Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa in action during the Rugby World Cup match against Scotland. Picture: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images
The Springboks got their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign off to a winning start in Marseille on Sunday when they beat Scotland 18-3 in a Pool B encounter.
After leading 6-3 at the break, the Boks scored two second half tries by Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse to claim the victory.
Scotland’s only points, in the first half, came via the boot of Finn Russell.
The defending champions from 2019 also face Romania, Ireland and Tonga at the Rugby World Cup this year.
The win was the Boks’ 24th victory out of 29 matches against the Scots.
This is how The Citizen reported on Sunday’s match.
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Bok coach Jacques Nienaber had picked Damian Willemse at fullback for the match, with Jasper Wiese at No 8. Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe started on the wings. The Boks opted for a 6-2 split of forwards and backs on their bench; Grant Williams and Willie le Roux being the backs replacements.
A solid second half showing in the scrums, in particular, which ensured plenty of penalties going the way of the Boks, helped Nienaber’s men slowly grind down the Scots. Prop replacements Ox Nche and Trevor Nyakane were especially lethal in the scrums.
There were good performances by Du Toit, Wiese and Franco Mostert up front, and Damian de Allende and the back three of Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse.
South Africa: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok, Faf de Klerk, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff. Bench: Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen, Grant Williams, Willie le Roux
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie (capt); Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray; Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Pierre Schoeman. Bench: Dave Cherry, Jamie Bhatti, WP Nel, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Ollie Smith
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