Saracens 24 SA 23
17 Nov 2009
Keo.co.za brought you live commentary from the midweek clash at Wembley Stadium.
80 mins: Saracens work down the clock as they run the ball through the forwards to cap off a great comeback. Hougaard stands in the pocket and kicks the ball into the stands. The home team celebrates as the disappointment is clear on the South African players’ faces. South Africa lose their third successive European tour match. Saracens win 24-23!
75 mins: Hougaard’s persistence with kicking a drop goal pays off as he finally slots his fifth attempt and Saracens get a one-point lead with five minutes remaining. 24-23 to Saracens!
70 mins: South Africa make a host of changes at a crucial stage of the match. One wonders if this is a wise decision, considering Saracens are within reach.
69 mins: Saracens reduce the deficit to two points as Hougaard converts an easy penalty attempt. 23-21 to South Africa!
62 mins: South Africa try! The Springboks steal a Saracens lineout and gather possession. The ball is then passed out wide for the counter-attack, and Nokwe runs in at the corner for his second after good interplay between the back three. Pienaar misses the conversion but South Africa regain the lead. 23-18 to South Africa!
61 mins: Saracens win a penalty as they out-scrum the South African pack. However, Hougaard continues his average performance with the boot as he misses target. This could prove costly.
60 mins: The next quarter will be a big test for South Africa’s character as momentum is clearly with the Saracens.
59 mins: Hougaard kicks his third ambitious drop goal attempt, but the fans boo as the pivot fails to clear the cross-bar again.
54 mins: Saracens try! After a marginal call from the referee, the home side is awarded a scrum close to South Africa’s try line. Inside centre Brad Barritt gets the ball at first receiver and runs through the dismal South African defence for his side’s second try. Hougaard kicks the extras. The score is level, 18-all!
46 mins: Saracens try! Replacement No 9 Francois Hougaard’s kick from the scrum is charged down by Ernst Joubert. The No 8 then dives on the loose ball for the first points in the second stanza. 18-11 to South Africa!
42 mins: Hougaard takes an early drop goal attempt, but his kick goes wide.
Half-time: Saracens 6 South Africa 18
39 mins: Saracens are awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Hougaard kicks the three points and the referee blows the whistle for the end of the first half. 18-6 to South Africa!
38 mins: South Africa try! After a good up and under from Earl Rose, Ashley Johnson contests well and Saracens fullback Michael Horak fails to claim possession. Jongi Nokwe then gathers the loose ball and touches down under the posts. Pienaar adds the extras to extend the lead to 15. 18-3 to South Africa!
33 mins: Although a solid performance thus far, South Africa are struggling to hold their own in the scrums.
29 mins: South Africa try! South Africa build good momentum into Saracens’ 22. The ball is passed through the hands and De Jongh shows good strength to break through three defenders for the opening try. 11-3 to South Africa!
18 mins: South Africa rule the lineouts as the home side struggle to win their own throw.
17 mins: Saracens are penalised and Pienaar gives South Africa the lead. 6-3 to South Africa!
15 mins: Some impressive and aggressive South African defence swings momentum to the visitors’ favour.
11 mins: Wian du Preez makes an early appearance off the bench as he replaces the injured Van der Linde.
10 mins: Heini Adams and CJ van der Linde are already receiving medical attention, and Juan de Jongh and Adriaan Strauss take big hits, this is proving to be an intensely physical encounter.
3 mins: After the restart, Neil de Kock kicks a poor clearance and his team-mates are adjudged to be offside. Ruan Pienaar slots the penalty and levels the score. Score is level 3-all!
1 min: Derick Hougaard kicks off and South Africa claim the ball cleanly. The visitors decide to run and Jean Deysel sets up the breakdown, but the flank is penalised for holding on. Hougaard gives Saracens the early lead. 3-0 to Saracens!
Saracens – 15 Michael Horak, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Melck, 6 Wikus van Heerden (c), 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Richard Skuse, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 Rhys Gill.
Subs: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 George Kruis, 19 Andy Saull, 20 Kevin Barrett, 21 Alex Goode, 22 Rodd Penney.
South Africa – 15 Earl Rose, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Dewald Potgieter (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Alistair Hargreaves, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.
588 Comments
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17 Nov 2009, 22:26 pm
hougaars misses penalty 53m out. ball lands just over 22.
17 Nov 2009, 22:27 pm
#72 Koos van der merwe:
Come on Earl. That’s four good games in a row now.
Keep the commentary coming guys.
17 Nov 2009, 22:27 pm
#95 TaffyIX: Yeehah, where is Grant10?
17 Nov 2009, 22:27 pm
Heynekes world class 10, is having a shocker.
17 Nov 2009, 22:27 pm
big hit olivier(hougaard het gekak)
17 Nov 2009, 22:27 pm
It is amazing that with today’s technology there are still parts of the world where we can’t see or hear anything about this game
17 Nov 2009, 22:28 pm
the entire difference is this back line are working not getting stifled by two doos kickers behind the scrum. The distribution by Adams 100 times better than Fdp, and Pienaar getting the back line moving. De jongh is the best center in the country no doubt about it. Get rid of the doose before we go all the way down the drain.
17 Nov 2009, 22:28 pm
meisiekind MONSTERS leifling with a tackle of note!
17 Nov 2009, 22:28 pm
“Although a solid performance thus far, South Africa are struggling to hold their own in the scrums.”
Please explain what this means
17 Nov 2009, 22:29 pm
#105 sglazer: It has more to do with greedy lawyers than the tech.
17 Nov 2009, 22:29 pm
adams is beseer
17 Nov 2009, 22:29 pm
#107 skopskiet: Oh shut up now.
17 Nov 2009, 22:30 pm
go on young doose, jan pierewiet and all!
sounds like even earl is mixing it up.
jake rated earl and the maestro must know something.
god help us.
17 Nov 2009, 22:30 pm
Penalty Pienaar. Missed.
17 Nov 2009, 22:30 pm
Ruan misses penalty from left touchline on 22
17 Nov 2009, 22:30 pm
#108 sglazer:
It’s not our strongest set-piece. We are looking good in the lineouts, we seem to have parity at the breakdown, but Sarries seem to be edging the scrums slightly.
17 Nov 2009, 22:30 pm
Olivier needs to start against Ireland, another massive hit.. that guy won’t miss a tackle, just like in the S14
17 Nov 2009, 22:30 pm
het iemand ‘n link waar ek die game op die net kan kyk
17 Nov 2009, 22:30 pm
nokwe under the sticks
17 Nov 2009, 22:30 pm
Try Nokwe.
17 Nov 2009, 22:31 pm
nokwe scores! Earl is having a blinder so far!
17 Nov 2009, 22:31 pm
Johnson to start along with rose on saturday
17 Nov 2009, 22:31 pm
Try Nokwe! A bit lucky.
17 Nov 2009, 22:31 pm
typical SA try. Johnson puts pressure on receiver of up and under. Nokwe cleans up.
17 Nov 2009, 22:32 pm
Johnson’s abrasive, as last time – ooh, lucky there, looks like the ball came off his fingertips!
17 Nov 2009, 22:32 pm
#115 WP Till I Die:
Thank you
17 Nov 2009, 22:32 pm
SA 18 – Saracens 3
17 Nov 2009, 22:32 pm
#116 Pirlet BEL:
right on
#118 jamisz:
yes!!
17 Nov 2009, 22:32 pm
go to www . justin . tv
17 Nov 2009, 22:32 pm
#33 ddrek:
where is ‘here’ then ?
actually coverage was on Sky in UK all along.
Boks just scored a well-dodgy try to Nokwe, off a massive knock-on by Magic Johnson. SA 18-3.
17 Nov 2009, 22:32 pm
Deysel is cleaning out rucks like a f*cking tank. That guy needs to replace Burger, he’s better than him in all compartments
17 Nov 2009, 22:33 pm
take a good look at what a springbok back line is supposed to look like not those stuck in the mud flat footed skop en trek palooka’s. Only problem with Pienaar is his place kicking otherwise he is 100 times better Fh than M. Steyn.
M. Steyn should go to full back let this team get its proper running heritage back again. And get a proper scrum half that can distribute the ball out not another fly half playing at 9 like Fdp.
17 Nov 2009, 22:33 pm
hougaard kicks pen. Halftime 18-6
17 Nov 2009, 22:33 pm
SA 18 – Saracens 6. Half time.
17 Nov 2009, 22:34 pm
#131 skopskiet: still singing the same old tune sheesh you’ve said it about a hundred times already give it a rest
17 Nov 2009, 22:35 pm
#131 Pirlet BEL: Yeah, yeah. For sure. Only Bakkies clears better than that guy.
17 Nov 2009, 22:36 pm
#130 Pirlet BEL: But how about in departments? Is he better in those too?
17 Nov 2009, 22:36 pm
Of course our scrum will struggle.
A loose head playing at 3.
Bekker packing behind the no3 (admittedly not through choice, but through a late withdrawel by Rossouw)
To be fair, we need to pick players who consistently play tighthead, not other positions and make shift.
Pienaar is only playing as well as what his forwards allow him to play. He was mediocre against Leicester as his forwards were losing the close quarter contact situations, however, Deysel is making the world of difference, and the Bok forwards have a little more mongrel than before.
17 Nov 2009, 22:36 pm
#130 Pirlet BEL:
Sharks supporter?
17 Nov 2009, 22:36 pm
Hi David, Lynn here. How you?
17 Nov 2009, 22:36 pm
we need to get physical @ the breakdown! Pdv was right these sarries cats haven’t come here for tiddlywinks!!!
17 Nov 2009, 22:37 pm
#131 skopskiet: Dude, they’re playing against a depleted Saracens, not France. Do you understand the difference? Sigh. Thought not.
17 Nov 2009, 22:37 pm
#131 skopskiet:
so you want to replace the best scrum half in the world, cos the Bokke are looking good against a Saranens B team?
17 Nov 2009, 22:38 pm
I thought I front row was supposed to be better with the Freestate boys and CJ VDL??? We are taking kak again form nobody´s
17 Nov 2009, 22:38 pm
Hargreaves needs some vleis on his frame…
17 Nov 2009, 22:38 pm
#138, no, I’m a bulls supporter, but anyone can see that Burger is past it.
17 Nov 2009, 22:39 pm
I am sorry but I am not impressed still! The tight five are swak!
17 Nov 2009, 22:39 pm
#142 cab:
Very succinct, as always
17 Nov 2009, 22:40 pm
At the game lads, we looking better but adams looks like he is struggling and johnson suddenly thinks he is invincible!!! Good crowd plenty saffas can’t work out who they supporting in this currie cup game!!!!
17 Nov 2009, 22:40 pm
#143, I don’t know about the scrumming but these free state boys are cleaning out rucks PROPERLY. Not staying in the backline like show poneys. If the boks have been able to play with so much ball it’s thanks to them.
Against France, Van der Linde, Smit and the Beast were nowhere. But that must partly be due to fatigue because they’re not that bad usually…
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