Springboks start season with a bang!

The Springboks were ruthless at times in starting the international season with a bang against a Barbarians outfit that simply did not fire a shot. Debutant Vincent Tshituka scored twice in the 54-7 demolition of the Barbarians. Here’s your weekend wrap of the global showdowns.

The Springboks led 19-0 at half time and ran in eight tries to one to notch their biggest-ever win over the famed invitational side, levelling the historic ledger at four wins apiece, with one draw from nine clashes.

On home soil against the BaaBaas for the first time, South Africa produced a clinical, forward-led performance to retain the Qatar Airways Cup and build momentum ahead of July’s Incoming Series.

Malcolm Marx opened the scoring from a dominant rolling maul before Cheslin Kolbe lit up the match with a pinpoint finish in the corner off an Aphelele Fassi grubber. Tshituka added his first Test try just before the break, peeling off a lineout drive as the Bok pack took control.

Cheslin Kolbe is the best rugby player on the planet

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted two conversions and dazzled with a sharp dummy that nearly brought a try, only to fumble on the line. Jean-Luc du Preez’s return was cut short after a physical 35-minute shift, with Kwagga Smith introduced just before half time.

The second half belonged to the Bomb Squad.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels crossed minutes after coming on, and from there the floodgates opened. Andre Esterhuizen made an impact in an unfamiliar blindside role, while Kurt-Lee Arendse struck after a slick move and a clever Damian de Allende kick, moments after Lachlan Boshier was binned for a high shot.

Lood de Jager muscled over on his return to Test rugby and Tshituka grabbed his second under the posts to cap a statement debut.

Melvyn Jaminet hit back with a classy finish for the BaaBaas, but it was too little, too late. De Allende had the final say after the hooter, and Manie Libbok kept the scoreboard ticking with five second-half conversions.

Rassie Erasmus and his charges now shift focus to a three-match Incoming Series, starting with a clash against Italy at Loftus next Saturday, followed by a second Test in Gqeberha and a closing fixture against Georgia in Nelspruit.

 

Western Force vs British & Irish Lions

Pollock powers Lions to statement win in Perth

Henry Pollock delivered a brilliant performance as the British & Irish Lions opened their Australian tour with a commanding 54-7 win over the Western Force at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

The 20-year-old No 8 was at the heart of the Lions’ eight-try demolition, sparking a first-half score and featuring in almost every major moment before being shown a yellow card late in the first stanza.

It was a sharp response to the Lions’ flat warm-up defeat to Argentina, with a revamped lineup turning on the style in front of over 46,000 fans, the majority in red.

Dan Sheehan got things going inside two minutes with a powerful finish after James Lowe’s flick-pass, before Force captain Nic White hit back from close range during a rare spell of home pressure.

The Force, without key Wallabies Carlo Tizzano and Jeremy Williams, managed to disrupt early rhythm and forced several penalties, but the tourists always looked a gear above.

Pollock lit the match up with a linebreak and offload to send Tomos Williams over for the first of his two tries. Finn Russell and Elliot Daly combined to expose the Force defence again before tempers flared — Pollock at the centre of the scuffle, then off to the bin for repeated infringements.

Williams added his second straight after the restart, but limped off immediately with a hamstring injury in a blow to the Lions’ halfback stocks.

Itoje back, Williams ruled out of Lions tour

The final quarter was one-way traffic.

Daly bagged his brace, and the Lions’ superior depth took over as replacements kept the pace high. The Force, who finished ninth in Super Rugby and were the weakest of the Aussie franchises this season, had no answer.

Andy Farrell’s men now move to Brisbane to face the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, with three big Tests against the Wallabies still to come.

 

Junior Springboks crush Aussies in U20 opener

The Junior Springboks sent a clear message in Calvisano, thrashing Australia 73-17 to open their World Rugby U20 Championship in emphatic style.

Siya Ndlozi scored twice in the first half as the South Africans ran in 11 tries, bouncing back from last month’s home disappointment in ruthless fashion.

Cheswil Jooste, Herman Lubbe and Hasheem Pead joined Ndlozi on the scoresheet before the break, with the Boks 33-5 up at halftime.

Guillermo Mentoe, JJ Theron, Jaco Grobbelaar, Xola Nyali and Jaco Williams added to the second-half blitz as South Africa’s power game and finishing proved too much for the Junior Wallabies.

Next up: a mouthwatering clash with defending champions England on Friday.

 

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