Four tries to one for South Africa
South Africa, despite being reduced to 14 men for about 20 minutes, managed to record a 33-16 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. The Boks outscored the Six Nations champions by four tries to one.
It was a strange match in many ways. Millennium Stadium had a threadbare look and was slippery. That did not help the players. Wales's tight five beat the heavier South African tight five which was supposed to be the side's strength.
And then there were the two yellow cards for Percy Montgomery. Two yellow cards equals a red card and the veteran Springbok was sent off. His first yellow card was for lifting a player in the tackle -- a joke in the context of what happened recently in this regard. His second yellow card was for a high tackle on Shane Williams as the little wing headed for the corner. Both decisions were made by the touch judge. They seemed inappropriate. There was also a yellow card for Welsh prop Chris Horsman -- for punching, also on a touch judge's report.
It seemed to be a weekend when yellow cards became a rash.
Other than in the line-out the Welsh tight five mastered the Springboks, taking a vital tighthead five metres form their line and twice destroying the Springbok maul from line-outs close to their line.
The South Africans were better at loose forward, where Juan Smit and Schalk Burger stood out.
The jury is probably still out about the Springbok halves, two young players making their way into international rugby and obviously players of promise.
After new cap Meyer Bosman had kicked off the Springboks looked to be about to dominate, but the brave Welsh -- patchwork team and all -- fought back bravely. They stood up to the Springboks in the mauls, won a crucial tighthead at a five-metre scrum and twice got on the outside of the rush defence to produce promising overlaps
The Springboks scored the only try of the first half, but Percy Montgomery missed two penalty kicks at goal -- one that was way wide -- and once a brilliant tackle by Martyn Williams held massive CJ van der Linde over the line. On another occasion Jaque Fourie sped through off a short pass from Jean de Villiers, but was called back for a forward pass.
After Montgomery had goaled a penalty in the second minute and Bosman broke past Stephen Jones, the Springboks got a splendid try as they won one fast ball after another in phase after phase and De Villiers threw a long pass to his left. Bryan Habana caught the pass and sped over for a try in the corner.
That made it 8-0.
Matfield was penalised and Stephen Jones made it 8-3. Colin Charvis was penalised and Montgomery made it 11-3. Montgomery was penalised for a silly tackle and Stephen Jones made it 11-6.
The Springboks scored first in the second half. They drove a line-out on their left and Van der Linde had a charge. Back came quick ball and long passes to the left gave Habana his second clear run at the line. Montgomery's conversion attempt swerved off to the right and may not have reached the goal-line.
From the kick-off the Springboks were penalised and Stephen Jones made it 16-9.
The Springboks attacked bravely, but again Welsh pressure spoilt their ambitions at a five-metre scrum in midfield.
It was at this time that Montgomery was given a yellow card and Horsman one soon afterwards.
The third Springbok try had jam on it. Habana charged down the right and kicked ahead into the Welsh in-goal. Sonny Parker, slipping, could not control the slithering ball and Conrad Jantjes got a try right in the corner.
Montgomery off, Bosman converted from touch, in off the upright -- for his first international points. That made it 23-9.
Montgomery came back to make it 26-9, but he had no lasting stay and was sent off for the high tackle.
At this stage the Welsh were attacking over and over. The referee kept playing advantage after advantage as the Springboks made mindless attempts to stop the try -- which came when Keri Sweeney accepted a clever inside pass and surged over for a try close in. Stephen Jones converted and there were seven minutes to go, enough time to set Welsh hopes soaring.
Instead the Springboks had the last say as they battered at the Welsh line and replacement lock Danie Rossouw, tackled, placed the ball over the line for the try. Bosman converted and the final whistle went.
Man of the Match: Gareth Thomas and for Wales was all things strong and calm and Stephen Jones in his 50th appearance for his country was again all calm efficiency. For South Africa there were choices -- Bryan Habana who scored two and made one, big Bakkies Botha, energetic Schalk Burger and our Man of the Match -- Juan Smith on the flank who was so good in the line-out and with the ball in hand.
Moment of the Match: Just possibly Juan Smith's hand-off of Colin Charvis.
Villain of the Match: Resisting all temptations to go beyond the players on the field, we have to look to the two cards -- Percy Montgomery and Chris Horsman.
The scorers:
For Wales:
Try: Sweeney
Con: S Jones
Pens: S Jones 3
For South Africa:
Tries: Habana 2, Jantjes, Rossouw
Cons: Bosman 2
Pens: Montgomery 3
Yellow cards: Percy Montgomery (South Africa, 52), Chris Horsman (Wales, 53)
Red card: Percy Montgomery (South Africa, 71)
The teams:
Wales: 15 Lee Byrne (Ceri Sweeney, 65), 14 Dafydd James, 13 Gareth Thomas (captain)(Ceri Sweeney, 55-65), 12 Sonny Parker (Matthew Watkins, 68), 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Gareth Cooper (Mike Phillips, 75), 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Colin Charvis (Adam Jones, 57-63), 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Chris Horsman (Adam Jones, 9-15), 2 Rhys Thomas (Mefin Davies, 70), 1 Duncan Jones.
Unused replacements: 18 Ian Gough, 19 Jonathan Thomas.
Springboks: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Conrad Jantjes, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers (De Wet Barry, 75), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Meyer Bosman, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha (Danie Rossouw, 71), 3 CJ van der Linde (Lawrence Sephaka, 75), 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Lawrence Sephaka (Os du Randt, 35).
Unused replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 18 Albert van den Berg, 20 Bolla Conradie, 22 Brent Russell.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England), Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Television match official: Roy Maybank (England)
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