Boks begin RWC reign with a win
2007-11-24 19:03
Cardiff - Five-try South Africa began their reign as world champions with a convincing 34-12 victory over Wales in a rousing and fully-committed test match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The Springboks featured nine of the team who beat England in
the World Cup final a month ago and if they spent much of the
time celebrating since then it did not show in an efficient
display with touches of quality to give departing coach Jake
White a satisfying send-off in his last full international.
Two tries for centre Jacque Fourie after an opener by
flanker Juan Smith had South Africa 22-0 ahead before flanker
Colin Charvis hit back for the Welsh with his 22nd try, a world
record for a forward.
Scores at either end of the second half by JP Pietersen and debutant number eight Ryan Kankowski underlined the Springboks' dominance, though Wales, under caretaker coach Nigel Davies before the January arrival of Warren Gatland, had a better second period and boasted a debutant try for fullback Morgan Stoddart.
- Reuters