Sergeal Petersen was outstanding, but the South African A side came unstuck in the second half to go down 29-26 to the England Saxons in George on Friday night.
The SA A team had a much better start to their match and looked better organised compared to last week in Bloemfontein, and actually led 12-8 at halftime.
But three second-half tries by the visitors and flyhalf Danny Cipriani’s largely accurate goal-kicking was the difference in the end as the Saxons won the series 2-0.
SA A No 10 Francois Brummer had a nightmare outing at Outeniqua Park after impressing in the second half in Bloemfontein. The Bulls pivot missed three shots at goal in the opening 40 minutes and also missed touch with penalties a few times, which proved costly in the end.
But the South Africans displayed much greater urgency and precision as the forwards worked as a unit, with young Bulls locks Jason Jenkins and RG Snyman getting stuck into the opposition, along with Lions hooker Malcolm Marx, while Southern Kings inside centre Lukhanyo Am proved to be a handful on attack every time he had the ball.
After flank Jean-Luc du Preez opened the scoring within the first 10 minutes, it was right wing Petersen of the Cheetahs who ignited the fire within the SA A.
He was a constant threat with ball-in-hand and his stepping and grubber skills were difficult to stop. But it was centre Francois Venter who delivered the final pass after sustained pressure from the home side as he found his franchise teammate Petersen on the inside to put SA A back in front at 12-8 at halftime.
Just after the break, the former junior star rounded off smartly for his second try to put the SA A 19-8 in front. And the Petersen magic didn’t end there as he became the playmaker and set up Venter with a deft grubber kick for the outside centre to score.
At this stage, Johan Ackermann’s team were in command at 26-8 up with 34 minutes to go, but it was enough time for the Saxons to hit back. Their big pack – with Test experience in the shape of lock and captain Dave Attwood and tighthead prop Kieran Brookes, amongst others – powered over the line from a five-metre lineout maul to give hooker Tommy Taylor his second touchdown on a chilly night in George.
The English forwards took command for the rest of the game, although the South Africans defended mightily on their own line. And just as they secured a crucial turnover on the ground five metres out, scrumhalf Piet van Zyl threw a poor, low pass to replacement loose forward Nizaam Carr, who lost possession and his opposite number Matt Kvesic dived over.
The game and series was up for grabs at 26-22 with 23 minutes left, and the SA A side tackled for all their worth in the last quarter.
But the English forwards again bashed away at the line, and with five minutes to go, left wing Christian Wade slipped over in the corner, and Cipriani slotted a terrific touchline conversion to give his team a three-point cushion, which they preserved until the end.
POINTS-SCORERS
SA A – Tries: Jean-Luc du Preez, Sergeal Petersen (2), Francois Venter. Conversions: Francois Brummer (2), Leolin Zas (1).
England Saxons – Tries: Tommy Taylor (2), Matt Kvesic, Christian Wade. Conversions: Danny Cipriani (3). Penalty: Cipriani (1).
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