The Springboks wrapped up their July Test series in emphatic style with a 55-10 victory over Georgia in front of a festive crowd at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday evening. While the scoreboard reads dominance, the performance painted a more complex picture—one of bright sparks, missed opportunities, and new faces staking their claim in green and gold.
A Big Win with a Few Blemishes
The Boks outscored Georgia by nine tries to one, but for long spells, it was a messy, stop-start affair riddled with errors. The visitors struck first through hooker Vano Karkadze in the third minute, capitalising on early Springbok uncertainty. It was a controversial moment, with the TMO unable to find a clear reason to overturn the grounding. Regardless, it served as a sharp wake-up call.
“We definitely didn’t start the way we wanted to,” said Bok skipper Siya Kolisi post-match. “But credit to the boys, we settled and started doing the basics right.”
The Boks quickly responded with three tries in a blistering 10-minute spell—debutant Boan Venter crashing over for his maiden Test try, followed by Marnus van der Merwe and Canan Moodie. Another try by van der Merwe, this time to the delight of the local fans who know him well, pushed the halftime lead to 22-10.
Debut Delight and Mbombela Magic
Three players earned their first caps—Neethling Fouché, Boan Venter, and Marnus van der Merwe—and all made meaningful contributions. The scrum looked sharp early on, but the introduction of the more experienced ‘Bomb Squad’ in the second half strangely saw the set piece lose its edge.
Hooker Marnus van der Merwe, who scored twice on debut, reflected humbly on his performance: “Just wearing the jersey was a dream come true. To cross the line twice? That’s just a bonus.”
Edwill van der Merwe was electric once again, scoring a brace to take his tally to four tries in just three Tests. Ruan Nortje was named Man of the Match for his tireless work rate and lineout prowess, with Eben Etzebeth providing the usual grunt and leadership in the engine room.
Second Half Sparks but Still Room to Sharpen
The quality didn’t lift much after the break, but the Boks managed to string together better attacking phases. Tries by Edwill van der Merwe (his second), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian Willemse, and Handré Pollard sealed the result. Pollard’s boot brought further stability after Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu struggled off the tee in the first half.
“Nice to get some rhythm later in the game, but we know we’ve got a lot to tidy up,” said Pollard. “This was just one step in the bigger journey.”
Indeed, the road only gets tougher from here. With the Rugby Championship looming, the Boks face a gruelling test schedule against Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Ireland, and France before the year wraps up.
Atmosphere and Next Steps
The Mbombela faithful brought their A-game, creating a buzz that lifted the squad when it needed a spark. The stadium erupted for local heroes and debutants alike, and the warmth of the Lowveld crowd wrapped the occasion in pure South African spirit.
While it wasn’t the polished performance Bok fans may have hoped for, it was a good hit-out, a confidence boost for the youngsters, and a chance to test combinations.
Final Score Summary:
South Africa (55) – Tries: Venter, M van der Merwe (2), Moodie, E van der Merwe (2), Willemse, Arendse, Pollard. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Pollard (4).
Georgia (10) – Try: Karkadze. Conversion and Penalty: Matkava.
In a Nutshell:
- Man of the Match: Ruan Nortje
- Standouts: Marnus van der Merwe, Edwill van der Merwe, Boan Venter
- Work-ons: Goal-kicking, second-half cohesion, scrum consistency
With eyes now set on Australia in mid-August, the Springboks leave Mbombela with lessons learned, rookies blooded, and the unbeaten streak intact. Mission accomplished—but with caution notes scribbled in the margins.