Boks thrash the World
Le Roux and De Allende score five of home side’s seven tries
at Newlands FULLBACK Willie le Roux scored a hat-trick and centre Damian de Allende a brace of tries as the Boks cruised to a comfortable win over a willing but outgunned World XV in cold, wet conditions in Cape Town yesterday.
The Boks came into the match looking to answer some questions rather than play dazzling rugby and their performance indicated it was a job well done.
“The Boks were positive and ambitious,” said World XV coach Robbie Deans. “Looking at the profile of the group they’re putting together, they’re looking to play more than one way. In 2007 the Boks were onedimensional but were so good and dominant and they got away with it. Nowadays you need to ask more questions across the board and that’s what they’re working towards.”
The Bok lineout purred along beautifully while their counterattacking was electric at times. De Allende was superb in sparking several counters with his ability to ease past defenders.
His second try was a gem, from turnover inside the Boks’ 22. The ball went wide where De Allende chipped, chased, toed ahead and scored to seal a fine personal performance. In all the Boks scored seven tries.
De Allende’s display was another reminder to returning captain Jean de Villiers, who came on to rousing applause in the 60th minute after nine months out injured, that possession of the No 12 jersey will be a fight.
“Damian is not just a basher but has great touches and is difficult to bring down and has beautiful feet,” Bok coach Heynek Meyer said. “There was a question mark if he could take the step up from Super Rugby and he has answered that.”
The breakdown also looked better with Francois Louw back in the frame.
The only real area of concern for the Boks was in the scrums. Carl Hayman gave Tendai Mtawarira a tough time, but he has done that to opponents for years. The Beast won’t face any better this season.
The scrum improved in the second half with Trevor Nyakane and debutant Vincent Koch putting the reshuffled World XV pack under pressure.
Discipline was an issue with two yellow cards (one for Louw and one for Le Roux) for marginal foul-play calls. Flyhalf Handre Pollard struggled off the tee, landing three from seven.
The centre pair of De Allende and Jesse Kriel looked promising. Kriel possesses real pace and occasionally popped up wide to free Bryan Habana, but will need sterner examinations to secure a World Cup berth.