World News 14-man Springboks too strong for battling Portugal Blog

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In their first ever meeting at the sold-out Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, the South African team, consisting of 14 teams, beat Portugal 64-21.

The Springboks, world champions, had seven players making their debuts and five of them scored tries. Winger Makazole Mapimpi scored a hat-trick in the second half and finished with 13 tries.

Portugal struggled in attack but contributed to an entertaining game by attacking from all sides and scoring three tries.

The Springboks' performance was all the more impressive from the second minute onwards as they were permanently reduced to 14 men.

Center Andre Esterhuizen was sent to the penalty box for a head-to-head tackle on opponent Jose Lima, who was carried off the field. Esterhuizen's yellow card was upgraded to a red card in the bunker.

Lima was replaced by Jose Paiva dos Santos, who scored two tries.

Kurt-Lee Arendse and Aphelele Fassi worked overtime to prevent any Portuguese attempts in the opening moments, but when the Boks lost the ball in the Portuguese 22, the visitors broke free and Paiva dos Santos scored the first points in the 10th minute.

The lead lasted eight minutes.

The Springboks group earned tries with the lineout ball for debuting forwards Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Phepsi Buthelezi. A measure of the group's robust control was the man of the match award given to lock RG Snyman, one of only four survivors from the team that lost to Ireland last weekend.

The home defenders were not to be overshadowed, however, and got going as Fassi caught the ball deep in his half, ran to the Portugal 22-yard line and lobbed it, and Arendse was first to reach the ball in goal, scoring his 15th try in his 18th Test.

Another break from deep by flyhalf Manie Libbok resulted in a try on his debut for flanker Ben-Jason Dixon.

Arendse was sent to the penalty box for a crocodile roll on outstanding Portuguese full-back Simao Bento, but even with 13 players the Springboks scored when Libbok found space for centre Lukhanyo Am to give them a 29-7 half-time lead.

By this point, Portugal had already changed both of their props to hold their side of the scrum. It didn't work. But South Africa were unable to take a penalty.

The second half offered the 42,626 spectators a joyful and entertaining experience.

As well as Mapimpi's three tries, which gives him 30 in 43 Tests, there were also debut-day tries for substitutes Quan Horn and Andre-Hugo Venter, the son of former Boks flanker Andre, who coach Rassie Erasmus played with. Horn finished the game in the penalty box.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu once again underlined his value with smooth runs and five out of five shots on goal.

Portugal scored a second try in the 75th minute through Paiva dos Santos and a reachout try by flanker Jose Madeira, proof that Wolves held their nerve until the end.

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