BAA-BAA KOS

THE Springboks warmed up the Kaap after klapping the Barbarians 54-7 in their Qatar Airways Cup clash at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

On a cold and wet evening, coach Rassie Erasmus’ Boks had too much heat for a star-studded BaaBaas team who never really threatened a suinige Bok defence.

The Boks struck early with Malcolm Marx driving over from a powerful lineout maul to lead 5-0 after five minutes.

Four minutes later, Kaapse hero Cheslin Kolbe got in on the scoring action as he dotted down in the right-hand corner to stretch the lead to 12-0 after flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted.

However, a short burst of rain made handling the ball very difficult as the Boks fumbled a few more opportunities before rookie Vincent Tshituka marked his first opportunity in green and gold – albeit not an official Test match – by scoring South Africa’s third five-pointer as the home span hit the sheds with a 19-0 lead.

The slippery conditions did not dampen the Boks’ determination to try and play an attacking style of rugby as Erasmus pulled the trigger by bringing on his entire bench, springing a surprise as centre Andre Esterhuizen got swapped in at loose forward.

The changes made an almost immediate impact as replacement prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored SA’s fourth try (26-0).

Left wing Kurt-Lee Arendse then got in on the action (33-0) before Lood de Jager marked his return to Bok rugby, after a two-year absence, with his team’s try (40-0). 

Tshituka then scored his second to put the Boks 47-0 up with replacement

flyhalf Manie Libbok hitting it perfectly off the kicking tee, before the BaaBaas finally awoke from their slumber as Melvyn Jaminet scored and converted their only try.

The Bokke made sure they had the last laugh as Damian de Allende scored their eight five-pointer with no time left on the clock.