World champions South Africa overwhelmed Six Nations champions France 42-17 on Saturday, with two early tries and free-flowing rugby.
South Africa winger Gio Aplon, playing only his second international, ran 90m for the second of his two tries. The Western Province player won the man of the match award.
Blue Bulls’ Morne Steyn added three conversions and three penalties for 15 points, watched by 46,885 fans at the Newlands Stadium. Steyn had already kicked a season-record 263 points for the Bulls in Super 14 competition.
“The intent was there from the boys from the beginning,” South Africa captain John Smit said.
Apart from a fine try from winger Aurelien Rougerie, France looked a demoralized team only minutes into the match. France got a belated try when the match was already decided through replacement winger Marc Andreu.
Determined to start strongly, the Springboks began a flowing move in the second minute from their own defense and rode tackle after tackle to cut through the French, allowing Pierre Spies to score freely under the posts.
Six minutes later, poor French defending let Aplon through to score a second try. Flyhalf Morne Steyn kicked both conversions.
South Africa flirted with France’s touchline again moments later, but had to settle for a penalty-kick when the ball came loose. The Springboks won a penalty and after 11 minutes it was 17-0.
“They exploited the slightest error we made,” France captain Thierry Dusautoir said.
After Steyn kicked another penalty for a 20-0 lead, France finally showed why they are Six Nations champions. They produced a lightning left to right series of passes that produced an extra man on the right and allowed Rougerie to go through.
The Springboks’ momentum was unstoppable, though, and two minutes later prop Guthro Steenkamp went down the left for another try.
South Africa went into halftime with a 25-10 lead.
France threatened to close the gap by coming close to the touchline in the 49th minute, when the Springboks won the ball and sent Aplon on his way. He faked his way past one defender and then unleashed such stunning pace that at the end he jogged over the line.
Flanker Francois Louw rubbed it in even more, further charging in for the fifth try with five minutes left.
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