Springboks hold on after impressive first half

SOUTH Africa's match-winner, James Small described the first half of Saturday's 22-12 victory over France as the best Springbok rugby he has played in.

"The first 40 minutes were the best I've ever played in, including the World Cup final, which was largely defensive," said Small who scored one try and set up the other for full-back Andre Joubert.

Out-half Henry Honiball missed the two conversions but kicked four penalties while right wing Richard Dourthe replied with four goals for the French.

"We didn't let them do anything in the first half, although I accept the fact they are in a transitional stage having lost so many legendary players," Small said.

"I think they badly need another Philippe Sella," he added.

What the French do not need, he said, was the hot-headed Dourthe.

"I've been called a nutter in my time but I've never done some of the things he does. He shouldn't be on a rugby field," Small said.

Springbok lock Kobus Wiese, who had a tremendous game, agreed the first half had been exceptional.

"We attacked throughout the first half just as we wanted to, carrying the ball to the opposition, but for one reason or another we defended our lead after the break. It wasn't a planned thing and it's not something you should do in modern rugby, although we did defend well.

"But we will have to work on that aspect before the next Test when the French will surely come back at us a lot stronger," he added.

Springbok coach, Aridre Markgraal, said they had given away the ball too often in the second half.

"But the swirling wind made kicking very difficult in the second half," he added.

"It was a good win in the conditions, but I think the second Test will be tighter and our discipline must improve," Joubert added.

The Springboks, who had changed half the side that triumphed in the 1995 World Cup final, took command from the fourth minute when Small took a Joost Van de Westhuizen up and under and then repositioned himself on his right wing.

Captain and number eight, Gary Teichman, Honiball and Joubert linked to send Small, the most capped player in the Springboks side, over in the corner.

Small, having a superb game, put Joubert, adjudged man of the match, through for a controversial second Springbok try after 28 minutes with a chip over the French defence into the same right corner.

Joubert had put South Africa within sight of the French line with another monumental kick and the ball was spun through the Springbok backs to Japie Mulder who stayed on his feet when Stephane Glas tackled to feed Small.

However, it became clear from television replays that the ball had slipped from Joubert's grasp as he tried to ground the ball although Irish referee Brian Stirling was unsighted.

Springbok forward dominance was no better illustrated than when they pushed the French-pack back off their line three times. Twice the new French captain, Moroccan-born Abdel Benazzi was stopped a metre from the line, which must have brought back bad memories of the try he missed by l0cm in the 1995 World Cup semi-final in Durban.

"We made lots of handling mistakes, failing to make use of key possession," said French coach, Jean-Claude Skrela, who said he might be making changes for next week's match in Paris.

"They didn't give us any decent ball in the first half when they were very good," he added.

Gary Teichman, who proved a more than adequate replacement for World Cup skipper, Francois Pienaar, said Springbok pride had stopped the French forwards in the second half.

"We just did not want to let them through," he added.

Honiball's kicking out of hand always had the French backpedalling and it was only late in the second half that the French, who made five substitutions, eventually worked up enough steam to put the Springboks under pressure.

But each time Springbok fists were raised in triumph as they stopped the drives and won the put-in from the ensuing scrum.

France's preparations had been disrupted by injuries which forced out both the captain Philippe Saint Andre, who is out till March, and fellow wing Emile Ntamack, both locks Olivier Roumat and Olivier Merle, centre Thomas Castaignede and outside-half Alain Penaud.

France's 29-16 win at the Parc des Princes in 1992 is still their only home win over South Africa.

South Africa, for the first time in their rugby union history, yesterday named the same Test side for the fourth consecutive match for next Saturday's match with France in Paris.

Saturday's team for Bordeaux was the first time since 1967 they had kept to the same side for three consecutive internationals.

The Springboks won their two Tests against Argentina in Buenos Aires last month before coming to France.

"We will try to play the same type of rugby we played in the first half at Bordeaux," said coach Andre Markgraaff. "We don't want to let them play in our half of the field again when we defended our lead in the second half at Bordeaux.

"And we must be more disciplined," he added. "The penally count went 19-2 against us in the second half on Saturday. We were lucky to get away with it."

The Test replacements will be named on Wednesday.