The 2007 South Africa rugby union tour of Europe were a series of rugby union matches played in November and December 2007 in Europe featuring the 2007 Rugby World Cup winners South Africa. Although the matches had been arranged well in advance of the World Cup,[1] the mini-tour was seen as an opportunity for South Africa to showcase their talents and to say farewell to their outgoing coach, Jake White, who retired after the second game.[2] In the event, several members of the World Cup squad were unavailable for either game, because of retirement (Os du Randt), injury (Percy Montgomery, Fourie du Preez, Bakkies Botha), club commitments (Butch James), or other reasons (Victor Matfield), and the captain, John Smit, who had just joined French club ASM Clermont Auvergne, was released to play only in the first match.[3]

Week 1

The first match, and the only one with full Test status, was against Wales, on 24 November 2007, at the Millennium Stadium. Although Wales had more possession and dominated territorially, they managed to score just two tries, both from kicks. The first was scored by Welsh full-back Morgan Stoddart, who was making his Test debut. The second, the result of a bad mistake by Springbok full-back Ruan Pienaar, was scored by Colin Charvis; it was his 22nd Test try, a new record for a forward in Test rugby. South Africa made better use of their more limited possession, scoring five tries, including one by Ryan Kankowski, also a Test debutant, as the world cup winners won the match 34–12.[4][5]

24 November 2007
14:45 GMT
Wales 12–34 South Africa
Try: Charvis 39' m
Stoddart 53' c
Con: Hook (1/2)
Report[6]Try: Smith 20' c
Fourie (2) 28' m, 31' c
Pietersen 44' c
Kankowski 67' m
Con: A. Pretorius (3/4)
Pen: F. Steyn (1/1) 3'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 56,000
Referee: Chris White (England)
FB15Morgan Stoddartdownward-facing red arrow 69'
RW14Mark Jones
OC13Sonny Parker
IC12Gavin Henson
LW11Tom Shanklin
FH10James Hookdownward-facing red arrow 76'
SH9Dwayne Peeldownward-facing red arrow 53'
N88Jonathan Thomas
OF7Robin Sowden-Taylor
BF6Colin Charvis (c)downward-facing red arrow 61'
RL5Alun Wyn Jones
LL4Ian Evansdownward-facing red arrow 53'
TP3Gethin Jenkins
HK2Huw Bennettdownward-facing red arrow 53'
LP1Rhys M. Thomasdownward-facing red arrow 69'
Replacements:
HK16T. Rhys Thomasupward-facing green arrow 53'
PR17Duncan Jonesupward-facing green arrow 69'
LK18Luke Charterisupward-facing green arrow 53'
FL19Alix Pophamupward-facing green arrow 61'
SH20Mike Phillipsupward-facing green arrow 53'
FH21Ceri Sweeneyupward-facing green arrow 76'
FB22Tom Jamesupward-facing green arrow 69'
Coach:
Wales Nigel Davies
FB15Ruan Pienaar
RW14JP Pietersendownward-facing red arrow 75'
OC13Jaque Fourie
IC12François Steyn
LW11Bryan Habana
FH10André Pretoriusdownward-facing red arrow 59'
SH9Ricky Januariedownward-facing red arrow 78'
N88Ryan Kankowskidownward-facing red arrow 78'
OF7Juan Smith
BF6Schalk Burger
RL5Johann Muller
LL4Bakkies Bothadownward-facing red arrow 40'
TP3CJ van der Lindedownward-facing red arrow 75'
HK2John Smit (c)
LP1Jannie du Plessisdownward-facing red arrow 64'
Replacements:
HK16Bismarck du Plessisyellow card 77' to 80'upward-facing green arrow 75'
PR17Heinke van der Merweupward-facing green arrow 64'
LK18Albert van den Bergyellow card 48' to 58'upward-facing green arrow 40'
N819Hilton Lobbertsupward-facing green arrow 78'
CE20Wynand Olivierupward-facing green arrow 59'
WG21Akona Ndunganeupward-facing green arrow 75'
FB22Conrad Jantjesupward-facing green arrow 78'
Coach:
South Africa Jake White

Week 2

The second match, at Twickenham on 1 December 2007, saw a Springbok XV facing a Barbarians side that included such big names as Jerry Collins, Martyn Williams, Matt Giteau, and the retiring Jason Robinson. The Barbarians' plans were disrupted when the English Premier clubs decided not to allow players to be released,[7] and the Irish provinces followed suit. As a result, Brian O'Driscoll, who had been named to captain the side, had to withdraw, as did Andrew Sheridan of Sale Sharks, but Mark Regan of Bristol defied the ban and led the Barbarians,[8] an act for which he was later sanctioned by his club.[9] The match itself proved to be somewhat one-sided affair, the lacklustre Springboks, who included just five World Cup final starters, losing 22–5 to a Barbarians side that played with flair and creativity. The Barabarians scored three tries, the South Africans only one, scored by Barend Pieterse, who was making his first appearance in a Springbok jersey in place of Schalk Burger, who had broken his nose in the game against Wales.[10][11][12]

1 December 2007
15:00 GMT
Barbarians22–5 South Africa
Try: Giteau 18' m
M. Williams 40' c
Elsom 42' c
Con: Giteau (2)
Pen: Giteau 3'
Report[13]Try: Pieterse 34' m
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 58,186
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
FB15England Jason Robinsondownward-facing red arrow 68'
RW14New Zealand Joe Rokocoko
OC13New Zealand Conrad Smithdownward-facing red arrow 58'
IC12New Zealand Ma'a Nonu
LW11Fiji Isoa Neivuadownward-facing red arrow 63'
FH10Australia Matt Giteau
SH9New Zealand Justin Marshall
N88New Zealand Jerry Collins
OF7Wales Martyn Williams
BF6Australia Rocky Elsom
RL5Wales Brent Cockbaindownward-facing red arrow 51'
LL4Australia Justin Harrisondownward-facing red arrow 63'
TP3Argentina Federico Pucciariello
HK2England Mark Regan (c)downward-facing red arrow 51'
LP1Australia Salesi Ma'afudownward-facing red arrow 51'
Replacements:
HK16South Africa Schalk Britsupward-facing green arrow 51'
PR17South Africa JD Mollerupward-facing green arrow 51'
LK18New Zealand Troy Flavellupward-facing green arrow 51'
FL19Wales Michael Owenupward-facing green arrow 63'
FH20South Africa Peter Grantupward-facing green arrow 68'
CE21Wales Tom Shanklinupward-facing green arrow 58'
WG22England Ben Cohenupward-facing green arrow 63'
Coach:
Ireland Eddie O'Sullivan
FB15Ruan Pienaar
RW14Akona Ndungane
OC13Jaque Fourie
IC12François Steyn
LW11Bryan Habana
FH10André Pretoriusdownward-facing red arrow 33'
SH9Ricky Januariedownward-facing red arrow 43'
N88Ryan Kankowski
OF7Juan Smith
BF6Barend Pietersedownward-facing red arrow 66'
RL5Johann Muller (c)
LL4Johan Ackermanndownward-facing red arrow 54'
TP3CJ van der Lindedownward-facing red arrow 75'
HK2Bismarck du Plessisdownward-facing red arrow 71'
LP1Jannie du Plessisdownward-facing red arrow 43'upward-facing green arrow 75'
Replacements:
HK16Tiaan Liebenbergupward-facing green arrow 71'
PR17Heinke van der Merweupward-facing green arrow 43'
LK18Albert van den Bergupward-facing green arrow 54'
N819Hilton Lobbertsupward-facing green arrow 66'
CE20Wynand Olivierupward-facing green arrow 33'
WG21Wayne Julies
FB22Conrad Jantjesupward-facing green arrow 43'
Coach:
South Africa Jake White

References

  1. Hands, David (24 November 2007). "Match against world champions provides Welsh with chance to prove their point". Times Online. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  2. Kitson, Robert (22 November 2007). "South Africa captain calls for a White-hot farewell". Guardian Unlimited. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  3. "Springboks name testing Cardiff line-up". Guardian Unlimited. London: Guardian News and Media. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  4. Jones, Stephen (25 November 2007). "South Africa run Wales into submission". The Sunday Times. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  5. Butler, Eddie (25 November 2007). "Wales are devoured by Burger with relish". The Observer. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  6. "Wales 12-34 South Africa". BBC News. 24 November 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  7. Hands, David (27 November 2007). "Clubs refuse to let Mark Regan and Andrew Sheridan play for Barbarians". Times Online. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  8. Rees, Paul (29 November 2007). "Regan is Premier Rugby's Baa-Baa black sheep". Guardian Unlimited. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  9. "Regan punished after Baa-Baas row". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 December 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  10. Barnes, Stuart (2 December 2007). "Baa-Baas magic lives on". The Sunday Times. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  11. Cain, Nick (2 December 2007). "World caves in on champions". The Sunday Times. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  12. Butler, Eddie (2 December 2007). "Baa-Baas laugh off the goodbyes". The Observer. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  13. "Barbarians 22-5 South Africa". BBC News. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
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