Ross Cronje scored on debut to cap a fine performance. Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images.
18:52
FULL TIME! Excellent performance from the Boks. They win 37-14.
And we’ll leave the last word for a Springbok legend!
18:43
Correct.
18:38
SPRINGBOKS 37 – FRANCE 14 (Try Jan Serfontein)
It’s turning out into a magnificent evening for the Boks! Francois Hougaard hits a gap and his short pass is brilliantly timed to Andries Coetzee. The fullback doesn’t quite have the legs but Jan Serfontein does, diving smartly.
18:35
18:32
SPRINGBOKS 30 – FRANCE 14 (Try Ross Cronje)
Superb from the Boks! Jean-Luc du Preez is a decoy line-out jumper and the ball is thrown over, where Warren Whiteley finds Cronje, who runs in untouched. That was a planned move!
18:29
SPRINGBOKS 23 – FRANCE 14 (Penalty try)
Warren Whiteley breaks on the openside and a clever kick forward releases Courtnall Skosan. He’s tackled without the ball and Glen Jackson awards a penalty try. More controversially, Dulin is given a yellow card.
18:25
18:23
SPRINGBOKS 16 – FRANCE 14 (Try Baptiste Serin)
Missed tackle by Kriel in midfield gives the French a hoothold and replacement scrumhalf Baptiste Serin dummies over.
18:17
Tell that to the SACP…
18:14
He’s been excellent.
18:04
Some stats from the first half:
Boks made 413m, their tackle completion rate was 86% and they made 4 linebreaks.
Impressively, they only knocked on twice.
17:54
17:53
17:51
SOUTH AFRICA 16 – FRANCE 7 (Penalty Elton Jantjies)
French don’t release the ball-carrier and Jantjies kicks his third penalty.
17:48
17:46
SPRINGBOKS 13 – FRANCE 7 (Try Henry Chavancy)
Clever kick over the top as Andries Coetzee misses in-touch and France pounce. Clumsy from the Boks.
17:44
17:42
SPRINGBOKS 13 – FRANCE 0 (Try Jesse Kriel)
Brilliant from Andries Coetzee! After getting tackled, he releases, picks up and finds Malcolm Marx.
Marx finds the scoring pass to Kriel. Excellent play from the Lions fullback.
17:38
Siya Kolisi spots a massive gap at the breakdown and breaks the line. His pass to Cronje is a tad too early and some good scrambling from the French sees the Boks hold on.
The home side is looking good but they need to be more accurate.
17:37
17:34
17:31
Malcolm Marx has been outstanding to date.
17:28
Yeah, they’re not playing all that well…
17:26
17:23
SPRINGBOKS 6 – FRANCE 0 (Penalty Elton Jantjies)
The French engaged in dangerous play at a Bok line-out. Jantjies punishes.
17:21
17:20
SPRINGBOKS 3 – FRANCE 0 (Penalty Elton Jantjies)
The Boks keep ball well, with Ross Cronje impressing with his control. The French are caugh offside and Jantjies pops over an easy penalty.
17:17
Oupa Mohoje finds a gap and the Boks generally keep possession well but run out of space.
17:15
17:13
Springboks get an early let-off after Elton Jantjies overcooks a kick and the forwards concede a penalty from a line-out. The kick to posts is missed. o-0 after 5 min.
17:12
Hope it’s wrong.
17:09
It’s kick-off time!
17:03
17:01
The Springboks’ Impi is on the field. What an impressively built man!
17:00
Perspective…
16:58
Almost time for the national anthems. The Loftus grandstand is quite full but there are still some open spots.
16:38
The Proteas play a make-or-break game against India in the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday. They’re supporting their counterparts.
16:34
In case you missed it (but it would be sad), here’s the Springbok team for today:
(15-1): Andries Coetzee, Raymond Rhule, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley, Oupa Mohoje, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Beast Mtawarira. Bench: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Frans Steyn, Dillyn Leyds.
16:26
Given how poor the Bulls are playing, it’s not difficult to achieve this.
16:21
Here’s Frans Steyn’s big boot! We’ve missed that…
16:12
Andries Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan and Raymond Rhule better not have butterfingers at the back.
16:10
Former Bok flyhalf Naas Botha makes a good point in the SuperSport studio regarding all the new guys.
“We always ask why in-form players aren’t picked. This year that’s happened. So we can’t really complain can we?”
One has to agree.
16:09
16:00
How will the Boks play? It’s all about balance (apparently). Interestingly, Warren Whiteley also had to balance life and rugby this week..
15:57
He still divides opinion but there’s a sense that Frans Steyn provides much needed “security” to a young side. Coach Allister Coetzee has spoken highly of the experienced utility back.
15:53
15:51
New Bok skipper Warren Whiteley is in real good company!
15:46
Good start at Loftus apparently…
15:45
Welcome to the first Springbok Test of 2017! Allister Coetzee and his men have pressed the reset button following last year’s nightmares.
But the doubts will remain until the Boks deliver some good performances.
We’ll keep you up to speed in a quirky, fun way!
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