South Africa A in the end disenchanted as they slipped to a 28-14 defeat towards Munster, however Grant Williams was one in all the most spectacular performers as he got here off the bench and positively modified the circulate of the recreation.
While the SA A facet gave the impression to be missing any actual vitality or rhythm all through the first half, Williams added an actual spark along with his pace to the breakdown and round the fringes as he made just a few sniping breaks.
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Early on, South Africa A confirmed all the hallmarks of a facet that was turning out collectively for the first time, with scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies notably seeming to be off the tempo.
The struggles of Jantjies starkly contrasted with the impression of Williams, who would undoubtedly have caught the consideration of the Springboks coaches.
Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach and Jaden Hendrikse are the three scrumhalves at the moment competing in the Bok squad, however Williams more and more looks as if he may very well be the subsequent in line.
Thursday’s match was the first time in 52 years that Munster had confronted a South Africa touring facet, with a sell-out crowd of 41 400 supporters turning out in full power at the Páirc Uí Chaoimh, making it the largest-ever attendance at a rugby recreation in the province.
During the first half particularly the dwelling crowd actually had tons to rejoice as Munster fronted up bodily and scored three spectacular tries in troublesome wet-weather situations.
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Aphelele Fassi did rating a well-taken attempt to attract the scores stage at 7-7 early on, and though the guests loved ascendancy at scrum-time, it in the end didn’t quantity to a lot as different components of their recreation fell aside.
South Africa A got here into the second stanza on the incorrect facet of a 21-7 scoreboard, and after conceding one other attempt quickly after the restart, the consequence was successfully determined at that time.
A sequence of substitutes then got here on for SA A, and the likes of Williams and Dan du Preez made a right away impression as the South Africans produced their finest interval of play.
Sikhumbuzo Notshe managed to go over for a comfort attempt for the South Africans, however in the end this was a recreation of missed alternatives, which frustratingly mirrored a difficulty that the Springboks have typically encountered this yr.
When it got here to positives for South Africa’s beginning XV, Joseph Dweba regarded extra assured along with his lineout throwing and Ruan Nortje impressed at No 5, whereas Cornal Hendricks grew into the recreation. Unfortunately it was an evening to overlook for halfbacks Jantjies and Johan Goosen.
South Africa A shall be in motion once more subsequent week
The match was the South Africa ‘A’ facet’s first of two on tour with Mzwandile Stick’s males attributable to face Bristol Bears in Bristol on Thursday, 17 November.
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TEAMS
Munster
15 Mike Haley, 14 Shane Daly, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Paddy Patterson 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Kiran McDonald, 4 Edwin Edogbo, 3.Roman Salanoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Liam O’Connor, 18 Keynan Knox, 19 Cian Hurley, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Patrick Campbell, 23 Malakai Fekitoa
SA ‘A’
15 Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers), 13 Henco van Wyk (Lions), 12 Cornal Hendricks (Bulls), 11 Leolin Zas (Stormers), 10 Johan Goosen (Bulls), 9 Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), 8 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), 7 Elrigh Louw (Bulls), 6 Phepsi Buthelezi (Sharks), 5 Ruan Nortje (Bulls), 4 Jason Jenkins (Leinster), 3 Thomas du Toit (captain, Sharks), 2 Joseph Dweba (Stormers), 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks)
Substitutes: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers), 17 Simphiwe Matanzima (Bulls), 18 Sazi Sandi (Stormers), 19 Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks), 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks), 21 Grant Williams (Sharks), 22 Sanele Nohamba (Lions), 23 Gianni Lombard (Lions)