Roses flattened by Boks

BLOEMFONTEIN – South Africa kicked off their international season with a crushing 58-10 win over World Cup champions England here at Vodacom Park on Saturday.

The hosts, who ran in seven tries in the 80 minutes, led 30-3 at halftime. England, minus up to 30 of their leading players who are either injured or were involved in last weekend’s European Cup final, were no match for the South Africans.The visitors’ preparations were further hampered by a stomach virus which downed several of the team’s players in the days leading up to the game.Exciting young wing David Strettle was ruled out on Thursday and then before kickoff centre Andy Farrell and scrumhalf Pete Richards.Prop Nick Wood could also not take the field after injuring his shoulder in the captain’s run on Friday.The English lost several other players during the game, something which will further disrupt preparations for the second Test at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday.The Boks got the upperhand at the halfway mark of the first period and never let up.Bok skipper John Smit was pleased his side managed to put 50 points on the defending world champions.”We had only five days to prepare so it was a fantastic start for us,” said Smit.”There’s a long way to go this year, but we’ll be taking it week by week.”Springbok coach Jake White admitted he hadn’t known what to expect against an England team missing several key players, who are unknown to the home side.”There was so much expectation for the fans after the success in the Super 14 and I didn’t really know what to expect going into this game,” he said.”We probably relaxed a little after halftime.We haven’t found ourselves in a position like that against one of the stronger nations in a long time (30-3 up), but I was really happy with the finish.”The Boks ran in four tries in the final 10 minutes, two of them coming from replacements Frans Steyn and CJ van der Linde.Winger Ashwin Willemse was first to cross the dotted line on 24 minutes and then two minutes later it was the turn of Bryan Habana who ran all of 80 metres to score after picking up a loose pass by England flank Chris Jones.Jonny Wilkinson got his team on the board on the half hour with a penalty goal, but a further three points via Montgomery’s boot and a late try in the half by Jean de Villiers, who beat no fewer than four England defenders while on his run from deep inside the Boks’ half, ensured the home side a comfortable 30-3 lead at the break.Schalk Burger, Frans Steyn, Habana and CJ van der Linde all crossed for tries in the final 10 minutes.Montgomery converted all seven tries the Boks scored to ensure the home side kicked off their season in emphatic style.Nampa-AFPEngland, minus up to 30 of their leading players who are either injured or were involved in last weekend’s European Cup final, were no match for the South Africans.The visitors’ preparations were further hampered by a stomach virus which downed several of the team’s players in the days leading up to the game.Exciting young wing David Strettle was ruled out on Thursday and then before kickoff centre Andy Farrell and scrumhalf Pete Richards.Prop Nick Wood could also not take the field after injuring his shoulder in the captain’s run on Friday.The English lost several other players during the game, something which will further disrupt preparations for the second Test at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday.The Boks got the upperhand at the halfway mark of the first period and never let up.Bok skipper John Smit was pleased his side managed to put 50 points on the defending world champions.”We had only five days to prepare so it was a fantastic start for us,” said Smit.”There’s a long way to go this year, but we’ll be taking it week by week.”Springbok coach Jake White admitted he hadn’t known what to expect against an England team missing several key players, who are unknown to the home side.”There was so much expectation for the fans after the success in the Super 14 and I didn’t really know what to expect going into this game,” he said.”We probably relaxed a little after halftime.We haven’t found ourselves in a position like that against one of the stronger nations in a long time (30-3 up), but I was really happy with the finish.”The Boks ran in four tries in the final 10 minutes, two of them coming from replacements Frans Steyn and CJ van der Linde.Winger Ashwin Willemse was first to cross the dotted line on 24 minutes and then two minutes later it was the turn of Bryan Habana who ran all of 80 metres to score after picking up a loose pass by England flank Chris Jones.Jonny Wilkinson got his team on the board on the half hour with a penalty goal, but a further three points via Montgomery’s boot and a late try in the half by Jean de Villiers, who beat no fewer than four England defenders while on his run from deep inside the Boks’ half, ensured the home side a comfortable 30-3 lead at the break.Schalk Burger, Frans Steyn, Habana and CJ van der Linde all crossed for tries in the final 10 minutes.Montgomery converted all seven tries the Boks scored to ensure the home side kicked off their season in emphatic style.Nampa-AFP