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Tue 27 Jun 2017 | 04:01
South Africa complete 3-0 series sweep against France

9
Comments

For the first time, South Africa made it a clean sweep of visiting France in their Summer international series. Surprisingly, this was also the first time the Springboks have beaten Les Bleus at Ellis Park. With the Rugby Championship looming, it's certainly the result Springbok fans will be excited about. 

After two losses, France were looking for the win at a location that's been extremely friendly to them in the past. Unfortunately, the hosts had other ideas, taking a quick 10-0 lead and never looking back, going on to secure a 35-12 win. 

Tries came from Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx, Rudy Paige and Eben Etzebeth. Elton Jantjies added 20 more points with the boot.

Monster lock Etzebeth, captaining the side on the day, had a match for the ages, saying afterwards that the day had been the best of his life. 

"Welcome to the best day of my life. The last 24 hours were unbelievable for me." Etzebeth slotted in as skipper seamlessly, leading his men to victory and setting the tone going forward. 

"We've done well against France because we had a lot of time to prepare with our pre-season camp. That time also allowed us to get to know one another as people and we became a closer group because of it."

Several other Springboks stepped forward such as man-of-the-match centre Jan Serfontein. 

All that France could manage was 12 points from the boot of Jules Plisson.

It seems that this Springbok team has been firmly dedicated to putting the dreadful 2016 campaign behind them. This has been reflected in both the play and electricity in the stands.

In a strange occurrence of scoring consistency, the Springboks won the first Test 37-14, the second 37-15, then this, the third, 35-12.

The Rugby Championship is shaping up to be more than just a one-horse race.

Credit: Rugby'O'Top

Posted By: davidharper

9 Comments

  • drg
    10:56 AM 01/07/2017

    What seems to have happened recently is that there is a requirement of a certain number of black players to play a certain number of tests a year or season or something.

    It sort of falls into a quota system which is sad.

    But maybe some SA fans can clarify.

  • ruckinmaul
    1:13 PM 30/06/2017

    I watched all the 3 tests. From all the tests, I have realised the coaches has chosen the form players, and certainly not because of colour. The selection of Whiteley as captain, Malcom Marx as the starting hooker, Hougard as the starting scrum half, and the centre partnership of the hardworking Serfontein and Jesse Kriel, and the selection of Andries Coetzee at fullback. All of them are white and deserved to be called.

    Can someone clarify me the political intervention going with the Boks.

  • drg
    3:51 PM 28/06/2017

    Whats the latest score on the political intervention with the boks?

    I know in the past they've struggled with having to fulfil quotas.

  • felipeg
    2:05 PM 28/06/2017

    No way you can get any clue as to the boks' level with such a poor french opponent. Have you seen the french stats? I ll give you just one: missed tackles : 24%, 24%, 30%. The only french players who appeared just able to run at full pace were the young unknowned player lacking game time.

  • rugbydump
    11:10 AM 28/06/2017

    The mindset and intensity also appears to be back to what it should be. And picking players on form has worked well for them, ie: mainly the Lions guys mentioned by katman

  • katman
    7:22 AM 28/06/2017

    Bit of both, really. France were really poor. In the first test they didn't have any of the Toulon or Clermont players because they had just played in the final the previous weekend. Everyone said wait for the second test when those players would make all the difference. But they were equally poor then too. In all three tests France had more possession and better territory, but were largely ineffective on attack. I suppose the biggest improvement in the Boks game has been their defensive organisation. Brendan Venter joined the team as defense coach and has clearly had a huge impact. And the second Bok improvement has been the ability to know when it is on out wide and when not. I'm biased, of course, but I reckon it's the introduction of a large number of in-form Lions players who are used to playing this high-speed, expansive game (as opposed to the traditional Bok game plan of bashing it up with the fatties for 80 minutes while a flyhalf kicks the ball deep all the time. Last year only one Lions player was deemed good enough. This year more than half the team are Lions, including a confident Elton Jantjies (flyhalf), a rampaging Malcolm Marx (hooker) and a very astute captain and eighthman in Warren Whiteley. I'm not saying the Boks will challenge the All Blacks for the Rugby Championship this year, but I reckon four from four against Australia and Argentina is not out of the question.

  • jimmy23
    11:06 PM 27/06/2017

    I didn't watch this series. Have South Africa really improved that much or did France make them look good?

  • vladimir
    6:03 PM 27/06/2017

    Put... We'll know more on fall tours, and let's hope for the best (and for once Laporte keeps his promises to reform french rugby).

  • colombes
    5:50 PM 27/06/2017

    Usual loss consistency... France never manages positive summer tours
    Apart few mercurial runs of Penaud, really nothing to remember
    Hope the players spent good south-african holidays

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