The Springboks made their first appearance in the test arena after an absence of 608 days. They faced the national team of Georgia and after seeing off the Georgians initial forward onslaught, won with relative ease (40-09).
The Springboks started the test struggling in the scrums with their attack lacking rhythm. As the game continued, the Springboks launched several attacks from their dominant lineouts. The Springboks led 19-09 at the end of the first half, however, their ill-discipline still a concern.
In the second half, the Springboks dominated proceedings with relative ease on the back of their dominant forwards. A great first performance, however, a lot of work still to be done before the tests against the B&I Lions.
02: 45 A nervous start by the Springboks saw them conceding a scrum in their own 22m. A penalty against the Springboks' scrum allowed Tedo Abzhandadze to convert, (00-03).
04:29 Aphele Fassi showed his pace when he scored the Springboks first try of the match, (05-03).
18:18 Tedo Abzhandadze converted his second penalty to give the lead back to Georgia, (05-06).
20:00 As expected the passion and commitment of Georgia are keeping them in the game up front. Georgia's scrum earning themselves several penalties from which they either attacked or kicked for territory.
24:58 Several penalties against the Springboks allowed Georgia to keep the scoreboard ticking. Tedo Abzhandadze converted his third penalty, (05-09).
34:05 After several penalties conceded by Georgia in their red zone Georgia received a yellow card.
34:42 Bongi Mbonambi score the Springboks second try from the back of a 5m lineout maul. The Springboks rewarded after camping for several minutes in Georgia's red zone, (12-09).
36:57 Cobus Reinach scored the Springboks third try after they started their attack from within their own 22m. Georgia paying the price with only 14 men on the field, (19-09).
40:00 Georgia managed to hang on until the Springboks found their rhythm on the attack. The speed of play by the Springboks on the attack proved too much for Georgia's defence.
53:41 With Malherbe, Marx and Kitshoff on the field Kwagga Smith scored a try off the back of a dominant Springbok scrum, (26-09).
58:05 A reward for the good work done by the Springbok's forwards saw Herschel Jantjies go over for the Springboks 5th try, (33-09).
60:00 The Springboks at this stage in complete control.
67:54 Malcolm Marx scored a try from the back of a 5m lineout maul. The Springboks' pack of forwards dominant at that stage, (40-09).
Scorers:
Georgia: Penalties: Tedo Abzhandadze (3).
Springboks: Tries: Aphelele Fassi, Bongi Mbonambi, Cobus Reinach, Kwagga Smith, Herschel Jantjies, Malcolm Marx. Conversions: Handré Pollard (4), Elton Jantjies.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Albertus Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché. Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damian Willemse.
Georgia: 15 Davit Niniashvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (captain), 11 Demur Tapladze, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhaidze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Ilia Spanderashvili, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Gigauri Davit, 3 Giorgi Melikidze, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Guram Gogichashvili. Replacements: 16 Giorgi Chkoidze, 17 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 18 Luka Japaridze, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Giorgi Javakhia, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Giorgi Babunashvili, 23 Irakli Tskhadadze.