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The Springboks were well and truly beaten in Johannesburg. After 10 changes, the off-field antics of their coach, two citings with suspension and then their protest about the "ridiculous" suspension of Bakkies Botha, they were a fairly bedraggled lot, playing without cohesion or conviction.

The Lions on the other hand were filled with determination especially when it came to tackling and what happens afterwards. They did what the Lions did in 1938 and 1980 - win the last Test with the series lost.

In the first Test the Springbok substitutions were not good and nearly lost the match for South Africa. In the second Test the substitutions made a great contribution to the winning of the Test. In this match it is hard to see what of the 10 changes were worth making.  Only Zane Kirchner and Morné Steyn came out of the match with plusses. And certainly Bakkies Botha was sorely missed. Even Victor Matfield was a lesser man without Botha.

Paul Dobson rates the Springboks...

South Africa:

15 Zane Kirchner:
Playing his first Test he performed with great confidence and skill from the start. He wants to play and wants to run. Substituted 16 minutes into the second half. 7/10

14 Odwa Ndungane
He plays, he tries, he works hard and he defends well but he just hasn't got the speed. He should have scored late in the match. 5/10

13 Jaque Fourie
He certainly played in a match when opportunities for players outside of 12 had few opportunities. He was brave and aggressive and was certainly the best of the Springbok backs. 8/10

12 Wynand Olivier
He started well and defended well but his attacking skills were limited to charging into unyielding defenders over and over again. It was his long pass that Ugo Monye intercepted for the try that broke the Springboks' resolve. 4/10

11 Jongi Nokwe
Obviously he is no Bryan Habana. Habana was on the bench and Nokwe was on the field as was occasionally obvious till his place was taken - on the wing - by Pierre Spies with 16 minutes to go. Spies was more in evidence. 2/10

10 Morné Steyn
Defended well and kicked really well. He tried to give his backs a chance but lacked a flyhalf's spark and variation. 6/10

9 Fourie du Preez
He was injured late in the first half when Simon Shaw dropped his knees into his back and left the field at half-time. But for the half he was on he was quite the best of the Springboks, even behind a sloppy pack. 8/10

8 Ryan Kankowski
Without being presented with the ball, he did not play. He drifted about the field even in urgent situations and avoided tackling. In contact the ball was not secure with him. 2/10

7 Juan Smith
He was good in the line-out and was, rarely for the Springboks, committed to the tackle collision. He ran with the ball but in a non-threatening, upright way. 5/10

6 Heinrich Brüssow
His silly involvement in a squabble that was not his cost his team three points but for the rest he was worth gold to the Springboks with his strength, determination and skill at the breakdowns. And when he has the ball you know that his side will get the ball. 8/10

5 Victor Matfield
Perhaps his worst match in a Springbok jersey. He was the first player penalised in the match and that at a tackle, which maybe why he avoided so many collision places later on. He caught well in the line-out but once lost the ball and once flung it past Fourie du Preez. 4/10

4 Johann Muller
He had an anonymous afternoon but he was obvious when he jumped early at a line-out five metres from the Lions' line and the maul was nullified. He jumped early again later on and Mike Phillips took advantage of it. 3/10

3 John Smit (captain)
He gave it his all. The scrumming problems were not of his making and he was on hand to compete at the tackles, make tackles and take the ball up. 7/10

2 Chiliboy Ralepelle
His replacement at half-time by Bismark du Plessis and the great improvement in Springboks scrumming after that suggests that this enthusiastic but perhaps naive player is not up to it though his line-out throwing was impeccable. 5/10

1 Tendai Mtawarira
He gets about, he tackles, he contests at the tackle and with Bismarck du Plessis at his side his scrumming was again powerful. 7/10

Replacements:

16 Bismarck du Plessis
His appearance on the field restored the scrumming power of the Springboks. He also played with energy and intent once making three successive tackles in one bout of play. The three points conceded for a late tackle were silly. 7/10

17 Gürthro Steenkamp
He was on for only the last 10 minutes.

18 Deon Carstens
Did not play

19 Steven Sykes
Did not play

20 Pierre Spies
Spent 16 minutes on the left wing and charged a few times.

21 Ruan Pienaar
Played the whole second half at scrumhalf and showed his class - a skilful and aware player. 7/10

22 François Steyn
Had two bites at the match - on at centre for four minutes when Jaque Fourie was off bleeding and then on at fullback for 24 minutes. His performance at fullback was impressive - one great clearance and willing to run to produce chances for the Springboks to play off him. The chances he created were by bashing ahead, not by passing the ball. 7/10

Do you agree with Paul? Let us know what you thought of the Springboks.