Ken Borland

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer on Wednesday recalled openside flank Francois Louw and chose the uncapped duo of eighthman Duane Vermeulen and flyhalf Johan Goosen to open the possibility of a significant change in approach for the Springboks’ two Rugby Championship matches in Australia and New Zealand.

South Africa opened their Rugby Championship campaign against debutants Argentina, beating them 27-6 in Cape Town but without a try-scoring bonus point, before being held to a shock 16-16 draw in Mendoza last weekend.

Amidst massive criticism of the game plan the Springboks have employed so far this year, Meyer suggested some willingness to change on Wednesday when he gave first call-ups to Vermeulen and Goosen.

The 26-year-old Vermeulen has been a star for the Stormers with his powerhouse displays from the back of the scrum, but several injuries have prevented him from being chosen earlier for the Springboks.

The 20-year-old Goosen sprung to prominence in last year’s IRB Junior World Championship before making a prolific SuperRugby debut for the Cheetahs this year, until a serious shoulder injury ruled him out of action from the beginning of May until last weekend.

“Injuries meant we could not use Duane and Johan earlier in the season, but both have played Currie Cup rugby since their return and, after consultation with their respective provincial medical teams, we’re confident that they are ready to travel with us. While Duane and Johan are medically fit, their provincial coaches felt it necessary that they get more game time in the Currie Cup this weekend, but as we don’t have a lot of time to prepare and we need as much time with them as possible to get them used to our structures and game plans, the decision was taken to select them for the tour,” Meyer said in a statement released by the South African Rugby Union on Wednesday.

“I regard both of them as world-class rugby players. If it wasn’t for injuries, Duane would have been a Springbok long ago. I also believe Johan has a long career ahead of him at test match level and we will expose him when and how we feel it will benefit the player and the team best.”

The lack of a specialist fetcher in the Springbok squad had also been criticised, with Louw getting a summons from Meyer despite the fact that he now plays his rugby in England for Bath. A raft of injuries in South Africa’s loose forward stocks have also complicated matters, with veterans Schalk Burger and Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow and new Stormers sensation Siya Kolisi all ruled out at the moment, while Ryan Kankowski is currently playing rugby in Japan.

“We were very keen to give Siya Kolisi an opportunity on this tour, but he is also out injured. Francois played at the Rugby World Cup last year and is an experienced player.  We opted for Francois because he is a specialist openside flanker, in the absence of Schalk, Heinrich and Siya, that can cover blindside and number eight as well, while he is also a very useful option in the lineout,” Meyer said.

South Africa’s young squad – 20 of the 28 are under 28 years old – will have to learn quickly from their mistakes in Argentina, where their dependence on physical dominance failed as the Pumas matched them in the collisions.

The inclusion of Goosen, who has a prodigious boot but can also spark a backline, and recalled World Cup centre Juan de Jongh suggests Meyer has heard the call for more creative play from his team.

Loose forward Keegan Daniel, who Meyer had suggested would see action against Australia, and utility back JJ Engelbrecht are the players omitted from the squad that went to Argentina.

Squad – Zane Kirchner, Pat Lambie, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Jean de Villiers, Francois Steyn, Juan de Jongh, Morne Steyn, Johan Goosen, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Hougaard, Jano Vermaak, Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Francois Louw, Jacques Potgieter, Juandre Kruger, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Andries Bekker, Pat Cilliers, Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Dean Greyling, Adriaan Strauss, Tiaan Liebenberg, Craig Burden.

The Sharks scored two tries to one and French flyhalf Fred Michalak kicked two crucial drop goals as they beat the Stormers 26-19 in their SuperRugby semi-final at Newlands on Saturday.

Wing Louis Ludik and outside centre JP Pietersen, the Sharks’ two most dangerous outside backs, scored the tries and the experienced Michalak also added both conversions and two penalties to end with 16 points.

The Sharks had to contend with travel fatigue, having beaten the Reds in Brisbane last weekend, as well as the passionate Newlands crowd and a table-topping Stormers team that was unbeaten at home this season and had the best defensive record in the competition.

But the Sharks’ tight five dominated and their marauding loose trio carried the ball strongly and disrupted the Stormers’ possession, providing plenty of front-foot ball for their backs. Michalak, capped 56 times for France, played with immense composure and varied his game well, and Pietersen and Ludik were massive threats with ball in hand.

“It’s going to take a while to get over this, but we can only blame ourselves, we had 80 minutes to prove we were good enough and we came up short. We get such good support but we don’t have a cup to show for it – that’s what makes it tough,” Stormers captain Jean de Villiers said after his team’s fifth defeat in six SuperRugby playoffs.

“But credit to the Sharks for travelling so much and then putting on a fantastic performance tonight. If there’s a team you can’t bet against us in these competition it’s them and we’re definitely behind them all the way,” De Villiers added.

“The boys put their bodies on the line and it was tough coming to Newlands having spent last week in Australia, but the boys showed resilience. We had a lot of motivation to do something that’s never been done before. The front row and the tight five really put their hands up,” Sharks captain Keegan Daniel said.

The Stormers were first on the scoreboard as Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis was laid low by a rampaging Eben Etzebeth, the lock’s powerful charge setting up a penalty which flyhalf Peter Grant kicked (0-3).

But the Sharks showed they were more than up for the physical challenge, despite their jetlag, and the rest of the half belonged to them. With Michalak pulling the strings, they led 13-6 at the break.

The Stormers scrum was all at sea against the all-Springbok Sharks front row and Michalak was presented with a 13th-minute penalty to level the scores.

The home side were able to see off the strong forward drives of the Sharks, but the front-foot ball allowed Michalak to slot a drop goal to see the Sharks in front midway through the first half.

The Stormers trailled from then onwards and, although their defence at close quarters was sound, they were pinned in their own territory by the strong Sharks kicking game.

Michalak stayed calm under pressure to turn a defensive position after a Stormers kick into attack, fullback Riaan Viljoen hoisting a pinpoint up-and-under. Ludik was there like a flash, winning the ball and then stepping inside to race away and score the opening try.

Michalak converted and, even though Grant kicked a penalty on the half-time hooter to close the gap to seven points, there was no doubt which side held the upper hand.

The 29-year-old Frenchman could not succeed with a drop goal attempt that was half charged down five minutes after the break, but it did give the Sharks good field position and, when the Stormers could not legally stop a rolling maul off a lineout, it gave Michalak another penalty (16-6).

Viljoen could not convert a long-range penalty six minutes later, and the Sharks would be trapped offsides by a succession of attacking phases, allowing Grant to kick a penalty and close the gap to 9-16.

On the hour mark, Michalak shaped as if he would be attempting another drop goal, but then darted on to attack, passing the ball to Pietersen. His shimmy outside and step inside was enough to ensure the Stormers’ defence would be parted and he then sped away for the try.

Michalak’s conversion made the score 23-9, but there was always likely to be some tailing off from the Sharks given all their travelling, and the Stormers dominated the final quarter.

Grant pushed a 62nd-minute penalty wide to add to the other mistakes he made in the game, but the Stormers then kept the ball for 13 phases, stretching the Sharks left and right, before lightning-fast wing Gio Aplon was able to dash through what was left of the defence to score the home side’s only try.

Grant added the extra two points and then kicked a penalty from in front of the posts to leave the Stormers just four points behind with eight minutes remaining.

But Michalak then stepped up and, given a wonderful platform by the hard work of his forwards, kicked a 76th-minute drop goal from 30 metres out.

The Stormers burst back on to attack but, even though the Sharks looked out on their feet, there was no gap to break through.

Flank Daniel, an ever-present influence at the rucks, and Pietersen then combined to steal a vital turnover and send the Sharks back to Australasia for the final.

There they will meet the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton.

Scorers

Stormers – Try: Gio Aplon. Conversion: Peter Grant. Penalties: Grant (4).

Sharks – Tries: Louis Ludik, JP Pietersen. Conversions: Fred Michalak (2). Penalties: Michalak (2). Drop goals – Michalak (2).

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Talented young flyhalf Kurt Coleman led the way for the SWD Eagles with his boot as they beat the Ford Pumas 22-16 and wrecked their hopes for a second successive victory in their Absa Currie Cup First Division match at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday.

Coleman was in fine form with the boot as he succeeded with all five of his shots at goal – kicking four penalties and a conversion – while his tactical kicking was also instrumental in pinning the Pumas in their own territory and keeping them under pressure.

The Pumas had dominated the opening exchanges as flyhalf JC Roos kicked a penalty and flank RW Kember was driven over the line for the opening try, but the rest of the match was all about the Eagles as they overturned the 8-0 deficit and in fact led 22-11 until conceding a try on the final hooter.

The visitors’ discipline was not up to scratch and they granted Coleman shots at goal in the 16th, 23rd and 37th minutes, the 22-year-old’s three penalties giving SWD a 9-8 lead at half-time.

Coleman kicked another penalty in the 44th minute and then converted the try by livewire scrumhalf Johan Herbst that largely settled the contest, before retiring to the sideline on the hour mark on a miserably muddy and cold evening in George.

The replacement flyhalf, Theuns Kotze, then kicked a penalty in the 68th minute to stretch the lead to 22-11 and ensure victory, especially since the Pumas were down to 14 men with replacement centre Dewald Pretorius yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.

The Pumas did close the gap on the final whistle with a try by replacement flank Renaldo Bothma, but they were outplayed on the night, the chief reason being a superb showing by the Eagles forwards in conditions they revelled in.

SCORERS

SWD Eagles – Try: Johan Herbst. Conversion: Kurt Coleman. Penalties: Coleman (4), Theuns Kotze.

Ford Pumas – Tries: RW Kember, Renaldo Bothma. Penalties: JC Roos (2).

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup-first-division/news/120713/Coleman_kicks_Eagles_to_victory

The Lions claimed just their third victory of the season as flyhalf Elton Jantjies succeeded with all seven of his kicks at goal to give them a 37-32 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in their SuperRugby match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Lions had to overcome a fantastic comeback by the Rebels, who scored three second-half tries to turn a 7-24 half-time deficit into a 32-27 lead.

But replacement flank Jaco Kriel then charged down the blindside to score an equalising try, which Jantjies converted from the touchline to give the Lions the lead, the young flyhalf then kicking a penalty on the final hooter to stretch the winning margin to five points.

The Lions, who have an interim coaching staff due to the suspension of former All Black mentor John Mitchell, played with enormous confidence and freedom in the first half as they ran in three tries and Jantjies kicked a penalty to give them a 24-0 lead after 36 minutes.

“We had a disappointing first 15/20 minutes, making simple, fundamental errors in good field positions, that gave the Lions lots of possession and, to their credit, they turned that into points,” Rebels coach Damian Hill told a news conference after the game.

The home side made a great start when right wing Lionel Mapoe stepped inside and sent outside centre Waylon Murray over for the opening try after just two minutes.

Nine minutes later, Mapoe and Murray again combined well down the right, the Lions then quickly swinging the ball to the left, where outstanding flanker Derick Minnie barged his way over the tryline.

The Rebels tried to stretch the Lions with clever attacking play, but they struggled to get on the front foot against an aggressive defence, and the Lions also ruled the breakdowns in the first half. The Australians went off their feet at a ruck in the 25th minute, allowing Jantjies to kick a penalty (17-0), and Minnie then read the situation perfectly as he burst from a rolling maul through a big gap in the defence to score his second try.

The Rebels finally had some points on the board on the half-time hooter as they protected the ball well in a rolling maul, hooker Ged Robinson emerging with the try, which was converted by fullback Julian Huxley.

Having dominated the opening 40 minutes, it was a case of losing focus in the second half for the Lions, who also lost their discipline at the breakdown and conceded a string of penalties to give the Rebels momentum and territory.

“There was a lack of concentration in the second half, especially defensively, with guys not manning up in the one-on-one tackles,” Lions captain Josh Strauss said. “If we can keep concentrating for 80 minutes and play like we did in the first 40 minutes, then we’ll be a very dangerous side. We’re still playing for pride and each other.”

Lock Hugh Pyle scored two tries in three minutes for the Rebels, crossing over in the 47th and 50th minutes.

His first try came after the visitors kept the ball in the forwards, tighthead prop Jono Owen also carrying strongly, while his second came after wing Mark Gerrard had sped back into the Lions’ half from the kick-off, scrumhalf Nick Phipps was up in support and Pyle was able to take advantage of a big overlap on the right.

Huxley converted Pyle’s first try and then brought the Rebels to within two points in the 58th minute as he kicked a penalty after the Lions failed to roll away in the ruck.

Jantjies replied with a penalty which stretched the Lions lead to 27-22, but then became the villain of the piece as his clearance kick was charged down by flyhalf Jimmy Hilgendorf to give the Rebels an equalising try which was confirmed by Television Match Official Johann Meuwesen.

Huxley converted to give the Rebels a 29-27 lead, before adding a penalty which stretched the lead to 32-27.

“There’s a good spirit and camaraderie in the group and we’ve consistently shown that when we’re down, we find a way back. But too often we let ourselves down first and we need to find a way to be better as a team, to be able to put pressure on the opposition from the start,” experienced Rebels captain Stirling Mortlock said.

But Lions scrumhalf Michael Bondesio then caught the Rebels defence napping with a pop-pass down the blindside to Kriel, who powered through the cover defence to score in the corner.

The 21-year-old Jantjies kept his calm to kick the conversion and give the crowd a happy ending to the Lions’ last home game of the season, and perhaps their last in SuperRugby as they are slated for relegation next year to make room for the Southern Kings.

Scorers

Lions – Tries: Waylon Murray, Derick Minnie (2), Jaco Kriel. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (4). Penalties: Jantjies (3).

Melbourne Rebels – Tries: Ged Robinson, Hugh Pyle (2), Jimmy Hilgendorf. Conversions: Julian Huxley (3). Penalties: Huxley (2).