Boks win uninspiring match

Windhoek - The South African XV beat a Namibian Invitation XV 36-7 in a practice match at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Friday night.

The first half was scrappy, with the SA XV in command, but too many handling errors and over-zealous kicking by the Namibian XV spoilt what the 12 000 crowd had hoped would be a spectacle.

The SA XV were 8-7 ahead at the break, scoring just a single try by Odwa Ndungane in the 13th minute after an attack from near their own line.

The home side's captain, prop Kees Lensing, scored from a wide lineout ball and former Bulls and Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard brought his side to within a point after Peter Grant had kicked an earlier penalty to add to Ndungane's try.

It was Ndungane again who broke what threatened to become a stranglehold as the home team launched an early second-half onslaught with Ryan Kankowski sprinting 50-metres to help set up the try for his Sharks teammate.

Thereafter the visiting shadow Boks took control and ran in another three tries without reply for a comprehensive but somewhat frustrating win, although the second half provided better rugby than the first.

As expected, the match did little to provide Springbok coach Peter de Villiers with any answers ahead of the Tests against the British and Irish Lions and in truth he must have been a little frustrated by some sloppy play.

Scorers:

SA XV: Tries: Odwa Ndungane (2), Juan Smith, Johann Muller, Jean de Villiers. Conversions: Peter Grant, Earl Rose (3). Penalty: Grant.

Namibia XV: Try: Kees Lensing. Conversion: Derick Hougaard.