Comeback kings edge England in series opener
TEST REPORT: South Africa came back from a 21-point deficit to edge England 42-39 in a tense international at Ellis Park on Saturday.
This was not just “another” Test match.
This was a special match, a special Test match and perhaps, after the 1995 World Cup Final, the best, most significant, most exciting Test at Ellis Park since the British & Irish Lions beat the Springboks there in 1955.
There were two enthusiastic teams out there, both with the great skill of top players and a sense of adventure, and there were unforeseen changes in fortune. It was a game to thrill, the excitement nearing agony levels.
There were 10 tries, five by each side, and in the end there was just a penalty’s worth of difference.
That said, it was not frivolous affair, certainly not more basketball than rugby. There was huge physical commitment, bone-rattling tackles and brave catching of high kicks under pressure.
It was the best that rugby can offer – not just another game.
There were 55 610 spectators at Ellis Park for the match, to give Siya Kolisi a great welcome as for the first time he captained South Africa in Test, proving that in South Africa “anything is possible”. Three muscular warriors ran onto the field and flames shot triumphantly into the air. The teams sang their anthems with heads back and open mouths.
Then Pollard kicked off, and the Springbok dream seemed to be shattering into yet another nightmare. After 17 minutes, England led 24-3.
It seemed that things were worse, not better, and a quiet gloom settled over the ground. But then it all changed and by half-time South Africa led 29-27. In that second quarter South Africa outscored the English 29-3.
In the second half the Springboks built till in the last 10 minutes England scored 12 points from two tries. Nerves were screaming as South Africa kicked off at 42-39 and were penalised. England kicked out for an attacking line-out with less than a minute to play, but young RG Snyman went up and won England’s throw-in, and the victory was assured.
In the first 17 minutes it seemed that England would run away with a ragtag, motley Springbok group. They scored three tries by simply playing the ball to someone unmarked on the wings, where Jonny May, Mike Brown and Elliot Dale had acres of try-making space.
Daly opened the score, but with a penalty goal. Jean-Luc du Preez was penalised at a tackle and from a metre inside his own half but in front of the posts, Daly kicked a comfortable goal. 3-0 after 2 minutes.
From the kick-off, May had space for a long run down the right. He played inside to Ben Young whom Faf de Klerk tackled. England went wide left to Brown who ran through Handré Pollard and forced his way past Damian de Allende to score. Owen Farrell converted. 10-0 after 4 minutes.
When Tom Curry was penalised at a tackle Pollard goaled. 10-3 after 10 minutes, but that little score did not herald a new dawn.
England did phases, going right and left and were going left when right wing, out on the far left, gave Daly an overlap and a try in the left corner. 17-3 after 13 minutes.
May was the next to have an overlap as he raced down the right wing. He played inside to Farrell who had an unhampered run to the posts. 24-3 after 17 minutes.
It seemed that England were running away with the game. But then the Springbok forwards started charging at what seemed an unflinching England’s defence but it may have taken its toll. And what a difference a scrumhalf makes! Faf de Klerk’s quick, immediate passing had the Springboks running. Sibusiso Nkosi was close and then De Klerk picked up and, despite Youngs’s effort to stop him, dabbed the ball down for the try. 24-8 after 20 minutes.
At this stage England seemed to be becoming less sure of themselves and started making mistakes.
Nkosi ran down the right wing and grubbered ahead. It seemed a waste as it went into the England in-goal with Daly covering. Daly dived at the ball and … missed it! Nkosi scored in the right corner, and Pollard converted. 24-15 after 30 minutes, and the excitement grew as prospects improved.
South Africa came back and then went wide left where Willie le Roux passed to Aphiwe Dyantyi near touch. Left wing Dyantyi played inside to right wing Nkosi who scored in the left corner. Again Pollard converted and, lo and behold, South Africa were just two points behind at 24-22 after 34 minutes. And the force was with the Springboks.
A penalty gave the Springboks a five-metre line-out on their left. They mauled, the referee played advantage and then the Springboks went wide right where Le Roux cut between Brown and Daly to score. The Springboks, miabile dictu, led 29-27 after 39 minutes, the astonishing half-time score.
At the start of the second half, England kicked off and attacked but suddenly big RG Snyman burst away and galloped off on a 60-metre run, that could well have produced a try.
At just seven minutes into the half, South Africa brought Steven Kitshoff and Thomas du Toit into the front row and Pieter-Steph du Toit onto the flank, and the Springboks upped the tempo.
Maro Itoje was penalised and Pollard goaled. 32-27 after 51 minutes.
England were penalised at scrum, but Pollard’s kick hit the upright and bounced back. It was the third penalty he missed.
On 62 minutes, Mako Vunipola was sinbinned for knocking over De Klerk over after the scrumhalf had kicked. While he was away, South Africa scored 10 points, England seven.
From a line-out the Springboks attacked and went left after phases. Snyman, close enough to the line to have scored, gave to Dyantyi, who scored in the left corner. 39-27 after 65 minutes.
England kicked a penalty out for a five-metre line-out. They mauled, then bashed and then Itoje’s long reach dotted the ball down for a try. 39-32 with 10 minutes to play.
Chris Robshaw was tackled and Kitshoff was on hand to grab the ball. Robshaw was penalised for holding on and Pollard goaled. 42-32 with five minutes to play.
In those five minutes England scored the most spectacular try of the match.
De Allende ran just inside the touchline on his right and kicked ahead. Ford started a counterattack and gave to May on England’s far right, The wing strode down the field swinging past uninterested defenders to score at the posts. 42-39 with three minutes to play.
With a minute to play, Snyman won an English line-out, the siren sounded and Jantjies kicked the ball into touch.
That ended an exhilarating match.
Man of the Match: England had heroes like Jonny May, Owen Farrell and Tom Curry but this time our Man of the Match is going to come from the Springboks, in particular cool captain Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen, Rudolph Snyman, Willie le Roux and our choice Francois de Klerk. He is a precious gem.
Moment of the match: There was a crucial line-out steal by lock Rudolph Snyman late in the match to save game for Boks.
Villain: No villains, just heroes.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: De Klerk, Nkosi 2, Le Roux, Dyantyi
Cons: Pollard 4
Pens: Pollard 3
For England:
Tries: Brown, Daly, Farrell, Itoje, May
Cons: Farrell 4
Pens: Daly 2
Yellow card: Mako Vunipola (England, 62 – foul play, late shoulder charge)
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Teams
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Rudolph Snyman, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Warrick Gelant.
England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Mike Brown, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Denny Solomona.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
