The French were better, by one whole point

The Takhaar Betoger, an infrequent but always welcome part of the usual gathering, was still basking in the glow of the Springboks’ 37-14 win over the French in the first Test at Loftus Versfeld.

“I think we will do even better this week,” said the Betoger, who is so named not for any inclination to toyi-toyi at the drop of a hat, but for the long blond locks which flow down his back. It might be added that being a Western Province supporter might very well also have something to do with this.

“I cannot fault your enthusiasm,” was the rejoinder from the Arithmetically-challenged Golfer, the self-appointed fount of all knowledge of a sporting nature, “but this French team promises to be a tougher proposition.

“They have brought in eight new players since last week and the turf underfoot at King’s Park will probably be more suited to their style of play than the somewhat slippery surface at Loftus. I think you have got it wrong this time.”

It was credit to the Betoger’s generally sunny nature that he took what was a thinly veiled rebuke to his knowledge of the game of rugby – even if he was a Western Province supporter – in good spirit.

It took barely two minutes from the opening whistle in Durban for the Golfer to puff out his chest as the Tricolores’ Krugersdorp-born fullback Scott Spedding went over in the left-hand corner for the opening try of the match to put the French ahead and leave the oracle exuding the glow of being the one who knew best where this was all heading.

“What did I tell you? This is a different French side. Forget about Loftus. I’m telling you this is a different story altogether” said the Golfer.

But while the French held the ascendency in most areas of the game it was the sheer determination of the Boks and some brilliant play from Man-of-the-Match Siya Kolisi, whose solo break doubled the Bok try count opened by Jan Serfontein, which ultimately held sway.

The Springbok side fought as a single unit and the shape they had first shown in the opener in Pretoria, was given new strength under French fire.

A third try by Coenie Oosthuizen and a romp over by Elton Jantjies after Kolisi had ripped the ball away and produced the offload for the flyhalf to cross the line unhindered left the ending in no doubt but did engender a distinct darkening of the Golfer’s countenance.

There was a hint of remonstrance from the Betoger, who seemed more than content to sit back and watch the tableau unfold before him, happy in the knowledge that the Boks had clinched the 37-15 victory and with it the series.

But, as he made his farewells and turned to go, he turned to the golfer. “I can see this is a better French side,” he said. “A whole one point better than they were in Pretoria.”