Young Boks thump varsity side
THE Junior Springboks overwhelmed the Varsity Cup Dream Team 50-19 at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch last night.
The young Springboks opened the try-scoring when lock Ruben van Heerden crashed over to build the platform for a first half of tries scored by the Junior Springbok lock pairing.
Van Heerden’s try would only serve to galvanise the Varsity Cup Dream Team into first, second and third gear as they bamboozled their way over the line twice in quick succession.
Maties winger Duncan Saal pulled back a try for the home team as he collected a deflected pass to run in untouched after only nine minutes.
His fellow winger, Sibahle Maxwane, showed immense strength down the right hand touchline as he bumped off tackles to put fullback Craig Barry into space to score and give the students a 12-7 lead.
Pukke lock Loftus Morrison powered over for a try of his own which flyhalf Tinus de Beer converted to give the Varsity Cup a healthy 19-7 lead.
A yellow card to prop Carlu Sadie did not prevent the Junior Springboks from flexing their muscles as Salmaan Moerat was on hand to receive a cheeky backhand pass from scrumhalf Embrose Papier to score.
Van Heerden was on hand moments later to score his second of the night and allow his team to level the scores, with fullback Gianni Lombard’s kick pushing the visitors in front with half-time looming.
The Junior Springboks came out of the tunnel after half-time with all cylinders firing as flank Muller Uys scored the visitors’ fourth try. Lombard missed the conversion but added a penalty goal in the 56th minute to extend the Junior Springboks’ lead.
The Junior Springboks continued to find their attacking rhythm as the second half progressed with Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse exploiting a gap to score close to the uprights soon after replacement hooker Johannes Snyman was given his marching orders.
The Junior Springboks were relentless in attack and ran in waves that left the home team’s defence in tatters.
Replacement loose forward Nama Xaba crossed for try number six as the visitors started to put daylight between the two teams while centre Manie Libbok added yet another try minutes later as he sliced straight through the Varsity Cup Dream Team’s defensive line to score.