Castle Rugby Showdown Ends As A Disappointing Sloppy Game

Photo credit: Gallo Images

A lot has been expected from the Castle Lager Rugby Showdown but unfortunately, it ended up in a forwards dominated Springboks trials match. The Green team eventually the winners with 25-9.

The Green team had to absorb a lot of pressure for the first 15 minutes of the game, however, the boot of Jantjies gave the Green Team a 3-0 lead with 25 minutes left of the 1st half. The Green Team definately had the upper hand up front, but unfortunately was not used by the backs as they preferred the kicking option most of the time. The first half a stop-start affair with no cohesion between the players.

The first "try" of the game came as a penalty-try after Damian Willemse held back Yaw Penxe who would have scored a try. This resulted in a yellow card for Willemse and a 13-3 lead for the Green Team.

The dominance of the Green Team's pack of forwards continued and resulted in a maul from which Siya Kolisi scored a try to extend the Green Team's lead to 18-6. During the last 15 minutes, the game did open up but with that, the mistakes increased as well.

The 3rd try of the Green team came after several errors and lucky bounces which Juarno Augustus scored the last points of the game to give the Green team a 25-9 win.

Unfortunately, a game that never got going due to too many errors which resulted in an excess of 20 penalties during the game. More players harmed their chances to get selected, while only one or two players hopefully got the attention of the Springbok coaching staff.

Springbok Green Team: Tries: Penalty-try, Siya Kolisi, Juarno Augustus. Conversion: Kade Wolhuter. Penalties: Elton Jantjies (2)
Springbok Gold Team: Penalties: Damian Willemse, Curwin Bosch (2).

Springbok Green Team: 15. Gianni Lombard, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. Malcolm Jaer, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Sanele Nohamba, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Arno Botha, 6. Siya Kolisi (C), 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. JD Schickerling, 3. Luan de Bruin, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Ox Nche. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Kenzo Blose, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. JJ vd Mescht, 20. Juarno Augustus, 21. Junior Pokomela, 22. EAmbrose Papier, 23. Manie Libbok, 24. Jeremy Ward, 25. Kade Wolhuter.

Springbok Gold Team: 15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Rosko Specman, 13. Lukhanyo Am (C), 12. Rikus Pretorius, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Damian Willemse, 9. Herschel Jantjies, 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7. Nizaam Carr, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Salmaan Moerat, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16. Dylan Richardson, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Jason Jenkins, 20. James Venter, 21. Vincent Tshituka, 22. Ivan van Zyl, 23. Curwin Bosch, 24. Werner Kok, 25. Manual Rass.

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