The mighty South Africans dazzled in the first half with multi-dimensional play to lead 24-0 at halftime and turned to their kicking game in the final 30 minutes in a match they controlled from start to finish.
That despite losing Jasper Wiese to a red card for a head-butt on Danilo Fischetti in the 21st minute and Wilco Louw to a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Sebastian Negri in the 44th minute.
The back-to-back world champions continued to innovate as two of their seven unanswered tries came from manufactured lineouts in the middle of the field. They also started the game with a deliberate short kick off to force a scrum.
Overall, it was a much-improved performance on the 42-24 win at Loftus Versfeld last weekend as the Boks kept a major nation scoreless for the first time since a 28-0 victory over Scotland 12 years ago and celebrated Willie le Roux’s 100th Test in style.
Our top three Springbok standouts were:
Edwill van der Merwe
Having had to wait 13 months to run out for South Africa a second time, Van der Merwe picked up where he left off in London.
The all-action winger had burst onto the international stage with a try-scoring Man of the Match performance in the 2024 season opener against Wales at Twickenham, and he was even better at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, scoring twice to claim the individual honours again.
After sparking the Boks’ opening try with a scintillating break, the winger scored the hosts’ next two, firstly showcasing his fantastic finishing ability to dot down in the corner and secondly showing some soccer skills to dribble centurion Le Roux’s chip ahead and double down.
An early mistake aside, the 29-year-old was excellent in the air as well, his chasing exemplary as he won back more than a couple of contestables. Strong defensively, too, Van der Merwe was simply magnificent.
Grant Williams
Like Van der Merwe, Williams made up for lost time with a cracking comeback from injury. He and like-minded Manie Libbok transformed the Boks from predictable ball-bashers the previous week to lethal speed merchants in the Windy City.
Not just a lightning-quick attacking threat, his first significant contribution came on the defensive end as his good cover tackle on Giacomo De Re early on resulted in a turnover.
That really got him going as he drew first blood through textbook scrumhalf support play and produced a try assist for Canan Moodie. He should’ve had an earlier assist as well, as he made a half break and good offload, but Andre Esterhuizen’s hands let him down.
The electrifying difference-maker was excellent with the boot as well, with his pinpoint box kicks resulting in a number of retentions. For my money, he’s the best of the Boks’ halfback options.
Marco van Staden
Robust and relentless, Van Staden had one of his best games yet in the Green and Gold. “Eskom” brought energy and mongrel on both sides of the ball and showed exactly what makes him such a solid squad man.
The Bok forwards weren’t lacking in effort and the 29-year-old loose forward led the way as he muscled into and through contact throughout his time on the park.
His leg drive was something to behold, his tackling tireless, and his work at the breakdown, which included a jackal in the 42nd minute, solid.
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