South Africa scored a try in stoppage time to edge to a dramatic win over France at the Stade de France on Saturday, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi surging over to secure an unlikely victory.
What an epic game! Our rugby friends at www.telegraph.co.uk writes:
The Springboks stole possession with less a minute left and went almost the entire length of the pitch, with the help of four penalties that they kicked into touch to gain ground, before driving over for a smash-and-grab success.
Mbonambi peeled off the side of the driving maul to dive over the line in the 85th minute and hand the South Africans success in the second game of their four-Test European tour.
They had been 23-9 down early in the second half but turned it around, marking a change of fortune after narrowly losing their last two Test outings to New Zealand last month and England last weekend.
"It was an incredible finish and the boys showed fight and perseverance. It was tough but we'll take the win. We picked it up in the second half," said winning captain Siya Kolisi.
France and South Africa scored two tries apiece with the boot of visiting fly-half Handre Pollard, who kicked five penalties and two conversions for a haul of 19 points, proving the difference.
Baptiste Serin slotted over two penalties in the opening 11 minutes to give France an early 6-0 lead but by the half-hour, South Africa were 9-6 ahead as Pollard slotted over three penalties.
Home fly-half Camille Lopez then put over a drop-goal to level the scores in the 34th minute.
A sparkling line break by winger Teddy Thomas then set up the first try for France.
Thomas broke upfield and, although eventually tackled, forced a lineout from where the French maul pushed towards the goal line before captain Guilhem Guirado broke and made a short dart to the try line to give France a 16-9 half-time lead.
Mathieu Bastareaud scored two minutes after the resumption as Lopez kicked a high ball almost at the South African goal posts. With the defence unable to field it, the imposing centre picked up the loose ball to crash over and extend the lead.
Straight from the kick off, giant French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina fumbled the ball, spilling it back towards his own line where it was snatched up by Sbu Nkosi.
For a more to read go visit www.telegraph.co.uk for great links and news.
__________________________