South Africa sputter to win over Taranaki

NEW PLYMOUTH, New Zealand (AFP): Touring South Africa defeated Taranaki here yesterday 16-12, but it was a less than impressive effort.

Only the fullbacks scored any points: Theo van Rensburg for South Africa and Kieran Crowley for Taranaki.

Coming off their first test defeat last Saturday, the Springboks had been looking to show an improvement, especially in the area of discipline.

But here, in a game played with a strong wind beneath snow capped Mount Taranaki, South Africa continued to infringe at an impressive rate, having 19 penalties against the New Zealanders while winning only nine off the local side.

Taranaki, a first division side, began with a rush, knocking South Africa back.

But it was unable to turn it into points and the Springboks showed a quick recovery when Joost van der Westhuizen made a strong 60-meter run through Taranaki defence, only to be let down by a bad pass.

Early points came from a penalty in the sixth minute which South Africa's Theo van Rensburg turned into points. Two minutes later he made a hash of an easier penalty.

Like the French before the Springboks found themselves being heavily penalized for not retreating 10 meters on a penalty, and in the 14th minute Taranaki's veteran fullback Kieran Crowley took points to tie up the match.

South Africa had a big scrum advantage, 876 kilograms to Taranaki's 826 kg, and it was instrumental when halfback van der Westhuizen was put into the clear and he passed to van Rensburg for an almost unchallenged run for the first try.

At halftime South Africa had an unconvincing 10-3 lead. Taranaki had missed four relatively simple penalties.

In the first seven minutes of the second half Taranaki put over two penalties. The first came with a simple penalty following yet another case of Springbok failure to back off after an earlier penalty.