South Africa XV (non-cap) 54 Barbarians 7

Match Events

Report

Barbarian F.C. dazzled but Springboks wing Edwill van der Merwe was the star of the show as he claimed a hat-trick in a high-scoring encounter in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

The reigning world champions made a flying start at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, scoring four tries in the opening 25 minutes to the Barbarians one through Virimi Vakatawa.

But the Baa-Baas entertained the sizeable crowd with a thrilling brand of rugby and produced a stirring comeback.

Franco Molina, Andrew Kellaway and TJ Perenara all crossed before half-time as the teams entered the sheds at 26-40.

There were plenty of bright sparks for the Barbarians in the second-half but the Springboks showed their cohesion and killer instinct as they reverted to a forward-orientated game in the second-half.

Kellaway gave the Baa-Baas some brief hope but South Africa’s six second-half tries sent them clear.

The World Champions opened the scoring in the fourth minute when a miss pass put Siya Kolisi in space. The Springboks captain rode the tackle of Andrew Kellaway, with Warrick Gelant stepping in to allow Edwill van der Merwe an easy finish in the corner.

Cheslin Kolbe converted from the touch line and he was almost clean through for a try minutes later when the ball was intercepted following an encouraging attacking spell from the Baa-Baas.

It appeared as though the star wing would race clear, but Duhan van der Merwe and Gelant chased back heroically to make a fine try saving tackle. The pressure was then eased when Alex Nankivell pounced for a key turnover.

The Munster man was again in the thick of the action on 10 minutes when he broke the Springboks line, hitting a flat line before sending Virimi Vakatawa over the whitewash.

Tomás Albornoz converted but it was not long until the Springboks responded. Barbarians failed to exit effectively and South Africa came charging back with Peter Steph du Toit powering and twisting over.

TJ Perenara was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle before Kolbe added the extras to make it 7-14.

Matters were made worse when Miracle Fai’ilagi was harshly shown yellow after he got trapped in a ruck and not long later a Grant Williams pass quickly sent Van der Merwe over for his second.

Jasper Wiese added a fourth South Africa try when the Barbarians overthrew a lineout and Kolbe maintained his 100 per cent strike rate.

With decisions continuing to favour the Springboks, the Baa-Baas were unable to build any sustained pressure and the world champions soon claimed a fifth through Riley Norton.

The Barbarians however refused to go away and they enjoyed some good attacking periods on the half hour mark, back with 15 men on the pitch.

Some outrageous offloading almost put Van der Merwe over but minutes later it was South Africa that saw a man sent to the bin with Grant Williams shown yellow for a deliberate knock on.

The Baa-Baas kicked to the corner and played an inventive, almost comical, line-out move that not only secured possession but saw Franco Molina burrow over.

Albornoz converted and the famous invitational club continued to cause the Boks problems. First, the Argentina fly-half almost clinched a fine individual try from a chip and chase. Aphele Fassi saved the day but the Barbarians pounced for a turnover penalty.

With a quick tap they almost powered over but it was out wide that Andrew Kellaway crossed, with Albornoz’s conversion agonisingly wide.

But the Barbarians left their best to last as they scored a sensational team try from inside their own twenty-two with Vakatawa, Gelant and Kellaway all involved before captain TJ Perenara finished.

Albornoz converted to make it 25-35, but the Springboks had the last word of the half as they displayed a ruthless edge, turning to their powerful pack again.

With a solid set-piece five-metres out, Kolbe, filling in at nine for Williams, broke off the base and tricked his way over. He failed to convert his effort, leaving the score 26-40 at the interval.

The Barbarians made a blistering start to the second-half with Van der Merwe and Kellaway combining to good effect but it appeared as though South Africa landed a devastating blow against the run of play.

From turnover ball, possession was quickly spread to the left with Edwill van der Merwe scorching over. But replays showed Perenara was taken high at the breakdown, and the score was scratched off.

The Springboks did however power over on 48 minutes with JJ Kotze the scorer and Kolbe converting.

South Africa piled on the pressure and while the Barbarians defended heroically, they soon lost Elliot Dee to the sin-bin. By the time the decision was made, Dee had already been replaced, meaning Duhan van der Merwe came off to allow Leonel Oviedo back into the action.

Edwill van der Merwe showed a clean pair of heels for his hat-trick on 58 minutes but it was not one-way traffic as Kellaway bagged his second following a sustained period of pressure.

Faf de Klerk, Jessie Kriel, Andrie Esterhuizen and Zachary Porthen all scored off the back of a solid set-piece.

Barbarians: Warrick Gelant; Andrew Kellaway, Virimi Vakatawa, Alex Nankivell, Duhan van der Merwe (Tuidraki Samusamuvodre 64), Tomás Albornoz (Harry Plummer 55), TJ Perenara (c) (Santiago Arata 64); Mayco Vivas (Oli Kebble 45), Elliot Dee (Leonel Oviedo 52), D’Arcy Rae (Pedro Delgado 45), Franco Molina, Izack Rodda (Liam McConnell 52), Guido Petti (Sintu Manjezi 74), Lachlan Boshier, Miracle Fai’ilagi.