The Springboks were left fuming at the “disrespect” shown to their national anthem before Friday’s 20-13 Test match defeat by France.
The South African anthem was sung before France’s stirring Marseillaise and the singer, sporting dreadlocks and backed by two tribal drummers, butchered the three-language homage to the Rainbow Nation.
At the anthem’s conclusion, large parts of the crowd were laughing and several ’Bok players looked over angrily as the singer made his muted departure from the field.
Before commenting about his team’s performance, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers told a news conference he was unhappy about the anthem.
“Before I answer the first question I must convey that we are annoyed by the fact that the French disrespected our anthem,” he said. “They didn’t get someone who really knows the thing and show any respect for it. We expect people to show respect to the anthem of any other country.”
Vice-captain Victor Matfield said it had taken some of the wind out of the Springbok sails just moments before kick-off.
“It was a joke out there,” Matfield said of lining up to sing the anthem. “The guys couldn’t sing along to it and even the crowd were starting to laugh. It was very disappointing.”
FOUR STRAIGHT
During the match, France managed the physical power of South Africa to claim their fourth successive home victory over the world champions.
South Africa were leading 13-11 at halftime thanks to a soft try scored by captain and prop John Smit, with flyhalf Morne Steyn adding the conversion, a penalty and a drop goal.
However, the ’Boks struggled in the second half and paid the price for having Steyn and No. 8 Ryan Kankowksi sin-binned.
France got a try by wing Vincent Clerc, four penalties from scrumhalf Julien Dupuy and one by his replacement Morgan Parra.
The tactics of the two teams were obvious from the start. The ’Boks’ Steyn and scrumhalf Fourie du Preez launched a barrage of up-and-unders for their massive forwards to charge on to.
The French matched the tourists’ commitment at the breakdown and in the scrums from the kickoff. They were rewarded by Dupuy’s first penalty in the sixth minute, but slowly the power of the Springboks and their field kicking started to drive them back into their own territory.
EARLY LEAD
Smith was gifted his try after a bad French throw at a 5m lineout. Steyn, who had already kicked a penalty and a drop goal, converted and South Africa were up 13-3 on the half hour.
France replied four minutes later when a forward move on the left bounced back toward the backs deployed on the right with Vincent Clerc diving in the corner after a swift pass by center Maxime Mermoz.
Dupuy hit the post with a penalty three minutes before the break, but redeemed himself in added times from the same spot, punishing a late tackle of Steyn on Clerc that sent the flyhalf to the bin. After the turnaround France enjoyed most of the possession and two Dupuy three-pointers had them 17-13 ahead after an hour.
Kankowski’s yellow card 10 minutes from time ended South Africa’s hopes and Parra sealed the win.
Also See: Wales hold on for win over Samoa
RSS