Boks Beat Wales Easy As 1234

Rugby World Champions, the South African Springboks, took a while to get warmed up at Cardiff, in chilly Wales, but once they had their rhythm they did the job. There were some nice touches, good support play and deft set pieces from the boys in green and gold.

The Boks were almost not the same team as the world cup squad; absent were the likes and legends of lineout man Victor Matfield, Mr Reliable Os du Rand, Danie Rossouw and the golden boot of Percy Montgomery. Montgomery's absence in particular was noticeable as Ruan Pienaar was not nearly as solid in defence; one of his fumbles led to a lucky try by Welshman Charvis at the close of the first half.

Going into the second half at 22-5, Wales seemed to gain momentum in the slippery and cold conditions.

Just 60-seconds after the Springbok Albert Van Den Berg came on the field (for Bakkies Botha) he was off again, sin-binned. Wales scored soon after. A resurgent Wales then came back to even up the scores; at one point they had closed the gap to 12-29. But Wales was haphazard, lacking direction and weak in defence.

The young South African Shark player, Kankowski, went through a hole in the Wales line easy-as-you please to extend the Boks lead, brining the final score to 34-12. The 77th minute sin-binning of nonplussed substitute prop Bismark du Plessis didn't help the Boks send their point home, but they nevertheless maintained their lead.

At the end of the game Bok captain John Smit, holding his infant son in his arms, and sporting a nasty bloodied eye, dedicated the win to coach Jake White, but conceded that the Boks had not played their best; using the word 'ugly' to describe aspects of it.

Highlights of the game included some brilliant flourishes by the likes of Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger and Francois Steyn.

The next game against the lions is a bit of a misnomer. It seems that increasingly, in both rugby and football, there is a tendency for local leagues to compete and distract from international games. Perhaps more money needs to be thrown into the international leagues.

Springboks Interviewed at Newlands Stadium (VIDEO)

RWC: Boks overcome Ferocious Fijians (37-20)

Springbok Powerhouse shrug off nerves to pull off convincing win

With a halftime score looking ominously like the New Zealand score (versus France), at 13-3 , it was starting to look like a third upset was on the cards. Jacque Fourie’s easy-as-you-please try in the second third of the first half was an anomaly. After an hour’s play, scores were level at 20-20, and the Boks were tempted to doubt themselves, as their Southern Hemisphere rivals had done to their detriment on Saturday.

Saturday’s upsets provided the Boks with powerful incentives not to make the same mistakes.

Errors

Yet both sides made handling errors; the Fijians messed up their own lineouts, and took chances in scrummages and tackles, while Springbok Francois Steyn’s performance blew hot and cold. Schalk Burger uncharacteristically missed a crucial tackle that led to a try.

The Boks erred in throwing the ball out wide, opening themselves up to the fleetfooted Fijians (and Sevens World Champs).

The turning point came for South Africa in the second half. But not due to the sin binning of Seru Rabeni for his high tackle on Butch James. In fact, with Rabeni gone the fourteen remaining Fijians still scored twice in quick succession. It could so easily have gone the other way. A desperate tackle soon after these two tries saved the Boks from a disastrous third try, and a morale breaking score (perhaps 25-20).

Spoiler

All this happened close to the 70th minute with South African JP Pietersen spoiling flying Ifereimi Rawaqa’s surge for the corner. Pietersen scooped up the big man as he dived across the line, pinning down his arms and preventing him – just – from grounding the ball.

The Fijians disappointment at this near miss began to infect the Boks with the impulse, the nerve to counterattack, and to do so within a prescribed game plan. And so they fought their way back to ascendancy. The match was characterized by ruthless high tackles, perhaps more from the bulky Fijians, but the Boks were also guilty of playing rough, and spilling blood.

Thanks to solid leadership from the Bok captain, John Smit, the Bok troops gathered themselves up, and shut down the Fijians. They effectively placed a garage door on their own try line at one point, barricading this zone against the bulldozing attempts of the muscular Fijians.

Composure

After some frantic initial countering, the Boks did what the Aussies and Kiwi’s failed to do, they regained their composure, and fell back into a game plan that involved muscling, mauling and rucking their way through the Fijians. It worked again through Free State flank Juan Smith, and again at the death – although Butch James had to clean up the attempt by running it slightly wide and fast from the ruck to score his try. In the end the Boks pulled off 5 tries.

The last of the four quarter finals games is on Sunday between Argentina and Scotland. Argentina are the favorites, but given what has already happened this weekend, there’s almost no point in mentioning that.

SA try scorers: Jaque Fourie, John Smit, JP Pietersen, Juan Smith, Butch James. Conversions: Percy Montgomery (3). Penalties: Francois Steyn, Percy Montgomery (1 each).
Fiji try scorers: Vilimoni Delasau, Sireli Bobo. Conversions: Seremaia Bai (2). Penalties: Seremaia Bai (2).

World Cup Rugby: England Bloodied By Boks

Springbok victory over defending champ puts them in pole position (RSA 36 ENG 0)

What was immediately obvious during Friday's match between defending World Cup champs, England, and their southern hemisphere rivals, was the amount of English blood.

The South Africans played aggressively against a team that seemed to lack assertiveness, and were simply overpowered by Bok brawn.

After only five minutes South African JP Pietersen stormed down the right flank after a lineout. He passed to Fourie du Preez, his scrum half, and du Preez passed to Juan Smith, who crossed the line for a try.

Shortly after, ex Grey College youngster Francois Steyn belted white leather 48 metres to add 3 more points. Mike Catt was unable to return the fsvour, when England won a penalty shortly after.

Winger Pietersen scored shortly before half time, putting the Boks into a decent 20-0 lead.

The carnage continued in the second half with England seeming to struggle under constant pressure; game maker Jason Robinson was forced to leave the field after pulling his hamstring. Brian Habana, the superfast South African, left the field for five minutes to treat a facial cut.

Fourie Du Preez, who set up many of his teams best moves, scored the third try in the last fifteen minutes. The Boks lost momentum , easing down a gear or two, as a constant stream of fresh players were substituted. This sideshow of putting various players through their paces was the backdrop to arguably the most confident and powerful side in this World Cup.

SA coach Jake White has said before: "A world champion team has the best defence." The Boks have proved to be virtually impenetrable. The struggling English side made several runs against the solid green hedge, only to emerge with bloodied white jerseys, and bleeding faces.

Percy Montgomery rounded off the game with a penalty, bringing his tally to an all match total of 47: Monty is now the highest point scorer for the tournament thus far. Fourie du Preez was named Man of the Match.

England must face and overcome another physical side - the Samoans - to reach the next round. But will they? After Friday's performance, this is by no means a certainty. And even if England do beat Samoa, they will probably face Australia in an equally bruising Quarter-Final.

Meanwhile Tournament favourites, and Tri-Nations champs, New Zealand must be biting their nails at the prospect of taking on the Boks in France. This is an almost certain destiny now for both sides.

Coming up soon:
New Zealand vs Portugal
Wales vs Australia
Ireland vs Georgia.