neilvr
08-16-2007, 09:15 AM
It may have looked like an evening stroll in the park, but South Africa impressed in their 105-13 victory over African neighbours Namibia in their World Cup warm-up match at Newlands on Wednesday.
The Boks outscored their game, but hopelessly outclassed, opponents by 15 tries to one - with Juan Smith and Schalk Burger both getting hat-tricks.
And there was a record haul of 35 points - a try, 12 conversions and two penalties - for Percy Montgomery, who overtook Jannie de Beer's 34 (scored in the 1999 World Cup quarter-final against England), scored in a Test for South Africa.
They were rusty - full of creative endeavour, but not smooth, rough but effective. That was the Springboks. The Namibians were zestful but the speed and strength were just not there. Some of the eagerness was well channelled, as in Jacques Burger, some of reckless as in Jacques Nieuwenhuis - a tale of two Jacques.
The match became easier for the Springboks whose handling was suspect too often and who turned over ball too often. Simulated pressure is no substitute for the real thing and there were times when the brave Namibians produced the real thing - till the last bit when they conceded 35 points in 16 minutes.
The Springbok backs ran differently. They came in layers with the pass going to the back layer, and they had rhythm while Butch James was there. When he and Fourie du Preez were substituted, things were jerky but by then the last man left running did well.
That lack of smoothness was exacerbated when Jean de Villiers, who was the speed injection in the backs, walked off looking disconsolate after a bang on his side. His withdrawal along with that of John Smit with a hamstring injury must be cause for anxiety for Jake White.
JP Pietersen had a super game on the left wing, his speed, too, a telling factor as well as his angle of running. The same could not be said for Ashwin Willemse who looked out of his depth.
The match started in sentimental fashion. The Springboks ran out and the non-players formed an aisle through which first Os du Randt and then local boy Percy Montgomery ran on, their last Test - possibly - on South African soil. Afterwards they received a presentation and a chance to talk to the crowd. There was an infamous time when the iconic prop left Newlands gatvol. This time he could trudge off with a smile and a happy heart.
Both of them delighted the crowd by scoring tries. That of Os was greeted with the loudest cheer of the night. Apart from his try Montgomery kicked with precision - two penalties and a dozen conversions for 30 booted points.
The Springboks were never going to lose but just for a heady moment the Biltongboere led. And in that heady moment Bradley Langenhoven of the Pukke made history - the first man to score a try in tests between South Africa and Namibia.
At that stage the Springboks led 6-0 after two penalties in the first seven minutes by Namibian-born Percy Montgomery, the first when Kees Lensing was penalised for the second time at a collapsed scrum, the second when Nieuwenhuis tackled Jaque Fourie high.
The Springboks had three five-metre line-outs. They mauled each one of them for a try to give Schalk Burger a hat-trick of tries. Juan Smith also got a hat-trick, his run in, one after a clever pass by Jacques Cronjé, the second after a clever pass by James and the third after the Namibians over threw a line-out five metres from their line.
The try of the match came when Montgomery marked near his line on the Springboks' right. They tapped and went left with Pietersen and De Villiers combining well as they sped down the left till De Villiers [put in a centering grubber that any one of a handful of Springboks could have got it. Fourie got the ball and raced away for a splendid try.
Man of the Match: One would have loved to have given it to Jacques Burger for his battle against impossible odds but really the award should go, with thanks and admiration, to Os du Randt and Percy Montgomery.
Villain of the Match: The idea is silly.
Moment of the Match: Bradley Langenhoven's shock try.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: De Villiers, Smith 3, Pietersen, Burger 3, Fourie, Du Randt, Montgomery, Willemse, Du Plessis, Pienaar, Van der Linde
Cons: Montgomery 12
Pens: Montgomery 2
For Namibia:
Try: Langenhoven
Con: Wessels
Pens: Wessels 2
Teams:
South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Johann Muller, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Akona Ndungane.
Namibia: 15 Heini Bock, 14 Bradley Langenhoven, 13 Lu-Wayne Botes, 12 Piet van Zyl, 11 Melrick Africa, 10 Emile Wessels, 9 Jurie van Tonder, 8 Jacques Burger, 7 Tinus du Plessis, 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Wacca Kazombiaze, 3 Marius Visser, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Kees Lensing (captain).
Replacements: 16 JM Meyer, 17 Jané du Toit, 18 Johnny Redelinghuys, 19 Herman Lintvelt, 20 Eugene Jantjies, 21 Du Preez Grobler, 22 TC Losper
Date: Wednesday, 15 August
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
The Boks outscored their game, but hopelessly outclassed, opponents by 15 tries to one - with Juan Smith and Schalk Burger both getting hat-tricks.
And there was a record haul of 35 points - a try, 12 conversions and two penalties - for Percy Montgomery, who overtook Jannie de Beer's 34 (scored in the 1999 World Cup quarter-final against England), scored in a Test for South Africa.
They were rusty - full of creative endeavour, but not smooth, rough but effective. That was the Springboks. The Namibians were zestful but the speed and strength were just not there. Some of the eagerness was well channelled, as in Jacques Burger, some of reckless as in Jacques Nieuwenhuis - a tale of two Jacques.
The match became easier for the Springboks whose handling was suspect too often and who turned over ball too often. Simulated pressure is no substitute for the real thing and there were times when the brave Namibians produced the real thing - till the last bit when they conceded 35 points in 16 minutes.
The Springbok backs ran differently. They came in layers with the pass going to the back layer, and they had rhythm while Butch James was there. When he and Fourie du Preez were substituted, things were jerky but by then the last man left running did well.
That lack of smoothness was exacerbated when Jean de Villiers, who was the speed injection in the backs, walked off looking disconsolate after a bang on his side. His withdrawal along with that of John Smit with a hamstring injury must be cause for anxiety for Jake White.
JP Pietersen had a super game on the left wing, his speed, too, a telling factor as well as his angle of running. The same could not be said for Ashwin Willemse who looked out of his depth.
The match started in sentimental fashion. The Springboks ran out and the non-players formed an aisle through which first Os du Randt and then local boy Percy Montgomery ran on, their last Test - possibly - on South African soil. Afterwards they received a presentation and a chance to talk to the crowd. There was an infamous time when the iconic prop left Newlands gatvol. This time he could trudge off with a smile and a happy heart.
Both of them delighted the crowd by scoring tries. That of Os was greeted with the loudest cheer of the night. Apart from his try Montgomery kicked with precision - two penalties and a dozen conversions for 30 booted points.
The Springboks were never going to lose but just for a heady moment the Biltongboere led. And in that heady moment Bradley Langenhoven of the Pukke made history - the first man to score a try in tests between South Africa and Namibia.
At that stage the Springboks led 6-0 after two penalties in the first seven minutes by Namibian-born Percy Montgomery, the first when Kees Lensing was penalised for the second time at a collapsed scrum, the second when Nieuwenhuis tackled Jaque Fourie high.
The Springboks had three five-metre line-outs. They mauled each one of them for a try to give Schalk Burger a hat-trick of tries. Juan Smith also got a hat-trick, his run in, one after a clever pass by Jacques Cronjé, the second after a clever pass by James and the third after the Namibians over threw a line-out five metres from their line.
The try of the match came when Montgomery marked near his line on the Springboks' right. They tapped and went left with Pietersen and De Villiers combining well as they sped down the left till De Villiers [put in a centering grubber that any one of a handful of Springboks could have got it. Fourie got the ball and raced away for a splendid try.
Man of the Match: One would have loved to have given it to Jacques Burger for his battle against impossible odds but really the award should go, with thanks and admiration, to Os du Randt and Percy Montgomery.
Villain of the Match: The idea is silly.
Moment of the Match: Bradley Langenhoven's shock try.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: De Villiers, Smith 3, Pietersen, Burger 3, Fourie, Du Randt, Montgomery, Willemse, Du Plessis, Pienaar, Van der Linde
Cons: Montgomery 12
Pens: Montgomery 2
For Namibia:
Try: Langenhoven
Con: Wessels
Pens: Wessels 2
Teams:
South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Johann Muller, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Akona Ndungane.
Namibia: 15 Heini Bock, 14 Bradley Langenhoven, 13 Lu-Wayne Botes, 12 Piet van Zyl, 11 Melrick Africa, 10 Emile Wessels, 9 Jurie van Tonder, 8 Jacques Burger, 7 Tinus du Plessis, 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Wacca Kazombiaze, 3 Marius Visser, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Kees Lensing (captain).
Replacements: 16 JM Meyer, 17 Jané du Toit, 18 Johnny Redelinghuys, 19 Herman Lintvelt, 20 Eugene Jantjies, 21 Du Preez Grobler, 22 TC Losper
Date: Wednesday, 15 August
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)