BILL BARCLAY, Edinburgh | Sunday 7.55pm.
HOLDERS South Africa survived a mighty scare on Sunday as they overturned a half-time deficit to beat Scotland 46-29 in their opening Group A match of the tournament at Murrayfield.
Scotland led 16-13 at the interval but five second-half tries, helped by some unforced Scottish errors, ensured the Springboks made a winning start to the defence of their crown.
Scotland haven’t beaten the Springboks since 1969 and had conceded 147 points in their last three matches against them at Murrayfield.
But the home side started in sprightly fashion and two Kenny Logan penalties, either side of one from South African fly-half Jannie de Beer – in for the injured Henry Honiball – gave the home side a 6-3 lead after 20 minutes.
Captain Joost van der Westhuizen’s dummy allowed Bobby Skinstad sent Brendan Venter charging down the blind side and over in the corner.
De Beer duly converted and soon after added another penalty to make it 13-6.
Logan replied in kind for 13-9 and that was the cue for Scotland to go for the jugular.
Twice they were denied by fierce Springbok defence and the New Zealander Martin Leslie drove over off the back of a ruck to sent Murrayfield wild, Logan’s coversion making it 16-13 at half-time.
Logan converted to put Scotland on course for a major shock with the losers likely to face New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
But disaster struck for Scotland at the start of the second half.
Fly-half Townsend fatally failed to find his touch and several attempts at pushing over South Africa span the ball out to Deon Kayser.
Kayser fed centre Robbie Fleck who showed superb pace before diving in at the corner.
Townsend then showed the other side of his game, chipping through for John Leslie who charged towards the posts only for Kayser to make an oustanding try-saving tackle.
A storming passage of play followed which finally yield penalty and Logan swerved the ball over to put Scotland 19-18 ahead.
Townsend sliced another kick after 59 minutes and South Africa made them pay as replacement Ollie le Roux powered through the Scottish defence.
De Beer converted and almost from the re-start South Africa scored again.
Townsend’s high pass was missed by Scott Murray and Kayser pounced, sprinting 40 metres to dive triumphantly under the posts.
De Beer added the extras and South Africa were suddenly 32-19 ahead and in control.
Late on Townsend slipped in Alan Tait for a consolation effort and also hit a drop goal, but further Springbok tries by Andre Venter and Van der Westhuizen sealed South Africa’s victory. –AFP
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