solid in his all-around performance but found it hard to break through the robust All Black defense, scoring a 6.
Paul de Villiers, wearing the number 6, gave his all on the field, leading the team with 12 tackles and securing a crucial turnover. He scored a 6.
Ruan Nortje and Eben Etzebeth, numbers 5 and 4 respectively, were forces in the lineouts and the tight scrums, with both scoring a 6.
Wilco Louw, number 3, proved his mettle in the scrum, facing off effectively against his opponents and scoring an 8 for his efforts.
Malcolm Marx, number 2, was involved heavily, almost scoring a try and contributing significantly as a ball carrier. His stamina for the full 80 minutes was notable, earning him a 7.
Ox Nche, the starting number 1, came back from injury to deliver a commendable scrummaging performance but was replaced at 46 minutes, scoring an 8.
The bench players, led by Andre Esterhuizen, showed potential early on but quickly diminished, collectively scoring a 4. Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach’s back-to-back yellow cards further compounded the team's problems.
The Springboks’ next steps involve regrouping and refining their strategies to bounce back from this setback. The lessons learned in this tough match will be pivotal for their upcoming challenges on the international stage.
