The Springboks ran in a staggering ten tries to demolish Portugal 64-21 in a Test match at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.

Winger Makazole Mapimpi was the star of the show with a hat-trick, while Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu’s accurate conversions as he slotted all of his five and complemented the dominant display by the World Cup champions.

Interestingly, all of Mapimpi’s tries came in the second half. Jan-Hendrik Wessells, Phepsi Buthelezi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Ben-Jason Dickson, and Lukhanyo Am crossed the whitewash for the Springboks in the first half, establishing a commanding 29-7 lead at the break.

However, it was Portugal who opened the scoring, capitalizing on an Evan Roos error to grant Jose Paiva Dos Santos a clear run-in. Despite this early setback, the Springboks quickly asserted their dominance.

Coach Rassie Erasmus will undoubtedly be pleased with his team’s performance, as this match offered a final opportunity for players to impress him before he announces the squad for the Rugby Championship. Portugal, led by Frenchman Simon Mannix, showcased their growing prowess, particularly with a well-executed lineout try that caught the eye during the World Cup last year.

This encounter marked the first meeting between the Springboks and Portugal, as World Rugby seeks to elevate Tier 2 nations. In preparation for this match, the Springboks played a two-match series against Ireland, which concluded with a 1-1 draw in Durban.

History was made on Saturday as Hollie Davidson from Scotland became the first woman to referee a Springboks Test match. The Scottish official was forced to take decisive action early on, sin-binning Andre Esterhuizen for a head-to-head collision. A bunker review subsequently upgraded the yellow card to a red card.

Kurt-Lee Arendse was also shown a yellow card for a dangerous ‘croc roll’ tackle, sparking controversy among Springbok fans after a similar incident involving Ireland’s Caelan Dorris went unpunished the previous week against Malcolm Marx.

Despite the sin-binnings, the Springboks maintained their dominance, extending their lead through further tries from Mapimpi, Quan Horn, and Andre-Hugo Venter. Portugal managed two more tries through Dos Santos and Jose Madeira, but it was not enough to prevent a comprehensive defeat.

Mapimpi’s third try sealed the victory in the last minute for the Springboks, capping off a memorable performance.

Picture courtesy of SA Rugby