|
|
|
|
Printable Page
07/11 13:25 CDT Springboks withstand Scotland 42-28 in Nations Championship
thriller
Springboks withstand Scotland 42-28 in Nations Championship thriller
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) --- World champion South Africa survived an
impressively stubborn Scotland 42-28 in a thrilling Nations Championship
contest at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Springboks led 14-0 and 35-14 but had to withstand relentless Scotland
attacks which frequently backed up the home side into its 22.
South Africa missed a remarkable 46 tackles but Scotland lacked a clinical
touch and kept letting the host off the hook.
Scotland fought back to tie the match 14-14 by halftime and close to 35-28 with
10 minutes to go. It had a four-try bonus point and was within another
converted try.
Then another Scot was suddenly running into space, Magnus Bradbury. Tom Jordan
sent a kickpass toward the right touchline but wing Kyle Steyn spilled it under
pressure.
Almost inevitably, Handre Pollard put a grubber in behind Scotland that was
scooped up by center Jesse Kriel, who bumped off two Scots to secure the Boks
victory with three minutes left.
The Boks are two for two in the championship with Wales coming next weekend,
while Scotland go home to face Fiji consoled with its most points against South
Africa since the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
There was no chance Scotland would be taken by surprise at kickoff, like
England was last weekend at Ellis Park. Instead, Scotland stunned the
Springboks by surging into the 22 twice. Both chances were blown by a double
movement and crooked throw-in.
The Springboks made 10 changes after the 45-21 defeat of England and responded
to Scotland through scrum penalties. No. 8 Evan Roos was held up but scrumhalf
Embrose Papier scooted in for his first test try. The try of the match followed.
Prop Boan Venter held above his head 116-kilogram lock Cobus Wiese to catch the
restart, then carried him forward to hit the ground running. Wiese bowled over
three Scots and took down two more. Roos completed the try.
Scotland was unbowed. Three more chances in the South Africa 22 went begging
until a tap penalty finished with Matt Fagerson crashing over in the 35th
minute.
Right on halftime, captain Sione Tuipulotu took Finn Russell's offload up the
middle and sent wing Kyle Rowe free to the line for the tying try.
South Africa gave Scotland another opening to start the new half when Ben-Jason
Dixon was sin-binned for head contact in a ruck.
But Scotland couldn't take advantage, including getting over the tryline once.
The Boks weren't so wasteful. Elrigh Louw, on for Roos, powered over after 12
phases; Damian Willemse stepped and reached out to score; and prop Zac Porthen
capped a devastating nine minutes with a try from the back of a ruck. All were
converted and South Africa looked out of sight at 35-14.
But another break by Scotland lock Scott Cummings sent Josh Bayliss haring to
the posts, and two minutes later scrumhalf Ben White was stretched to the full
to score. Scotland was back in it yet again and the Loftus crowd were silenced
yet again.
But Scotland finished as it started and missed a chance at beating the Boks
outside Scotland for the first time.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
|
| Copyright DTN. All rights reserved. Disclaimer. |
|
