History-maker Kolisi leads Boks to thrilling triumph
Pocock seals Australia win
Chairman and top management with cricket tournament winners.
Chairman and top management with football tournament winners. OHANNESBURG, June 9, (AFP): Siya Kolisi celebrated becoming South Africa’s first black Test captain by leading his country to a thrilling 42-39 triumph over England on Saturday in the first Test in Johannesburg.
Trailing by 21 points after 18 minutes, the Springboks staged a magnificent rally to lead 29-27 at half-time and held off a late England charge to succeed in a 10-try festival.
England coach Eddie Jones had warned his team to match fire with fire from the kick-off and they did him proud, building a quick 24-3 lead.
A 60-metre penalty from full-back Elliot Daly in the third minute served an early warning to the Springboks that the visitors were desperate to snap a three-match losing streak.
Winger Mike Brown followed up with a try in the corner and captain and centre Owen Farrell converted to give
Adam Coleman of Australia (left), is tackled by CJ Stander of Ireland during the international rugby match between Australia and Ireland in Brisbane, Australia on June 9. (AP)
Playing on the blindside, Pocock was at his ball-poaching best as he continually frustrated the Irish ruck ball.
Ireland had their chances and will consider themselves unlucky to lose, with CJ Stander held up over the line early in the second half and replacement scrum-half Kieran Marmion denied by the television match official in the final minute.
But the Wallabies deserved the victory and will go into the second Test in Melbourne full of confidence after a successful start to their international season.
In Auckland, the All Blacks scored 44 unanswered points in the second half as they came from behind to hammer France 52-11 in the opening game of their three-Test series on Saturday.
Rieko Ioane’s double was among eight tries for the world champions, who were 8-11 down at half-time before the game-changing introduction of forward Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Seven of New Zealand’s tries came after the man mountain, who was not even on the All Blacks’ radar a few weeks ago, came on five minutes into the second period to assert much-needed scrum dominance.
Tu’inukuafe’s introduction coincided with a marginal yellow card for French lock Paul Gabrillagues for a hit on Ryan Crotty, at which point the floodgates opened.
Codie Taylor, Ben Smith, Damian McKenzie, Ardie Savea and Ngani Laumape all scored tries in the second period, along with Ioane’s double, as the All Blacks stretched their Eden Park unbeaten run to 41 games.
In Oita, Japan, Japan conjured a hattrick of magical scores to floor Six Nations side Italy 34-17 on Saturday in the first game of their two-match rugby series.
The Brave Blossoms, who finished with four tries to Italy’s two, produced moments of breathtaking skill as Amanaki Mafi, Kenki Fukuoka and Lomano Lemeki scored for the home side in Oita, western Japan.
Japan fly-half Yu Tamura made six out of seven kicks in a confident performance for the 2019 World Cup hosts.
In Suva, Fiji, an unruly Fiji survived three yellow cards and a strong Samoa fightback to win their opening Pacific Nations Cup match 24-22, while Georgia hung on for a 16-15 win over Tonga in Suva Saturday.
Fiji led 17-3 at half-time, despite having centre Jale Vatubua and captain Akapusi Qera sinbinned, and stretched the lead to 24-3 while prop Eroni Mawi received a yellow card early in the second spell.
Kini Murimurivalu, Ben Volavola, Henry Seniloli and Vereniki Goneva scored tries for the defending champions, with Volavola adding two conversions.
With 20 minutes remaining Samoa started to overcome their high error count and began to pressure Fiji.