We value your privacy

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.

More Options

Wed 20 Jun 2012 | 11:16
The Springboks seal the series win with victory over England

15
Comments

The Springboks claimed a 2-0 Test series win with a 36-27 victory over England at Ellis Park on Saturday. The home side led comfortably at 28-10 before England did well to come back into the match in the second half.

The result was seemingly clear by halftime as South Africa bullied England into submission with powerful play up front, including a much improved performance at the breakdown, and some speedy service from halfback Francois Hougaard.

England fought back in the second half, as Morne Steyn missed kicks at goal, and scrumhalf Ben Youngs scored two well taken tries. JP Pietersen started and finished a great try for the Springboks though, taking the game away from England and thus clinching the match and series win.

The two sides meet again in the third Test in Port Elizabeth this coming Saturday. The Springboks have made some forced changes through injury, with flyer Gio Aplon coming in for Pat Lambie.

"He can do something magic from the back. He runs great lines, has unbelievable feet and brings an X-factor," said Heyneke Meyer, who named Jean De Villiers as captain for the rest of the season.

"Jean has been unbelievable as captain and has matched my expectations. We want to plan for the rest of the year. It was very easy to make him captain.

"It is always important to have a special leader to gel the team and there is a lot of respect for him from the players. I have worked with a lot of good captains and he is right up there," he said.

Below are match highlights, and if you'd like to watch the whole thing again you can do so here.

Posted By: Grant Constable

15 Comments

  • katman
    12:04 AM 22/06/2012

    That's like getting excited about the meanest Morris Minor ever.

  • katman
    12:04 AM 22/06/2012

    That's like getting excited about the meanest Morris Minor ever.

  • katman
    10:28 PM 21/06/2012

    Grant has very little distance on his kicks and never attempts anything beyond about 45m. If Steyn were to only try the short ones, his stats would look impressive too.

    Regarding fullback, I think Frans Steyn would probably be our best bet, but the problem is he's an even better inside centre. After him, I'd go with Jaco Taute (who might very well have ha a look in if he wasn't injured), and only then would I look to the little guys like Lambie, Aplon and Pietersen (in that order).

  • katman
    9:20 PM 21/06/2012

    Both England and SA were missing some key players due to injury, and both teams were giving 2 or 3 players their first run. I don't think either of them was at a distinct disadvantage. Should be interesting to see what happens up north later on.

  • katman
    9:17 PM 21/06/2012

    Ha ha, might as well call them the Stormers then and save a bunch on new kit.

    Grant and Pietersen are nowhere near first choice Bok selections. The only guys from the Cape who should walk back into the Tri-Nations squad once fit are Burger, Bekker and possibly Vermeulen.

    This Meyer/Bulls conspiracy theory is also wearing a bit thin now. He had to put a team together at very short notice with less than a week to practice and half a dozen big names missing. Obviously he'd go with what he knows and combinations that know each other.

  • 7:10 PM 21/06/2012

    Henkeye Meyer's comments on Englands tries left me annoyed and frustrated.
    He stated that all of the English tries came form Springbok mistakes, which is clearly not true as the first ty came from a great break from Ashton, and the third came from a snipe from Youngs after a strong driving maul. Granted the second try came from a Springbok mistake (overthrow) however one of the springboks tries came from a ball going through the scrum (should not have been a try anyway, as it did not touch the props' legs) and the second of which could have been argued to have been held up by Joseph.
    Not a fair judgement by Meyer!

  • murina
    5:49 PM 21/06/2012

    The most boring blogs come from those saying "when X is back, and when Y is replaced, then....then....it'll all be different. Be afraid!"

    The only thing more dull would be someone replying saying that England will be better once X comes back, Y is replaced ...the Boks are going to get a kicking....


  • pretzel
    5:45 PM 21/06/2012

    Whilst I do not wholly agree that "the gap is closing" as people keep saying, I think you're either trolling or are oblivious. I like to try and keep a neutral view on most rugby matches, it makes watching all the more enjoyable when you can see "good rugby" from any team.. Anyway, you comment on the lack of key players in the Bok squad... Not that I am massively clued up on what is going on with the English team, however last I heard they had players making their international debut's this tour... It will always be marked down as a win, and a victory is a victory, however beating a team that is blooding new players is slightly different from beating a well seasoned team.

    Not that I expect the same thing to happen again, but I recall there being a lot of; perhaps overly confident, Bok fans who were gravely disappointed up in Murrayfield in 2010... Perhaps try and avoid dishing up your own portion of humble pie...

  • fatprop
    3:41 PM 21/06/2012

    Agreed I dont see why you would choose him. Good to see that Foden is back on the wing and Goode starting at fullback. Dont see the point of taking wade and not using him, same with abendanon and may

  • pretzel
    2:04 PM 21/06/2012

    No idea why England had Strettle on.. I don't know much about him but personally I think he's pants...

  • katman
    9:48 AM 21/06/2012

    That was the stand-out moment of the game. Surprised they only show the end of the try.

  • acosmann
    8:49 AM 21/06/2012

    Highlites didn't include JPP's break to set up the try that clinched it for the bokke!

  • facepalm
    10:39 PM 20/06/2012

    England are going to seriously suffer without Robshaw and Youngs. They were the best two (english) players. Still, Care is looking dangerous and it probably means Haskell will be back in the team. England are in dire need of his physicality.

    Unfortunately I can't see anything other than a big fat miserable whitewash being served up for this team and indeed the other northern teams. The home autumn internationals will be a good chance to claim southern hemisphere scalps. I sense the gap is closing.

  • 7:11 PM 20/06/2012

    SA were BRUTAL in the first half, I feared a battering,.. but fortunatly England fought back with abundances of passion and grit, a characteristic of which for a young team is very imprssive, and managed to claw back to withing 4 at one stage.
    Bismark is AWESOME, unquestionably the best hooker OF ALL TIME! he plays in all postions at the same time! and is so strong.

    Englands forward are an absolute unit, especially with Corbisero back! I remember when Jonathan Davies said (during the recent six nations) that the english had lost their forward physicality! how wrong that judgment turned out to be!
    Ashtonn and Flood linked up well, back to their 2011 six nations best.

    My England team (considering injuries):

    1. Corbisero
    2. Hartley (c)
    3. Cole
    4. Plamer
    5. Botha
    6. Johnson
    7. Haskell
    8. Waldrom
    9. Care
    10. Flood
    11. Foden
    12. Tuilangi (USE HIM ON THE CRASH BALL!!!!!!!)
    13. Joseph
    14. Ashton
    15. Goode

    16. Marler
    17. Youngs (Tom)
    18. Botha
    19. Morgan
    20. Dickson (Lee)
    21. Farell
    22. Wade

    England can win this one, especially with SA loses, including: Steyn, Alberts and Lambie, all of which have been awesome. 3 form 5, would be an awesome achievment for England, giving them a boost heading into the Autumn internationals. Where I believe that England can win 3 from 4

    2 Great teams, in arguably the best test series this summer!

  • murina
    6:25 PM 20/06/2012

    Great game. SA were enormous in the first half, and I thought Eng did well just to keep the score as it was. Jean DV played out of his skin and seems like a good choice for captain. Youngs sparked the comeback and I didn't see why he was taken off (injury?). Fair play to England though. SA deserved the win overall, but the young Eng side are becoming a competitive unit. Looking forward to Saturday.

Related Articles