Four tries to one in Durban
The Springboks have handed Scotland their biggest-ever defeat on South African soil, racing to a 36-16 victory in Durban on Saturday in a game where the scoreline certainly flatters the visitors. It is the first time Scotland had lost by more than ten points on SA soil and it is also a result that ensures Scotland are still searching for their first win in South Africa.
At four tries to one, with the Scottish touchdown a late consolation score, it says that only one team was ever going to win this game.
Like the dainty antelope adorning their jerseys, the Springboks were sprinting around the park and leaped with sheer delight as they created numerous opportunities.
Despite all that was said beforehand about Scotland's new resolve and determination, the match seemed to be heading for an inevitable result after the first few minutes as the Springbok pack took over and did so till cap-dishing-out time late in the match.
In the end the score line flattered the Scots who used every scoring chance they had in accumulating their 16 points.
For the Springboks the first half was better and their control complete as long as the "A" team played. The tight forwards made life tough for all eight Scots, but released the Springbok loose trio to play, and play they did in everything one would expect from loose forwards.
But in the later stages of the game, the changed Springbok pack was ordinary if not beaten.
When he spoke after the match Jason White, the Scotland captain, acknowledged the strength of the Springbok pack but took heart from the try at the end. That try probably did not have a lot authority about it. A suspect turn-over off replacement Pedrie Wannenburg and the ball went wide to replacement Gordon Ross who sent replacement Simon Webster who scored. There were just three minutes to go at the time.
Scotland opted for the kick-off, the Springboks mauled and troubles started for the Scots. The Springbok pack moved on top and stayed there in all aspects of the game.
From the maul, the Springboks, a constant tactic, used the short side off the maul. Nathan Hines was penalised and the Springboks were in Scots territory where they attacked again till at a tackle Donnie Macfadyen was penalised and Percy Montgomery had a comfortable position for the penalty. 3-0 after just over two minutes.
The Scots then had their best moment when they mauled from the line-out and went down the short side where big Sean Lamont had freedom. He played inside where John Smit was penalised for an early tackle, and Chris Paterson levelled the scores.
Only on one other occasion in the first half did the Scots come close, and then, too, it was Paterson who scored after Victor Matfield had been adjudged off-side.
After Paterson's first penalty the Springboks set about destroying the Scottish pack. On one occasion they shoved the Scots off the ball and Fourie du Preez had a great run going right. The movement broke down when they went left and André Snyman knocked on.
Nathan Hines was penalised for an air-tackle on Matfield in a line-out the Springboks mauled from the subsequent line-out and were over. The television match official could not see the grounding. That became a five-metre scrum from which Joe Van Niekerk picked up and drove at the line. The Springboks squeezed and squeezed till Schalk Burger squeezed the ball onto the line. This time television match official decided it was a try.
Right from the kick-off the Springboks scored again. They mauled the kick-off and suddenly Burger broke on the short side. The ball went from him to stately Juan Smith, who gave to Paulse of the bushy hairdo. Paulse played inside to Du Preez, who gave back to Paulse who squeezed over in the corner.
But any suggestion of a runaway victory faded from then on. South Africa's best period of play had happened.
Not that it was sterile for there was a good counter-attack from Montgomery and Van Niekerk had another run from a maul off a line-out. This time the ball went from Smith to Snyman and then to Du Preez whom Hugo Southwell tackled into the cornerpost for a drop-out.
When Bruce Douglas was penalised at a scrum, Montgomery made it 18-6, which was the half-time score.
Just before half-time there was a shuddering tackle by Lamont on De Villiers. Lamont went off, but De Villiers went on -- till his best moment in the match.
In the first half, Jaco van der Westhuyzen had twice grubbered to no good effect. He was not cured of it during the half-time break, but it was an unprofitable investment in attack.
In the second half the Scots decided to maul and did it well. Paterson goaled a penalty and then the game became fairly drab with lots of kicking here, there and anywhere.
It took a great break by Snyman to inject life into the match. De Villiers broke and went racing away. Cleverly he took two men onto himself as he got the ball away to Snyman on his left. Snyman scored under the bar. But as he passed and fell Paterson's left hand brushed his chest, innocuously it seemed, but De Villiers went off in agony with a suspected broken rib -- probably the residue of that tackle by Lamont.
In cap-dishing time, Montgomery kicked a penalty and then came a try that stared in inauspicious circumstances.
Replacement Enrico Januarie went back to get hold of an awkward slap-back by Matfield at a line-out. He turned to face the music himself but found room and an opening. He gave to big Danie Rossouw who galloped down the field on the left. The ball then went wider right where Montgomery forced his way over through three tacklers.
The SA scoring ended when Montgomery kicked a penalty. All that was left was an encouraging few minutes for the Scots which included the Webster try.
Man of the Match: Big Bok loose forward Schalk Burger. Others did well -- Allister Hogg, Mike Blair, Donnie Macfadyen, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Fourie du Preez and Danie Rossouw -- but the best if all was energetic, committed, determined, fearless Burger.
Moment of the Match: Surely Breyton Paulse's try from the re-start.
Villain of the Match: Nobody.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: Burger, Paulse, Snyman, Montgomery
Cons: Montgomery 2
Pens: Montgomery 4
For Scotland:
Try: Webster
Con: Paterson
Pens: Paterson 3
Teams:
South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Breyton Paulse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 André Snyman, 10 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Eddie Andrews, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Johan Muller, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Enrico Januarie, 21 Wynand Olivier, 22 Gaffie du Toit.
Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Chris Paterson, 13 Marcus Di Rollo, 12 Andrew Henderson, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Donnie Macfadyen, 6 Jason White (captain), 5 Scott Murray, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Bruce Douglas, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Gavin Kerr.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Craig Smith, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 Kelly Brown, 20 Sam Pinder, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Simon Webster.
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Rob Debney (England)
Television match official: Simon MacDowell (Ireland)
Assessor: Jim Bailey (Wales)
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