Kolisi shines as young and old battle in Green and Gold match

South Africa’s World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi led Springbok Green to a 25-9 victory over Springbok Gold in the Castle Lager Springbok Showdown at Newlands. [more]

Kolisi shines as young and old battle in Green and Gold match

Kolisi scored one of three tries for the Green team, alongside a penalty try and a Juarno Augustus effort, in a second0half blitz.

There were lots of impressive performances on show from South African stars old and new trying to catch the eye of head coach Jacques Nienaber ahead of next summer’s British & Irish Lions Tour and with the domestic Currie Cup due to begin next weekend.

In a ‘schoolyard pick’ style draft from all eligible South Africa-based players, Nienaber selected the Gold side’s 25-man squad while national director of rugby Rassie Erasmus served as the Green side’s team commissioner and drafted their 25 players.

Meanwhile, Springbok attack coach Mzwandile Stick coached the Green team, while former Southern Kings coach Deon Davids took charge of the Gold team in an all-star South African affair.

It was a feisty contest full of intensity, with bulldozing No.8 Duane Vermeulen introducing himself almost immediately with a number of powerful carries.

And as the first 40 minutes went on it was international fly-half Elton Jantjies who showed his quality from the tee with two perfect penalty kicks for Team Green.

His opposite number Damian Willemse is much younger and less experienced but showed that he has his eye on Lions recognition with a riposte and three points of his own.

Into the second half and the attacking intent increased from both sides but it was the Green outfit who continued in the ascendency and earned the game’s first try

Sanele Nohamba’s kick looked to have set Yaw Penxe free only for Willemse to pull him back, an action which saw a penalty try and yellow card awarded.

Curwin Bosch had started the game at full-back but took over at fly-half in Willemse’s absence and, while on kicking duties, he registered six points from two penalties for the Gold team.

But the Greens were not to be stopped and Kolisi showed just how important his power and intelligence will be for South Africa against the Lions next summer as he displayed real composure to finish off a dominant rolling maul and score.

Uncapped Augustus then used all his strength to pick up the scraps from an up-and-under and score the game’s final try – giving the bosses something to think about as valuable minutes were earned for South Africa’s stars in a lively encounter.

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