South Africa scored seven tries in a dominant performance in their first match in the new Nations Championship.
Bok wing Kurt-lee Arendse scores a try against England on Saturday. Picture: Johan Orton/Gallo Images
The Springboks beat England 45-21 in their Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday, with a seven try to three victory.
Played in front of just under 53,000 fans, the Boks raced into a 17-0 lead inside 20 minutes but England fought back with two tries for the score to be 17-14 at half-time.
The Boks though pulled away in the second period, with four more tries.
Damian Willemse and Cheslin Kolbe, on the occasion of their 50th Tests, were two of the big stars of a quality performance. Jasper Wiese and Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was asked to captain the side in the absence of Siya Kolisi, were the other strong performers, along with Ruan Nortje.
The Boks’ tries were scored by Thomas du Toit, Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Grant Williams, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx, and Ben-Jason Dixon. Kolbe kicked five conversions.
England’s tries were scored by Ellis Genge, George Martin and Alex Coles. Fin Smith kicked three conversions.
The Boks were rocked on Saturday with the withdrawal of captain Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, due to injuries.
Paul de Villiers will take over the No 6 jersey, with Du Toit moving from blindside flank to lock in place of Etzebeth and he’ll also captain the side. Cameron Hanekom will play blindside.
On the bench Ben-Jason Dixon comes in for Hanekom.
The Boks next play Scotland in game two of the new competition, at Loftus, this coming Saturday.
Below is how The Citizen covered the match at Ellis Park.
Springboks v England – Live updates
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TEAMS
SA: Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Grant Williams, Jasper Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, Paul de Villiers, Ruan Nortje, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Bench: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zach Porthen, Marco van Staden, BJ Dixon, Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie
England: Marcus Smith; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, Seb Atkinson, Cadan Murley; Fin Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Ollie Chessum; George Martin, Alex Coles; Joe Heyes, Jamie George (capt), Ellis Genge. Bench: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Beno Obano, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Charlie Ewels, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Henry Slade
