South Africa crushed a second-string England by a record 58-10 in the first rugby test at Vodacom Park on Saturday.
Veteran fullback Percy Montgomery kicked 23 points — a South Africa record against England — converting all seven tries and adding three penalties as the Springboks easily surpassed their previous best score against England, a 35-9 win in 1984 at Johannesburg.
The Springboks jumped to a 27-point lead in the first half, then didn't score from the 39th minute to the 70th, whereupon they squeezed in four more tries to blow out the score.
PHOTO: AP
"To score 30 points in the first half of a test match was really pleasing," South Africa coach Jake White said. "We lost a bit of structure in the first half of the second half but we weren't always going to get everything right in five days [of training]. We will try to get it right for the next one."
England, with only star backs Jonny Wilkinson and captain Jason Robinson available from its first-choice lineup, was hit by more injuries and a stomach virus in the buildup, and the match gave coach Brian Ashton even more headaches for the second test in Pretoria next weekend.
Injury-plagued Wilkinson had a back spasm, winger Iain Balshaw was stretchered off with a shin injury and flanker Andy Hazell suffered a medial knee ligament injury. Matt Cairns was unable to take his place on the bench for his debut, so England started without a backup hooker.
"England had a tough week with the virus that ran through their camp," South Africa captain John Smit said. "But I am very pleased that the stuff we were doing in training is coming through in Tests."
South Africa's first try came from England's lineout. Midfielder Jean de Villiers slipped a pass to Montgomery, who just had to get the ball to winger Ashwin Willemse for him to score in his first Test since 2004.
Wing Bryan Habana then latched on to a stray pass after England made a rare attack and ran from his own 22 to outstrip the attempted cover from Robinson.
South Africa showed a willingness to attack from deep and that led to a try for De Villiers. The inside center slipped between two forwards and broke free, wrongfooting the covering defenders to finish off a 60m run.
England trailed 30-3 at halftime and managed to hold the rampant Springboks after the break, holding on to the ball for long periods and testing the defense around the fringes of the rucks.
Their persistence paid off when replacement wing James Simpson-Daniel scored in the corner and Wilkinson converted.
The Springboks seemed galvanized and flanker Schalk Burger, a key player with his tireless tackling and ability to turn the ball over in the tackle, scored a 70th-minute try at the end of a prolonged forward pounding of England's line.
Wilkinson exited then after a clash of heads with a teammate in attempting to hold out Burger, and his missing experience immediately gave the Springboks another boost.
Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar fielded a poor kick ahead by Toby Flood and sliced through to set Francois Steyn free to score near the posts. Montgomery then kicked ahead and Habana won the race to the touchdown under Robinson's nose.
Replacement prop C.J. van der Linde rounded off a free-flowing South Africa attack with a try on the stroke of full-time, with the conversion completing the scoring.
"We're bitterly disappointed, because we know we're a better team than that." Robinson said. "But you can't give away 30 points in the first half."
Scores:
South Africa 58
(Bryan Habana 2, Ashwin Willemse, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, Francois Steyn, C.J. van der Linde tries; Percy Montgomery 7 conversions, 3 penalties)
England 10
(James Simpson-Daniel try; Jonny Wilkinson conversion, penalty)
Half-time: 30-3.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care