English club champion Leicester stunned Rugby World Cup holder South Africa 22-17 at Welford Road on Friday.
Leicester, playing without six England internationals and nine first-choice players through injury, rallied from an early 8-0 deficit to lead 16-11 by halftime. Scrumhalf Ben Youngs added two
more penalties in a 17-point haul to make it 22-11, then limited the Springboks to just two penalties in the last 15 minutes of their European rugby tour opener.
The hosts repulsed a sustained Springboks rally inside their 22 in the last minutes, finally forcing a knock-on by winger Odwa Ndungane to seal one of rugby’s greatest upsets.
Ndungane was one of eight players who were part of the champion Tri-Nations team, but they ran into a defence inspired by a record home crowd, a sell-out 24 000 with the opening of a new stand.
Ruan Pienaar’s first of four penalties was added to soon after when his grubber kick into the left corner was pounced on by winger Jongi Nokwe for 8-0.
After a Youngs penalty in reply, winger Johne Murphy began a Leicester counterattack in his half, and midfield prospect Manu Tuilagi fed winger Lucas Amorosino to finish off between the posts.
Youngs’ conversion put Leicester up 10-8, and in front for good.
With the home pack in charge against a Springboks Test front five, Youngs booted over two more shots at the posts, while Pienaar finished the entertaining half with a penalty.
Two more penalties earned by the Leicester scrum were converted by Youngs for 22-11.
Pienaar didn’t have another penalty attempt until there were 15 minutes left, making it, then hitting the post with another shot soon after. The Boks flyhalf kicked another penalty to close the gap to five, but that was all Leicester was prepared to concede as the defence stepped up.
After the Springboks play France next week, they return to England to meet Premiership leader Saracens, then face Italy and Ireland. – Sapa-AP