Springboks stumble to 18-3 win

GALWAY – South Africa laboured to beat Irish province Connacht 18-3 on Tuesday in a lackluster performance that questioned the Springboks’ depth less than three weeks from their rugby World Cup opener.

The Boks made 11 changes from the first-choice side which crushed World Cup-bound Namibia 105-13 last week, but the World Cup title contender could lead only 3-0 by halftime and score two tries against a Connacht side debuting three players in its first match since May. Moreover, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, who made the South Africa squad after Pierre Spies was ruled out injured, was yellow-carded for punching.Let’s win it for the vets SYDNEY – Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock said his players are fired up for the World Cup by the desire to bring the trophy home for retiring veterans George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.Both will play their final Tests for Australia in France.Former captain Gregan, 34, has played more than 130 Tests for the Wallabies while Larkham, 33, was responsible for the drop goal that got them into the 1999 World Cup final at the expense of South Africa.”The whole squad are totally looking forward to the challenge and hopefully sending off George Gregan and Stephen Larkham in fitting style,” Mortlock said at an official farewell for the squad in Sydney.England can rise to challenge LONDON – Elite rugby director Rob Andrew admits England have a lot of catching up to do if they are to mount a credible World Cup defence.England have lost 15 of their last 16 away matches and now have just three weeks to turn things around after their recent back-to-back Test defeats to World Cup hosts France.But Andrew, the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) director of elite rugby, remains confident that Saturday’s 22-9 defeat in Marseille is not a true reflection of what is to come at the World Cup.”You need to look at England in the context of what has happened in the last 12 months – the coaching changes that have taken place, the issues we had in the Six Nations and surrounding the South Africa tour,” said Andrew.Maso says it’s a life ban for doping MARCOUSSIS – France rugby team manager Jo Maso has affirmed that any of his players caught doping can kiss their international careers goodbye.On Tuesday, the French anti-doping authorities turned their attention to the World Cup hosts, who have been training in buoyant but serious mood here this week following two friendly victories over defending world champions England.Maso however applauded the French Anti-Doping Agency’s (AFLD) decision to carry out random doping controls on 18 of the squad’s players after training.Nampa-AFP, ReutersMoreover, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, who made the South Africa squad after Pierre Spies was ruled out injured, was yellow-carded for punching.Let’s win it for the vets SYDNEY – Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock said his players are fired up for the World Cup by the desire to bring the trophy home for retiring veterans George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.Both will play their final Tests for Australia in France.Former captain Gregan, 34, has played more than 130 Tests for the Wallabies while Larkham, 33, was responsible for the drop goal that got them into the 1999 World Cup final at the expense of South Africa.”The whole squad are totally looking forward to the challenge and hopefully sending off George Gregan and Stephen Larkham in fitting style,” Mortlock said at an official farewell for the squad in Sydney.England can rise to challenge LONDON – Elite rugby director Rob Andrew admits England have a lot of catching up to do if they are to mount a credible World Cup defence.England have lost 15 of their last 16 away matches and now have just three weeks to turn things around after their recent back-to-back Test defeats to World Cup hosts France.But Andrew, the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) director of elite rugby, remains confident that Saturday’s 22-9 defeat in Marseille is not a true reflection of what is to come at the World Cup.”You need to look at England in the context of what has happened in the last 12 months – the coaching changes that have taken place, the issues we had in the Six Nations and surrounding the South Africa tour,” said Andrew.Maso says it’s a life ban for doping MARCOUSSIS – France rugby team manager Jo Maso has affirmed that any of his players caught doping can kiss their international careers goodbye.On Tuesday, the French anti-doping authorities turned their attention to the World Cup hosts, who have been training in buoyant but serious mood here this week following two friendly victories over defending world champions England.Maso however applauded the French Anti-Doping Agency’s (AFLD) decision to carry out random doping controls on 18 of the squad’s players after training.Nampa-AFP, Reuters