If the Bok power game was the thunderous orchestra that overwhelmed Italy, it was the halfbacks who played the solo parts, adding a colder, more surgical edge in Saturday’s Test in Turin. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu brought his sumptuous skills to the contest, playing with swagger and sass, while Morné van den Berg was a study in precision, clearing the decks with accurate kicking.
And with wings Ethan Hooker and Kurt-Lee Arendse contesting the high balls fearlessly, the Boks were near unstoppable. They haven’t always been this ruthless, but this time they took every chance and buried an understrength Italy with savage intent.
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The flyhalf had room to conduct, playing deeper and fed by a scrumhalf who rarely missed a note.
Van den Berg has been a slow burner in the Bok environment, but his game has come to the boil nicely and he looks utterly comfortable in the white heat of battle. His defence was no sideshow either, as he nipped around like a pesky Jack Russell.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu struck with an audacious try, scampering in from 40m in the first half, and soon added a cheeky flourish with a 50:22.
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It was that kind of day. The Boks barely hit a wrong note, and their extraordinary pressure made it a long, difficult afternoon for the Azzurri.
Just before the hour, Feinberg-Mngomezulu moved to fullback where he was no less influential, shaking off a knock to throw himself about in the usual fashion.
The Bok territory game was on the money, and their maul, such an attacking weapon, ticked over with its usual ferocity. The rush defence was a cornerstone, too, squeezing the life out of the Italian attack, which was left to feed off scraps.
Italy mounted greater resistance in the second half and the Boks, looser and less clinical, simply played out the time with a rash of replacements.
The Torture of Turin may not have been ideal preparation for France next week, but the points haul won’t do the Boks’ points ambitions in the Nations Championship any harm.
Job done.
Photo: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images
The post Bok halfbacks hit the high notes appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
If the Bok power game was the thunderous orchestra that overwhelmed Italy, it was the halfbacks who played the solo parts, adding a colder, more surgical edge in Saturday’s Test in Turin.
The post Bok halfbacks hit the high notes appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
