For the first time ever here on Inside Survivor, we will be bringing you Survivor South Africa Power Rankings. As the battle to outplay and outwit goes down on the Wild Coast of South Africa, another showdown will be taking place right here between two Survivor veterans.
Fighting it out for Power Rankings supremacy are two past Survivor SA castaways, both from Island of Secrets, Jacques Burger and Meryl Szolkeiwicz. Meryl finished in 13th place on Survivor SA, while Jacques made it to 7th place. But who will come out on top in the Power Rankings? Let battle commence!
In Round 4, Jacques ranked Thoriso in 16th place and Carla in 15th place, earning him 31 points. Meryl, meanwhile, had Thoriso ranked at 12th and Carla at 13th (moved up one after Thoriso’s elimination), bagging her 25 points. Meryl is still in the lead with 70 points, but Jacques is beginning to close the gap. Let’s see how this week turns out!
RULES
We use the Gordon Holmes format of Power Rankings. Each week the two power rankers create separate rankings based on least likely to most likely to be eliminated. The ranking of the player who is voted out of the next episode will determine the number of points the rankers will earn. For example, if the person you ranked in 1st place is eliminated in the next episode, you will recieve 1 point. If the person you ranked in 20th place is eliminated, you will receive 20 points. At the end of the season, the person with the most points will be named the Power Rankings Champion.
Jacques
60
Meryl
70
1
Renier
A new week, a new ally. It seems that Renier is extending his retinue each day. Tyson, a member of the opposition minority, now also shares Renier's trust. This ensures that Renier constantly knows where all the pieces of the board are and can subsequently make the optimal move each round
1
Renier
Renier is playing a powerful game. Cards close to his chest, lots of information coming his way. He reminds me of a Jacques 2.0, and even a Werner. Very quietly in all the right conversations and waiting for his time to turn the game.
2
Anesu
Anesu's stellar endurance of 0.21 seconds ensured her an immunity necklace and the tribal pass advantage. The advantage can be used as a bargaining chip, trust-building tool, or as a get-out-of-jail card. This is supplemented by her close connections with numerous vital players in the game. Excellent position to be on the eve of the merge.
2
Anesu
I loved that we got to see more of Anesu this episode. She is social, smart and strategic. She has an advantage that I think will buy time for her alliance until she meets up with Wardah. She has a calm presence in her alliance and her absence was missed while she was on Immunity Island.
3
Santoni
Santoni's flip-flop strategy has so far been working great for her. If they do lose again she has numerous options to vote out. If things do go pear-shaped and she senses danger, she can always revert back to her idol hidden at tribal council as well.
3
Kiran
What a social game Kiran has. Soooooo many opportunities where he was guiding the game through other players. The fact that he can put his name out there, JUST to build trust... that is a bold move!
4
Marisha
Marisha was involved in verbal confrontation for the first time this season. This can be a telling sign of what's to come if that is her go-to move once opposition members start targeting her alliance. However, she endeared herself to a close group of people who looks like they have her back. If Vuna keeps winning, she's set to make the merge where her true test will begin.
4
Santoni
Santoni is running the tribe, people are aware and I don’t think there is anything that they can do about it. This rainbow child seems non-threatening and she is sitting on an idol.
5
Dino
Tall enough to go on the ride? Great, welcome to the Dino rollercoaster ladies and gentlemen. Another episode where he was part of the decision-making nucleus at one stage and second-guessing the plans at the next. Dino's saving grace is that his tribe is harmonious, well-fed, and has a ton of momentum (his challenge wins at times definitely contributing to this). I hope Dino doesn't overthink the rest of the game and keeps trusting his gut. Great to see him on our televisions each week.
5
Marisha
Marisha surprised me, queen of the cats. I had no idea that she was such an influence on the Vuna tribe. Her alliance listens to her and she was the one who confronted Thoriso at Tribal. I look forward to seeing her beat it out during merge as the challenge beast we know she is!
6
Francois
Chappies has an apt read of the game, being on the right side of the votes the last round. He should be able to use this trust to ensure he's safe for the next vote. There's also the small chance that Vuna can "Weaken the tribe" and send him to Immunity Island. The players will also realise merge is near. As a last-ditch plan, he can use his soon-to-expire diplomatic immunity bracelet to jump ship if they lose, guaranteeing him a spot at the merge, albeit at the cost of some social capital.
6
Amy
Amy is now the double agent with a bright future! She is consistent and stable, cool and calm.
7
Amy
Amy has done a fantastic job of ensuring that her name doesn't get raised as a vote-out option since the swap. However, as the game progresses, the number of people to hide behind becomes less and less. I hope she can scrape by a couple of additional rounds. It will be great to see her reunite with her original Renier alliance and take control of the game.
7
Shaun
Shaun is ALWAYS on the right side of the vote. I think it can take him deep into the game, as he dominates the middle ground and waits for all the bigger threats to take each other out. Sandra won twice with that strategy!
8
Kiran
Kiran played like a boss in the previous episode. Offering up your name to prove your worth to an untrusting alliance takes some whale balls! Yet he came out looking like he's been playing Survivor for years. My big concern for Kiran is what happens if they lose again? The obvious vote got sent home last week. With Anesu's connections and Tyson's new link with Renier, it would be interesting to see how he navigates the next tribal council he will attend.
8
Anela
Anela is also someone who has been consistent. He is navigating the game very well and has a secure footing in his tribe.
9
Tyson
One of the most savage and apt voting confessionals in a long time was delivered by Tyson. That gives us clear insight into his approach. If you want to throw him under the bus, he will run you over with it. He made a big move, upping his threat level and he now has no idol left to work with. I really hope Tyson can survive and make the merge. It would be compelling to see how his focus will be channeled once the game becomes completely individual.
9
Nicole
Initially, I thought that Nicole was at the bottom of Vuna 2.0, but she has a solid alliance. The idol has been played and I think that her relationships will keep her safe.
10
Qiean
She was the one that shared the intel to ensure Tyson turns his crosshair onto Thoriso. This wasn't too well received by her tribe, we'll see if it comes back to haunt her. Her other ally in Shaun is still in the game which bodes well for her longevity come the merge
10
Tyson
Tyson seems to be at the bottom of the tribe, but there are bigger threats and targets currently and he showed his hand to Renier, a key member of the majority on Vuna. He gets some interesting confessionals with regard to end game etc... perhaps a glimmer of the final? I’d like to think so.
11
Shaun
Shaun is like a matador. Constantly tempting the opposition to run at him. If he's not blindsiding his closest allies he's makings incredulous statements at tribal: Vuna is practicing sitting at the jury! Whatever happens, going forward, nobody can complain about the entertainment value that Shaun brought to this season!
11
Francois
Chappies’ name comes up every episode. I think I finally found the cat that Thoriso was referring to! Big threat, great edit... perhaps a finalist, too?
12
Anela
Anela's in a peculiar position. The odds of his tribe visiting tribal again are quite high. If that happens, the girls might band together and vote out a physical threat before the merge. If Chappies bows out and walks offstage with his diplomatic immunity, Anela is going to stand there alone with a massive spotlight shining on him giving him nowhere to hide.
12
Qiean
Qiean and Dino are in the same spot within the tribe with neither of them having strong relationships in the majority alliance.
13
Wardah
Wardah was on the wrong side of the vote yet again. Her circle is shrinking by the week and with the exception of Anesu, we haven't seen her create any long-term allies. I love Wardah's positive attitude and proactive way of playing the game. I hope she has the scramble game to get out of the sinking HMS Zamba and survive until the merge to reunite with her yogi sister.
13
Wardah
Wardah has just lost her strongest ally on her tribe. I am hoping that she can survive the next few episodes and reunite with her original allies and the yogi alliance can take some of the middle ground. Girls can only dream.
14
Nicole
Earlier in the season, Nicole mentioned that Dino is now on her radar. Nicole played last week's episode perfectly, continuing the lie and keeping Thoriso at ease for as long as possible. Unfortunately for her, Dino got to witness her modus operandi and saw how lethal her poker face can be. With the two now aware of each other's threat level, it would be interesting to see how the next couple of episodes play out and who will take the preemptive strike
14
Dino
This will be a difficult pill to swallow if I’m right. Dino has had a few strikes against his name, was able to navigate and repair some of those blunders, but I just don’t see that he is very close to anyone at the moment. He has been paranoid and he was left out of the contingency plan at tribal.
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