South Africa ‘A’ claim series win over French Baa Baas

THE South African “A” side sealed a 2-0 series whitewash over the French Barbarians with a convincing 48-28 win at a chilly Orlando Stadium in Soweto last night.

Unlike last weekend at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, the South Africans looked more assured in themselves and the manner in which they executed their game-plan.

It was in the good start that the men in Green and Gold had through a first-minute try by fullback Warrick Gelant that sparked the hosts into action.

While the French struck back five minutes later when centre Lucas Dupont collected a cleverly executed grubber from Frederic Michalak, the hosts continued to lead the charge with Chris Cloete bouncing off three would-be tacklers to score and hand the hosts the lead in the 20th minute.

But typical of the French fighting spirit, the visitors nullified the seven-point lead nine minutes later when wing Fabrice Estebanez charged over from a well-controlled rolling maul.

It was the home side again that would take the initiative two minutes later when Cheetahs prop Ox Nche showed why he is talked about as a future Springbok when he sprinted 40m to go over. But Sharks lock Ruan Botha tested the home team’s resolve and character when a moment of stupidity saw him charge with his shoulder into the head of a French player and was justifiably given his marching orders by referee Jaco van Heerden.

But the French were not going to allow themselves to be outdone by their hosts and Jean Baptiste Dubie also committed an act of stupidity as he rushed in late with a shoulder charge on Fred Zeilinga.

SA A unshackled themselves from the structured game and played with a lot of freedom in the second half which led to two tries within the first 12 minutes through Cloete and Lionel Mapoe.

The French managed to pick up two consolation tries, by Marco Tauleigne in the 56th minute and Louis Dupichot in the 79th minute, but it was Gelant who would have the final say in the game as he carved the French defence with his pace and fleet-footed sidesteps to give his team a resounding and convincing win.