Le Roux Boks’ three-try star

during the international rugby friendly between South Africa v World XV at Newlands Rugby Stadium, Cape Town on 11 July 2015 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

during the international rugby friendly between South Africa v World XV at Newlands Rugby Stadium, Cape Town on 11 July 2015 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Published Jul 12, 2015

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Cape Town – Willie le Roux scored a hat-trick of tries as the Springboks torched the World XV in their season-opener at a cold, windswept Newlands last night.

As suggested by the margin of victory and a tally of seven tries, the Boks were in total control of a contest that pitted a team putting the finishing touches on their World Cup plans against one made up of retired veterans and players who have no realistic chance of representing their respective countries at the showpiece event in England later this year.

In last year’s corresponding match, a defensively-resolute World XV took a narrow lead into the break. Yesterday, the exhibition side were no match for the Boks as they were obliterated in the collisions.

Le Roux took his chances to score three tries, but it was the brute force of hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Eben Etzebeth, fetchers Francois Louw and Marcell Coetzee and midfielder Damian de Allende that saw the hosts boss the physical exchanges to deny the visitors quick ball and generate crucial turnovers.

De Allende struck twice while Etzebeth and replacement scrumhalf Cobus Reinach completed the haul of tries. Flyhalf Handré Pollard skewed four of seven attempts at goal, converting two tries and one penalty, while replacement fullback Pat Lambie was successful with both his conversion attempts.

Craig Burden scored the visitors’ try with flyhalf Mike Harris converting and adding a penalty.

Pollard scored his first penalty shortly after kick-off and De Allende increased the hosts’ lead to 8-0 in the 10th minute. A scrum penalty afforded South Africa set-piece territory and, two phases later, the powerful inside centre fended Harris off with ease and then rode the tackle of fullback Delon Armitage to slide across the tryline.

Etzebeth scored towards the end of the second quarter, benefiting from the momentum created by a De Allende breakout. The enforcer lock cantered over for the Boks’ second try, converted by Pollard.

Harris split the uprights at the start of the second quarter but then almost immediately undid that good work when another ineffective tackle allowed Le Roux to power through the collision to score. The playmaking Bok fullback straightened up to round off a blue-chip turnover that was won against the throw at a line-out inside the exhibition side’s 22.

Botha didn’t factor in a stiff headwind when, with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, he instructed Delon Armitage to have a crack at goal from 40 metres out – the kick inevitably fell short.

The World XV skipper took heed and didn’t hesitate to put the next penalty into touch for an attacking line-out. The feed was juggled and Burden hacked it ahead, beating scrambling Bok defenders to dive on the ball for the visitors’ first try with Harris adding the conversion.

Pollard pushed a second kick wide before John Lacey blew for half-time. Le Roux’s second try brought spectators to their feet. The fullback took the ball drifting on the short side behind a screen of forwards, drew his man and sent Bryan Habana streaking up the left touchline. A leg tackle brought South Africa’s all-time leading try-scorer to ground, and Habana popped the ball up for Le Roux, who accelerated away to score.

At the start of the final quarter, Lacey dug in his pocket for a yellow card flashed at Francois Louw after the Bok flanker was penalised for dangerous play while contesting a line-out. The dissenting murmur that swept through the stands soon turned to wild applause as fan-favourite Jean de Villiers replaced rookie outside centre Jesse Kriel, completing his comeback from what some thought was a career-ending knee injury at the end of last season.

It took just five minutes for the man who will captain South Africa to the World Cup later this year to make his mark. Newlands hero Schalk Burger intercepted, passing to De Villiers who weaved to wrong-foot the last man and then fired a long pass out to the left wing where Le Roux was on hand to do the rest.

Le Roux joined Louw on the sidelines with 10 minutes to go when he was sin-binned for a shoulder charge but, even with a two-man advantage, the World XV couldn’t break the hosts down.

Louw was reinstated just in time to see Pollard scythe through the line on the counter-attack, pin Delon Armitage and rocket a pass to Reinach for the sixth try, but the Boks saved their best try for the final minute. The ball was spun wide to De Allende who chipped the ball over his marker, beat a chasing Armitage to toe the ball ahead and then created sufficient separation to win the race for an outstanding individual effort. Lambie hit the bullseye again and Lacey blew the final whistle. The Boks will have had little time to toast the high-scoring victory as they were today set to board a plane headed for Brisbane where they will begin an abbreviated Rugby Championship competition with a clash against Australia.

 

Newlands

Springboks (22) 46

Tries: De Allende (2), Etzebeth, Le Roux (3), Reinach; Conversions: Pollard (2), Lambie (2); Penalty: Pollard

World XV (10) 10

Try: Burden; Conversion: Harris; Penalty: Harris.

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