Jun 12, 2010 4:01 PM | By Reuters
Winger Gio Aplon scored two tries and flyhalf Morne Steyn kicked 15 points as world champions South Africa crushed France 42-17 at Newlands.
France's Lionel Nallet grimaces after being tackled by South Africa's Danie Rossouw (C) during their international rugby match at Newlands in Cape Town.
Photograph by: MIKE HUTCHINGS
Credit: REUTERS
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The diminutive Aplon celebrated his first Test on home soil with two superb solo tries that broke the Six Nations champions’ resolve and earned him the man-of-the-match award.
The Springboks netted a further three tries through their forwards on a day when the visitors were outplayed up front and regularly harried off the ball at the breakdowns.
The home side enjoyed a spectacular start, racing to a 14-0 lead after nine minutes and a 25-7 advantage with half an hour played.
Number eight Pierre Spies scored the first of three Springbok first-half tries when he dived over underneath the posts following a French mistake in the second minute.
France centre David Marty threw a loose pass on halfway that was intercepted by winger Bryan Habana, who in turn fed centre Jaque Fourie.
The veteran midfielder, playing his 56th Test, was quickly closed down but had the vision to feed an unmarked Spies on his left.
Aplon, who made his Test debut against Wales last weekend, got onto the scoresheet in the eighth minute when he bumped off centre Maxime Mermoz, before rounding the cover defence.
Steyn added the extra points before slotting two penalties to give his side a 20-0 lead.
France opened their account on the half hour when winger Aurelien Rougerie was freed down the right touchline for an easy run-in after the first sustained period of French pressure.
Scrumhalf Morgan Parra kicked the conversion and an injury-time penalty, but not before Springbok loosehead Gurthro Steenkamp scored his side’s third try after Steyn floated a long pass to the unmarked prop forward standing on the tramlines.
Steyn extended the lead to 18 points soon after the restart when a French scrum infringement gifted the flyhalf three points from in front.
No sooner had play restarted than it was sevens star Aplon who brought the 46 885-strong crowd to their feet when he picked up a loose ball near his own line before sprinting away on a diagonal run for a length-of-the-field try.
The remainder of the half was characterised by numerous mistakes from both sides. The point-scoring drought was eventually ended when flanker Francois Louw barged over for his team’s fifth try with five minutes remaining.
The visitors notched a consolation try through replacement winger Marc Andreu, converted by yet another substitute,
David Skrela.
Times Live
Comments by Sonny
Our rugby team are not called "BOKKE" for nothing.
We are true sports animals here in SA.
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