<< BackTAs Raven & Cornje Help South Africa Defeat Argentina in WRC Final
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Jason Raven and Corne Cornje Represent TA & USA Rugby in the WRC Final
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11/12/05
As is common in the Classic, teams are free to select players from
teams on their side of the draw. Though TA made the plate final and
played a full game, South Africa elcted to enlist the services of our
own Jason Raven and Corne Cornje. Both played well in the Classic final
for the Sprinboks and represented Team America and United States rugby
well. We are extremely proud.
The following report is courtesy of The Royal Gazette www.theroyalgazette.com
South Africa 21 Argentina 7
If
Andries Fourie's strong arm to the face of Frederico Schacht after
eight minutes didn't give it away, then Gustavo Jorge shoving Jacques
Jonker into a metal barrier five minutes later surely must have done -
this was going to be a ‘special' final.
The climax to the World
Rugby Classic was special because of the ultra-competitive nature of
both teams, it was special because it was anyone's final until the last
ten minutes, it was special because exceptional rugby was played by
both teams - some of the best for years, so say the Classic regulars -
and it was special because the Springboks had to rely on their
forwards, not their normally unstoppable backs, to successfully defend
their crown in a pulsating encounter.
In a tournament they had
dominated for the second year in a row by scoring at will, from
anywhere and with consummate ease, the Springboks went into the final
as the clear favourites.
But the Argentinians, who had shocked
the French in the opening round, were playing with a competitive edge
and a mean streak that ran deep enough that punches were being thrown
all over the National Sport Centre and they weren't going to allow the
wingers any time to try anything.
The Springboks were only going
to win this game with the forwards - and once interception tries from
Jan Harm van Wyk and Aussie guest Danny Flanery had cancelled each
other out - they did so in the latter stages of the second half.
Another
guest player, Kiwi Junior Tonu'u went over from the back of the ruck
with 15 minutes left as the bigger South African forwards began to
grind down the Pumas' heavyweights, and then Cornelius Korf finished it
off with ten minutes to go, again after the forwards had done more than
their fair share of battering.
After one of the best finals in
years, the South Africans lifted the crown that legend Francois Pienaar
had lifted the November before, but - typically of the Springboks'
ridiculous desire for perfection - they still weren't completely
satisfied.
“Hey, we're happy to win, of course we are,” said Mac
Massima, one of the flair players of the tournament who won over many
fans this past week and celebrated his semi-final try with the most
elaborate of somersaults.
“But the guys all know that we could
have played better. Maybe we didn't have the side we did last year,
maybe we did, but we know we are capable of more.
“But let's not
worry about that too much, we battled hard like we always do and the
guys played with that special passion that is associated with the
Springbok shirt.”
Before they lifted the trophy for a second
successive time and third overall, the Springboks formed their usual
post-match circle and took a moment for their traditional prayer before
erupting into song - with even their four guest players attempting to
join in.
The team spirit of the side had been their strength
over their three victories as much as their skill, although their
centres and wingers are as devastating as any backs to take part in the
Classic over its 18 years.
But it was their forwards who can
take a lot of the praise for Saturday's win, coming on the back of a
demolition of Canada on opening day and then a controlled victory over
the brave Lions at the semi-final stage.
“We knew the way the
Argentinians were going to play and we were ready for them,” said the
hulking Dale Santon, while wearing the broadest grin Devonshire has
seen for some years.
“We had the larger pack and we knew we
could wear them down eventually and that when they tired, it would
create opportunities for us. Fair play to them, they had a great, tough
game but we just had enough in the end.
“I am so proud of everyone in our side, we battled hard and we played with passion and fire.”
Just
90 seconds into the final, the first scuffle broke out, setting the
tone for what was to be a brutish affair in which the referee could
well have dished out more than just the two yellow cards that were
eventually brandished.
With not ten minutes gone, Schacht was
punished for some arrogant flamboyance. After attempting to head the
ball past the last man on a break he was unceremoniously dumped to the
ground by Fourie - and his theatrics at the seriousness of the injury
were greeted with no sympathy due to the illegality of his move.
Five
minutes later, Jorge and Jonker had their first run in, the Argentinian
shoving the Springbok full force into the metal barriers in front of
the corporate tents with only a miracle preventing that ugly and
petulant cheap shot resulting in all out war - Jorge, scorer of two
spectacular tries in the semi-final, got his comeuppance later in the
game when Jonker smacked him square in the chops off the ball.
Neil
Malherbe was sin-binned after 14 minutes and two minutes after he
returned to the field, the defending champions opened the scoring when
van Wyk, scoring his first try of the tournament, intercepted just five
yards out and ran in the easy score.
Twelve minutes later
Flanery, one of a number of guest players that traditionally turn out
to help with late-tournament injury crises, ran 70 yards after his
interception to tie things up at the break.
Tonu'u scored five
minutes into the second period and then it was a war of attrition until
Korf finishing things off with ten minutes to go - an epic end to an
entertaining week of hits, thrills, spills and excitement.
LOCATION: Bermuda National Stadium |
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