DURBAN, June 16 (ANA) – Johan Ackermann’s South Africa A side ran out deserving 36-28 winners over the French Barbarians in an international friendly on Friday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
The match delivered typical barbarian-type rugby although the teams lost their way in the second half when far fewer points were scored.
Defence it seemed, was very much secondary to the cause as the first half progressed at just over a point a minute, resulting in 43 points in the opening 40 minutes when seven tries were scored.
South Africa A had a slender 22-21 halftime lead after their flyhalf Lionel Cronje, usually a reliable placekicker uncharacteristically missed three conversions.
Fullback Lwazi Mvovo, leftwing Makazole Mapimpi, No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe and inside centre Harold Vorster ran in to score SA A’s tries, and Cronje managed only one conversion for a first-half 22-point haul.
The French who opened the scoring after early pressure scored first-half tries through Yann Lesgourgues, Frédéric Michalak and Anthony Belleau. Michalak converted all three.
The start of the second half was a stop-and-go affair and both teams took some time to hit the ground running but when they did, tries followed at 10-minute intervals, starting in the 55th-minute touchdown from Belleau (he’s second in the match) for the French. Michalak managed the conversion.
Later, Mvovo (67th) and Vorster (76th) both breached the French defence to snatch further tries and this time, both were converted by Cronje and substitute Fred Zeilinga (36-28).
Scorers, South Africa A 36 (22): Tries: Lwazi Mvovo (2), Makazole Mapimpi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Harold Vorster (2), Conversions: Lionel Cronje (2), Fred Zeilinga
Barbarians Français 28 (21): Tries: Yann Lesgourgues, Frédéric Michalak, Anthony Belleau (2). Conversions: Frédéric Michalak (4) – African News Agency (ANA)
