Kolbe star goal kicker as Springboks put 80 past Barbarians / Photo: © AFP/File
Kolbe star goal kicker as Springboks put 80 past Barbarians
Renowned try scorer Cheslin Kolbe kicked 18 points as South Africa beat the Barbarians 80-31 in a season-opening exhibition match in Gqeberha on Saturday.
The Springboks, who led 40-24 at half-time, notched 12 tries, nine of which were converted by Kolbe, who was also among the try scorers.
His touchdown came when acting as scrum-half in place of yellow-carded Grant Williams, and he took on the goal-kicking duties in the absence of the regular fly-halves.
Star playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is injured, Handre Pollard was part of the Bulls team beaten by Leinster on Friday in the United Rugby Championship final, and Manie Libbok was rested.
In the absence of the trio, utility back Quan Horn filled the fly-half role, but the challenge of converting tries fell to 32-year-old Kolbe.
He has kicked at goal in the past for South Africa as an emergency stand-in, and starred in Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with his successful conversions including several from the touchline.
Winger Edwill van der Merwe was another star for the record four-time Rugby World Cup winners, claiming three tries and having another disallowed because of foul play in the build-up.
Although both teams adopted the tradition of running rugby in matches involving the invitational Barbarians sides, the match at times had the competitiveness of a Test.
South Africa had Williams and full-back Aphelele Fassi yellow-carded and three Baabaas, captain and scrum-half TJ Perenara, No. 8 Miracle Fai'ilagi and hooker Elliot Dee were also sin-binned.
It was a non-cap match of three phases with the Springboks opening a 35-7 lead before the Barbarians took control, scoring three tries to reduce to deficit to 14 points by the break.
South Africa dominated the second half and the tiring BaaBaas conceded three tries in the final six minutes with centres Jesse Kriel and Andre Esterhuizen among the scorers.
Van der Merwe (three), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Riley Norton, Kolbe, JJ Kotze, Faf de Klerk, Kriel, Esterhuizen and Zachary Porthen scores tries for the Springboks.
Kolbe succeeded nine times from 11 conversion attempts before passing the duty to uncapped fly-half substitute Vusi Moyo, who closed the scoring with a successful conversion.
Virimi Vakatawa, Franco Molina, Andrew Kellaway (two) and Perenara crossed the tryline for the Barbarians and Tomas Albornoz slotted three conversions.
The match served as a warm-up for South Africa before home Tests in the inaugural Nations Championship against England, Scotland and Wales during July.
R.Clark--VC
