Springboks Crush Japan With Glut Of Tries

With its sense of mystique, Wembley provides a fantastic setting for any event, sporting or non-sporting, as the Springboks crushed Japan by 61-7 in their first game on their year-end tour on Saturday.

Although far from capacity, the partisan South African crowd could be heard when Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika was belted out at the iconic venue. Despite the typical English weather, with rain coming down and a wet pitch, those in attendance were treated to 80 minutes of pulsating Test rugby. 

In his 99th Test match, Siya Kolisi crossed the try line in the fourth minute after South Africa applied pressure right from the opening whistle, forcing Japan onto the back foot. From a well-executed lineout, the Springboks set a powerful maul that Japan simply couldn’t withstand, allowing Kolisi to drive over for his 12th try for his nation.

In the 13th minute and reminiscent of his try against Argentina in Durban, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu chased down his own kick, this time an up-and-under, capitalizing on some frail Japanese defense to dot down the second on the night for the Boks. He obliged with the conversion to give the World Champions a 14-0 lead.

Japan’s struggle to adapt to the wet conditions was telling as another Feinberg-Mngomezulu kick over the top was fumbled by Yoshitaka Yazaki, resulting in a knock-on.  

The Feinberg-Mngomezulu show continued in the 17th minute as he scored a wonderful individual try, side-stepping his way through the Japanese defense like a samurai introducing himself to a brand new katana.

In some cause for concern for the Boks, Gerhard Steenekamp replaced a hobbling Ox Nche in the 19th minute, as he was tackled off the ball by Japanese captain Warner Deans, resulting in a possible leg injury.  

The Cherry Blossoms did well to hold off the Boks for the next 15 minutes without any movement on the scoreboard until a penalty try was awarded as Japan impeded a rolling maul. For the infringement, prop Shuhei Takeuchi was sin-binned.

HALF-TIME: SOUTH AFRICA 26-0 JAPAN

As Japan prepared for the return to the pitch of Takeuchi, Ben Gunter was penalised for head-on-head contact with Siya Kolisi, as the latter attempted to gather the ball – Gunter being sent to the bin.

Malcolm Marx, Zachary Porthen, and Kolisi made way for Wilco Louw, Andre Esterhuzen – playing at flank – and Johan Grobbelaar. Not long after taking the field and getting into his stride, Louw got on the scoresheet from a standard Feinberg-Mngomezulu breakaway, before offloading to Kwagga Smith, who played in Louw, to score his maiden Springbok try.

With Kolisi off the pitch, Jesse Kriel took over the captaincy. 

Japan showed much heart when, despite being down to 14 men, they managed to get over the tryline when quick thinking by Yoshitaka Yazaki got them on the scoreboard. 

The Springboks continued to ring the changes when Grant Williams replaced Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok came on for the electrifying Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

After stealing a Japanese lineout, Kurt-Lee Arendse pounced on a looseball to signal his return to the side with a try –  his twenty-second try at international level.

Although an earlier try had been disallowed, Andre Esterhuizen was not to be denied a second time as the Boks asserted their dominance with another try, stemming from a lineout again, followed by a Libbok conversion to take the score to 47-7.

The World Champions smelled blood as the Japanese seemed to tire. Cheslin Kolbe created a wonderful counter-attack, then kicked ahead for Arendse to chase down, gather, and get over the line. 

A wonderful night was wrapped up when Kurt-Lee Arendse broke away on the left, thought about going alone, then decided to pass inside to Jesse Kriel to cap off a meticulous, workmanlike performance with a sprinkle of stardust.

The match served as ideal preparation before the Springboks play France next week in Paris. The Boks will hope that some of the verve and entertainment dished out tonight will continue into next week before a formidable, intimidating French crowd baying for revenge following their 2023 World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of the green and gold. 

Article by Riaz Hamed