Swiel kicks SA Schools to victory
21 Aug 2011
SA Schools beat France U18 21-14 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
The game was marred by dangerous play, with French eighthman Clement Ancley and substitute Louis Durbesson being red-carded in the second half for stamping on the heads of winger Siyabonga Tom and scrumhalf Kurshwill Williams respectively. Lock Alban Placines was sent to the sin-bin in the first half for a similar offence.
The visitors were dominant in the early stages of the match, using their physique to impose themselves on the SA forwards. However, it was the hosts who took the lead when flyhalf Tim Swiel slotted three penalties in the first 15 minutes.
France U18′s handling errors and offside play broke their momentum and allowed South Africa to take charge.
Turnover ball and good interplay between Swiel and Williams put flanker Thabo Mabuza away for the first try of the game and SA Schools led 16-0 at half-time.
Winger JP Lewis stretched the hosts’ led when he dotted down shortly after the restart.
The visitors tried to play their way back into the game but a crucial tackle by hooker Eugene Le Maitre on the line kept them out. France U18 finally crossed the line through outside centre Thilbout Regard and scored again through winger Gabriel Lacroix.
By Soyiso Malitli
One Comment
22 Aug 2011, 14:12 pm
When the South African half backs went off after 45 minutes the game took on a different direction.
I was so impressed with Timothy Swiel at fly half that i would go as far as to say that if you are good enough you are old enough.
James Oconnor represented his country at 18 and there were a few further stars in a well balanced SA squad.
Unfortunately the referee failed to penalise the french scrum half who consistently was off side thereby slowing down the ball for the dangerous sa backs.
And the sending off the 2 french forwards was a little bit over the top.
All in all a lovely display by the SA under 18 schools side .
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