In a thrilling encounter at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, Portugal’s rugby team faced off against the formidable South African Springboks. Despite a valiant effort, Portugal fell short with a final score of 64-21. The match was marked by intense moments, including a red card for Springbok center Andre Esterhuizen and several debut tries for the South African team.
Match Overview
The match began with high energy as both teams aimed to make a statement. Portugal’s Jose Paiva dos Santos scored the first try, making history as the first Portuguese player to score against South Africa. However, the Springboks quickly retaliated, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels scoring a try on his debut.
South Africa continued to build their lead with tries from Phepsi Buthelezi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Ben-Jason Dixon. Despite being down a player due to Esterhuizen’s red card, the Springboks managed to maintain their momentum. Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi added to the scoreboard, with Mapimpi achieving a hat-trick.
Portugal made five changes to their starting XV for this match, including the introduction of Tomas Appleton as captain. Despite the changes, the team showed resilience and managed to score three tries. Jose Paiva dos Santos was a standout performer, scoring two of Portugal’s tries. Duarte Torgai added another try, capitalizing on a yellow card for South Africa’s Quan Horn.
Andre Esterhuizen’s Red Card
One of the most talked-about moments of the match was Andre Esterhuizen’s red card. Initially given a yellow card for a head-on-head tackle, the decision was upgraded to a red card after a TMO bunker review. Esterhuizen has been suspended for four matches, which could be reduced to three if he completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Program.
Looking Ahead
South Africa’s coach, Rassie Erasmus, praised Portugal’s performance, acknowledging their ability to compete against top-tier teams. The Springboks will look to build on this victory as they prepare for upcoming matches in the Rugby Championship. Meanwhile, Portugal’s performance has shown that they are a team on the rise, capable of challenging even the strongest opponents.
Final Score
- South Africa: 64 (29) – Tries: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Phepsi Buthelezi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Ben-Jason Dixon, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi (3), Quan Horn, Andre-Hugo Venter. Conversions: Manie Libbok (2), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (5).
- Portugal: 21 (7) – Tries: Jose Paiva dos Santos (2), Duarte Torgai. Conversions: Joris Moura, Domingo Cabral (2).
