Autumn Series: Scotland v South Africa: Scotland player ratings

15. Tom Jordan – 7.5

For a first start in the 15 jersey, the newest addition to the ‘Kilted Kiwi’ club put in a pretty good shift, especially considering the standard of opponent. Would have to have been a magnificent tackle to stop Mapimpi’s first from that distance, otherwise he was very good. Very Tom Jordan-y, just not as impactful as at URC level. [Willie Le Roux – 7]

Autumn Series: Scotland v South Africa reaction: Sione Tuipulotu laments inaccuracy in the finish zone

Autumn Series: Scotland v South Africa match report: 17-point defeat does not reflect pattern of match

Autumn Series: Scotland vs South Africa: live blog …. full-time … somehow it is a Boks win by 17

14. Blair Kinghorn – 4

Hadn’t done anything, then there was some poor kicking, a bad defensive choice and, just when it looked like a redemption chance, pinged for tackling on the floor. An offence which the Springboks got away with on Jordan a few minutes later, but I’m not rating the ref! [Canan Moodie – 7]

13. Huw Jones – 7

Two passes and a marginal knock-on away from a legendary performance. His defensive game is markedly improved, but it’s the attack we came for. The between the legs flip was as effective as inventive, he ran Huw Jones-lines and made breaks, but launching a pass over the head of the 6ft 5ins bazooka, who had acres of space in front of him? Head in hands, Huw moment. Need to take those chances. [Lukhanyo Am – 8]

12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7

He had a couple more charges than last week, but probably just to soften them up for the pull-back. Jordi-pulotu nearly had the Boks rocked, but for that knock-on by Jones. Impressed against some of the world’s biggest and best, had a great cover tackle on Am, but today’s lack of killer-blow prevents a higher-score. [Andre Esterhuizen – 8.5]

11. Duhan van der Merwe – 5

Not a lot happening for the big chap. Never got the ball in much free paddock thanks to a couple of Huw-lers, when he did get ball in hand he mostly ran into his equally massive compatriots. [Makazole Mapimpi – 8]

10. Finn Russell – 7

Rassie Erasmus had said that Russell “runs an orchestra”, and it was a more disciplined display as he tried to get his big instruments involved. Solid without being spectacular, kicked his goals, and made a couple of brave interventions in defence. The showman can crack the whip when needed. [Handrè Pollard – 7.5]

9. Ben White – 7

So close to a memorable try, harshly pinged for not using – I already had my socks off so it was easy to count to 6 – he was generally snappy with service and kicked well. [Jaden Hendrikse – 7]

1. Pierre Schoeman – 6

Did pretty well in his defensive efforts, Scotland’s scrum struggled a little though. Again didn’t see him much in the carry, but Scotland knew they were running into a big green wall. [Ox Nche – 8]

2. Ewan Ashman – 7

Solid arrows, got around the park well, and may have caused a Ben Earls-esque reaction from me when executing that perfect double-leg takedown on Eben Etzebeth. Vast improvement on last week. [Bongi Mbonambi – 7]

3. Zander Fagerson – 7.5

Was sturdier in his scrummaging than his loosehead colleagues, and again proved how mightily impressive his engine is. Picked a fight with Etzebeth at a key moment just after the ‘bomb squad’ came on to prove the home team were not going to be intimidated out of this game. [Thomas Du Toit – 7]

4. Grant Gilchrist – 6

He was alright. Tends to be the thing with Gilco, we know what he’s good at, and he did it fine. Can’t really knock him down for scrums not being great, the line-out and maul went well. [Eben Etzebeth – 8.5]

5. Scott Cummings – 5

Had pinched an early line-out, then he’s been done rotten with that red card, so I’m not marking him lower. It’s as bizarre a decision as the penalty against Duhan for “pushing” the ref against Ospreys. The officials need to watch more David Attenborough if they think that’s a “croc-roll”. [Franco Mostert – 6]

6. Matt Fagerson – 6

Saw some of the Bok-smashing, URC-winning aggression on the defensive side, but most memorable carry ended in a knock-on close to the try-line. [Marco van Staden – 6.5]

7. Rory Darge – 6.5

Charged about like a bazooka blasting breakdowns, mauls, and people, but not a lot with ball in hand, Bokke forwards also preventing him from getting over the ball. [Elrigh Louw – 7]

8. Jack Dempsey – 7

Takes on so much carrying work, and usually effectively. He’s not the biggest No 8 in the world but if Darge is a bazooka, Dempsey is nuclear. Was instrumental in knocking the Springboks a little off the rails with his aggression. [Kwagga Smith – 7]

16. Dylan Richardson – 5

Was unfortunate to be on at the same time as the Boks “Bomb Squad” when there’s comparatively a fair drop-off in Scotland’s front-row options, but he didn’t make much impact in open-play and there was one poor clutch-dart. [Malcolm Marx – 7]

17. Rory Sutherland – 4

Still searching for game-time, and up against that formidable Springboks bench. [Berhard Steenekamp – 6]

18. Elliot Millar Mills – 5

See above. Had five minutes less than Sutherland, and this trio have probably had less than 5 scrums together in Test environment, so was a tough ask not to get the nod at scrum-time. [Vincent Koch – 8]

19. Max Williamson – 6

Earlier than expected replacement after the Cummings red card, the young man acquitted himself well against even loftier opponents than him at 6ft 7ins, despite being ill on Friday which put his invovlement in this match in doubt. Might be the answer to the Richie Gray-sized hole. [RG Snyman – 7]

20. Josh Bayliss – 6

One nice involvement in build-up play, but not a lot of time to make impact. [Siya Kolisi – 7]

21. Jamie Ritchie – 5

Replaced Darge to be the primary fetcher/energy-bunny, was unable to utilise turnover skills against a bench that included Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph Du Toit. [Pieter-Steph Du Toit – 8]

22. Jamie Dobie – 5

Didn’t get to do much except watch Springboks run clock down. Didn’t make any errors, will be interesting to see if he’ll be a 6-2 specialist back-up or if Toony will promote him ahead of Horne. [Jasper Wiese – 7.5]

23. Stafford McDowall – N/A

Even less time than Dobie, and hardly saw the ball. [Grant Williams – 6]

Autumn Series: Scotland v South Africa reaction: Sione Tuipulotu laments inaccuracy in the finish zone