Rugby Jaguars beaten in first test at Pretoria

Press, 22 October 1984, Page 18

Rugby Jaguars beaten in first test at Pretoria

NZPA-Reuter Pretoria The South African Springboks’ powerful forwards paved the way for a 32-15 victory against the touring South American Jaguars in the first rugby union test at Pretoria on Saturday.

Two tries within five minutes gave the Jaguars a 12-10 lead at half-time, but the Springboks piled on the pressure in the second half for a widely-predicted victory. The Springboks had included several young players with an eye to a visit by the All Blacks next year but were left with several problems unsolved,

notably in the front row. The tearaway flanker, Rob Louw, opened the scoring for the Springboks with a try in the twelve minute after a storming run by one of the new recruits, Nick Mallet, at No. 8. Ten minutes later Danie Gerber added a second try, collecting a kick ahead by Errol Tobias. Gerber converted his own try but missed the other conversion and two penalties and was replaced as goal kicker in the second half by Tobias. After 29 minutes the veteran Jaguar captain, Hugo

Porta, placed an angled kick perfectly for his left wing, Jose-Maria Palma, to score in the corner, Porta adding the conversion. Minutes later the flanker, Riccardo De Vedia, scored from his own kick ahead with not a Springbok in sight Porta converted again. The sun came out from behind low cloud for the first time in the match as Tobias, in front of a crowd of 35,000, landed two difficult kicks from near the touch line in the space of four minutes early in the second half. The first converted a try

by the Springbok captain,« Divan Serfontein, who took* an inside pass from his* flanker, Kulu Ferreira, and“ the second was a penalty. Sharp handling by Tobias » gave the Springboks their “ next try, scored by the® fullback, Johan Heunis, and “ stretched the lead to 23-12. « Porta scored the Jaguars’ ” last points with a penalty 23 7 minutes into the second * half. A stunning try in the .7 last minutes by Mallet, plus ’■ the conversion and another -7 Tobias penalty completed * the scoring. The second and final test is next Saturday in Cape, Town.