SA rout Namibia in RWC warm-up
Brad Morgan
16 August 2007
The Springboks' countdown to the World Cup opened with an emphatic 105-13 victory over Namibia at Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday evening as Percy Montgomery, playing in his last international on home soil, scored a South African test record 35 points.
The 86-test veteran landed 12 conversions, two penalties, and scored a try as the Boks ran in 15 tries. Namibia, in reply, scored a try, a conversion and two penalties.
Frankly, the South African total of over 100 points shouldn't have come as a surprise. Just two years ago, the Boks thumped Uruguay 134-3. The latest world rankings have the Uruguayans ranked 20th and Namibia 25th. Enough said.
Injury setbacks
The Boks suffered a setback before the match when captain John Smit was ruled out of the clash because of a hamstring problem. Later, Jean de Villiers was forced to leave the field when he sustained a rib injury.
Coach Jake White said the
centre, who has struggled with injuries in the past, would definitely be fit to play in the World Cup. He said De Villiers would undergo X-rays, adding that the best-case scenario would see the player out of action for between 10 and 14 days, while the worst-case scenario would seem him sidelined for a month.
Montgomery and Os du Randt, also playing his last test in South Africa, were honoured before the game when those Springboks not in the run-on fifteen formed a special guard of honour for the long-time stalwarts as they took the field.
Newlands' favourite
There were plenty of banners in the crowd lauding Montgomery, who spent many years playing at Newlands as a key member of Western Province. When both he and Du Randt touched the ball the crowd showed its support, the volume of support rising each time.
After South Africa had opened an early 6-0 advantage with two penalties, the Welwitschias shocked the Boks by taking a 7-6 lead.
Right wing Bradley Langenhoven intercepted a Butch James pass in the Namibian 22-metre area and ran the length of the field to score. A successful conversion by Emile Wessels gave the Namibians their only lead of the game.
It didn't take the home team long to strike back, however, with Jean de Villiers dotting down two minutes later after breaking through Namibia's midfield defence. Montgomery, as he would do most of the evening, slotted the conversion.
Smith's first try
With 19 minutes played, Juan Smith scored SA's second try, taking the scoring pass from Jacques Cronje who had created a gap for the flanker by taking a pop pass from James and then releasing to Smith in the tackle. A successful conversion opened the gap to 20-7.
JP Pietersen was in on the try scoring act after 23 minutes when Montgomery joined the backline, headed for the corner, but then passed inside to the wing, who sliced through a gap to score. Montgomery missed
the conversion.
South Africa's next try showed more grunt than trickery as the forwards drove Schalk Burger over for a five-pointer from a lineout. Montgomery's missed conversion left the Springboks with a 30-7 advantage.
30-point lead
Smith then powered over for his second try of the evening when, after taking a pass from James, he powerfully handed off two tacklers, to cross the tryline. With Montgomery having found his compass again, the Boks opened up a 30-point margin at 37-7.
Just before the half-time whistle, the SA number-15 showed his vision when he took a quick free-kick inside the South African 22-metre area and passed to the left where the backline was lined up and ready to run.
De Villiers released Pietersen down the left flank. When the wing was confronted by a tackler, De Villiers looped around him on the outside and took the pass. He raced down the line before running into the last line of defence.
Showing excellent vision and superb skills, the centre, used the outside of his right boot, to direct a superb kick infield where any one of three players could have gathered it. The ball fell kindly for Jaque Fourie and he accelerated across the tryline to add another try to South Africa's tally.
Big halftime lead
Montgomery converted to put the Springboks into a 44-7 lead at halftime.
Shortly after the restart Namibia won a penalty. Despite the big deficit, the visitors opted for a kick at goal and Wessels slotted it to lift his side into double figures.
South Africa responded with yet another try, this time by Du Randt. He gathered the ball from a ruck just short of the Namibian tryline and forced his way over, despite the attentions of two tacklers, to raise the loudest cheer of the night from the crowd. Montgomery kicked the conversion to move SA above a half-century of points.
The fullback joined in the try scoring
party shortly afterwards when, after the ball was moved swiftly right from a ruck, De Villiers made the scoring pass which allowed Montgomery the space to dive over in the right hand corner. His conversion went over to put SA 58-10 ahead.
Namibian penalty
After referee Jonathan Kaplan found the Boks guilty of obstruction at the kick-off, Wessels had another shot at goal. His kick was bang on target, taking the Namibians' total up to 13.
Again, it didn't take South Africa long to respond as Burger was driven over for his second try from a lineout. Following Montgomery's conversion SA led 65-13.
Ashwin Willemse added the next five-pointer after he was freed up on the right to make it 70-13 after 64 minutes. The missed conversion would prove to be Montgomery's last of the night.
Smith completed his hat-trick with nine minutes left to play when he powered through a couple of tackles to dot down. Montgomery turned the five-pointer
into a seven-pointer and the possibility of a century of points was on the cards, even with time running out, as it was clear that by this time South Africa was able to score almost at will.
Edging towards 100
Less than efficient tackling again cost Namibia on 74 minutes when Bismarck du Plessis, one of a host of substitutes sent on by coach Jake White, powered his way through a number of attempted stops to score. The seven points took the Springboks' total to 84.
Two minutes later, Burger became the second Bok to score a hat-trick when he benefited once again from a strong Springbok rolling maul. Montgomery's accurate conversion lifted the South African score into the nineties at 91-13.
The workaholic flanker's try was followed by a wonderful five-pointer, which was finished off by Ruan Pienaar, who had taken over at flyhalf after James was substituted. Time was running out, but Montgomery took the Springboks within two points of a
century with another successful kick.
At 98-13 the crowd was baying for the century and they got their wish when referee Kaplan allowed time to go on past the final hooter.
100 points
CJ van der Linde rounded off the try scoring feast after space was created for him on the right hand touchline, which allowed him to outflank the despairing Namibian defence.
Montgomery slotted the kick to take him to 35 points in the match, one more than the SA record of 34 that Jannie de Beer scored against England in the 1999 World Cup quarterfinals in Paris.
It was far from an outstanding performance from South Africa; the side's lack of match practice showed and fluid, flowing movements were more the exception than the rule. Too many balls were turned over at rucks and the team's driving was, at times, too high, which led to drives by the forwards being stopped. .
As an opportunity to try things out in a match situation - without getting
stuck in a seven-a-side mentality because of significantly weaker opposition – the game was a success for SA.
Praise for Montgomery and Du Randt
After the match, Jake White paid tribute to Montgomery and Du Randt.
He repeated his view that the fullback is not truly appreciated by Springbok fans. Montgomery's 35-point haul was another in a long list of South African test records that he owns and White pointed out that, barring injury, he would become the most capped Springbok of all time during the World Cup, surpassing Joost van der Westhuizen's 89 test caps.
White then referred to the former scrumhalf's election to the IRB Hall of Fame, saying that he believed both Montgomery and prop Du Randt - who he reckoned would be the first choice for many people's World XV - would one day join Van der Westhuizen there.
If Montgomery has his own way, his test career won't be over after the World Cup. He is set to join French club Perpignan
meaning - according to a recent decision of the Saru's Presidents Council - he won't be able to play for the Springboks. The fullback, however, says White, asked him to make it public that he is available for the national team and is not retiring.
Pienaar impressive
The coach also praised Ruan Pienaar's performance at flyhalf. He said former Brumbies' and Wallabies' coach Eddie Jones, now a technical consultant to the Springboks, couldn't believe how much Pienaar reminded him of Australia's outstanding number-10, Stephen Larkham.
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who last played in the Super 14 final and was involved in his first test of the year, made a solid return to rugby, which would have pleased the coach. With his strong all-round game, the Bulls' number-nine should play a crucial part in SA's challenge for World Cup glory.
White's starting 15 for the Namibian test revealed his thinking ahead of the World Cup as he opted for a massive
pack, which will likely be his preference on the heavier fields of France.
Experience
Before the late withdrawal of captain John Smit, the team was also very experienced, in fact the most experienced Springbok team of all time with 580 caps to their credit.
White has, on many previous occasions, stated that he has spent four years putting together a squad capable of challenging for the World Cup - especially after a disappointing showing Down Under in 2003 - and the side's experience reflected the coach's loyalty during his time in charge.
White might still be concerned about his squad's options at eighthman. Pierre Spies, his first choice at the position, was forced out of the World Cup after clotting was picked up on his lungs. Danie Rossouw and Bob Skinstad, both of whom the coach says are nearly ready to play, missed the test against Namibia because of injury.
Fitness question
Wikus van
Heerden, another possible choice, is struggling with a knee injury. Although White has insisted his recovery is coming along well, his fitness for France 2007 is in question.
The Springboks are next in action against Irish side Connacht on 21 August. That match is followed by a test against Scotland at Murrayfield on 25 August.
With the Scots having recently defeated Ireland, White is likely to play his "second fifteen" against the Irish and go with his big guns against Scotland. A win in the last match before the World Cup would be a welcome momentum builder for the Boks.
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