Springboks ease past Namibia in Toyota

Springbok number 8 Schalk Brits led from the front and was a real contender for man of the match, although the accolade officially went to second rower Lood de Jager.

South Africa were particularly dominant at the set pieces and demolished Namibia at scrum time from the first minute of the match. The Springboks also scored a number of tries from rolling mauls, while a few sensational tries were launched from counter attacks and open play.

While the result is a positive one, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus may be critical of some lapses in direction at certain stages of the game. But considering that the changes were rung after their loss to the All Blacks, South Africa may be content to have breezed past their African neighbours without any mishaps.

Dominant set pieces put Namibia to the sword

The Springboks signalled early intent as right wing Sbu Nkosi charged down an attempted Namibian exit from the kickoff.

Eventually the Namibians cleared their lines which gave the Springboks possession from an attacking lineout. After a good passage of phase play, sparked by a line break by Warrick Gelant, Lood de Jager was held up over the line.

From the resulting 5 metre scrum, the Springboks obliterated the Namibian pack before number 8 Schalk Brits broke off the base and dotted the ball down on the padding of the right hand post. The try was initially awarded, before the TMO disallowed the five pointer.

The Springboks continued their assault of the Namibian tryline and after a number of scrum penalties, the Boks kicked for the five metre line to set a driving maul. Their set piece fired from the get go and hooker Bongi Mbonambi scored the opening try of the match. Flyhalf Elton Jantjies nailed the conversion to make it 7-nil.

After a few minutes of open play, the Springboks made their way back into the Namibian 22. A high tackle on Nkosi allowed Jantjies to kick for the corner. From the resulting lineout, blindside flank Francois Louw was carried over the line to score South Africa’s second try - which was unconverted.

A third try from a maul followed soon after. Veteran inside centre Frans Steyn made a break off the kickoff and found support on his outside in Nkosi. The right wing ran it up the field before Namibian number 8 Adriaan Booysen knocked a pass down. He got a yellow card for the offence and the Springboks kicked for the touchline. 

From the resulting lineout and maul, Mbonambi was carried over for his second try of the game.  Jantjies converted to put South Africa 19-nil up.

Namibia got onto the scoreboard just after the 20 minute mark from an attack which burst into the Springboks half. The South African’s crept offside on defence and conceded a penalty and flyhalf Cliven Loubser nailed the kick the make it 19-3.

The Springboks finally managed to score their first try from open play next. Attacking from a lineout, Steyn carried the ball up into the midfield and the ball was quickly recycled through another phase.

Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies then fired a flat skip pass to Gelant who broke away in the outside channel before offloading to left wing Makazole Mapimpi who rounded off the try. Jantjies couldn’t convert, leaving the Boks 24-3 ahead.

The final score of the half came after the hooter, as the Springboks went on a long period of attack ranging from the left to right touchlines. Edging closer to the Namibian try line, the ball was cleared out to Brits who took a half gap short of the line.

The Springbok skipper probably could have scored but opted to offload to a flying Lukhanyo Am who rounded off South Africa’s fifth try of the night. Jantjies added the extras to make it 31-3 at the break.

Namibia had the first throw of the dice in the second half as Loubser opted to kick a long range penalty just inside SA’s half. Unfortunately the kick just rebounded off the right hand post and South Africa cleared their lines.

A good five minutes later, the Springbok back three launched a counter attack from an exit kick by Namibia. Warrick Gelant threw a long pass out to Am, who straightened the line and cut his way into the Namibian 22. An offload found Gelant in support and the fullback shifted to the outside to score in the right hand corner. Jantjies converted to make it 38-3.

The Springboks next try came from a nice piece of ingenuity off the back of a maul. Brits broke as his forwards pack setup the drive, before offloading to Mapimpi on the inside. The wing streaked into space and went in untouched in the left hand corner. Jantjies’ conversion extended South Africa’s lead to 45-3.

Regular captain Siya Kolisi brought up the half century - scoring from a wide attack which was started from an attacking lineout on the Namibian five metre line. Jantjies couldn’t convert leaving South Africa leading 50-3.

The final score of the game came from a naughty bit of foul play from Namibia’s reserve prop Johannes Coetzee. The Namibian bumped Brits off the ball at the back of the lineout and received a yellow card.

South Africa kicked for the corner to setup another lethal driving maul. Brits had just moved to hooker from number 8, threw the ball into his first lineout and took the ball off the base of the maul. Spotting a gap, the skipper snuck over the line to score. Jantjies converted to make it 57-3.

The game ebbed and flowed for the last few minutes but the Springboks didn’t manage to add to their tally - leaving the full time score 57-3.