Debutant Tshituka scores twice as Springboks crush BaaBaas

eNCA

21 hours ago

Debutant flanker Vincent Tshituka scored two tries as world champions South Africa launched a 14-match season with a 54-7 victory over the Barbarians in wet and cold Cape Town on Saturday.
Hooker Malcolm Marx, winger Cheslin Kolbe, prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, lock Lood de Jager and centre Damian de Allende were the other try scorers for the Springboks.
Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted two of the three first-half tries before his replacement, Manie Libbok, added the extra points to all five second-half scores.
Full-back Melvyn Jaminet claimed the lone try for the Barbarians and converted it in a non-cap exhibition match at Cape Town Stadium.
Record four-time Rugby World Cup winners South Africa were ahead within six minutes through a pushover Marx try, led 19-0 by half-time and were in control throughout.
"I am unbelievably proud of the boys and how we played under the conditions -- the rain was coming down pretty heavy at one stage," said stand-in South Africa captain Jesse Kriel.
"We have had a great two weeks of preparation in Johannesburg with some of the toughest training I have been through in a Springbok camp.
"The boys really worked hard in the build-up and I think it showed in the game. I think we are looking good ahead of the Test season."
- 'Tough and physical' -
Centre Kriel was deputising as skipper for flanker Siya Kolisi, who withdrew from the starting line-up on Friday due to a stiff neck.
Barbarians skipper Peter O'Mahony, who retired from Test and club rugby this year, said: "The game against the world champions was as tough and physical as I expected.
"The Springboks showed their class and we had a superb week. Cape Town looked after us incredibly well and I am proud of the boys."
It did not help the Barbarians' cause that loose forward Lachlan Boshier was sin-binned soon after coming off the bench in the second half following a head-to-head clash with Arendse.
During his 10-minute absence, the world champions scored two of their eight tries through Arendse and De Jager, who impressed on his recall after a two-year absence due to illness and injuries.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus pledged before the match that his team would treat the match as a Test.
The Springboks fulfilled the promise with a structured, limited-risk performance, and man-of-the-match award winner Kolbe and De Jager will be among those satisfied with their form.
Renowned for ball-in-hand play, the Barbarians rarely got a chance to demonstrate their skills, but held their own at scrum time against opponents famed for their set-piece work.
Among those supporting the Springboks were cricketers Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada, two stars of the World Test Championship final triumph by South Africa over Australia this month.
It was a first victory for South Africa over the Barbarians since winning by 10 points in Cardiff 25 years ago.