South Africa won its warm up match for the world cup qualifiers at the end of the month with a tough victory against the touring British Amateurs in Pretoria. A banged up touring side, following their opening tour encounter on Wednesday night, got off the mark first through Scott Davidson. After three straight sets South Africa scored through Jason King, with Ruaan Du Preez’s goal giving the home side the lead. 

Scott Lofthouse’s 22^nd minute try gave BARLA back the lead and a Steve Parkinson penalty put them in front by six, but rangy Rhinos centre Jean Coetzer scored his side’s second try, followed by an exceptional touchline conversion from the 19-year-old Du Preez, to square it up 12-all at halftime. 

Du Preez’s early penalty goal edged South Africa in front and with BARLA down to 12 men following Mark Briody’s yellow card for a high tackle South Africa established a six-point lead through wing Gideon Mzembe’s 50^th minute try.  Steve Parkinson’s try put BARLA back within two but Shuab Samaai’s try under the posts gave South Africa the decisive advantage, one that Danny Fairhurst’s 79^th minute try was not enough to overhaul. 

SOUTH AFRICA
Johan Joubert, Gideon Mzembe, Shuab Samaai, Jean Coetzer, Michael Fulton, Brad Williams, Jason King, Jaice Terblanche, Marcel Viljoen, Christo Louw, Dwayne Botma, Halvor Harris, Shane Gilham. Subs: Deon Kraemer, Ruaan Du Preez, Rudolph Prinsloo, Jean-Di Oosthuysen

BARLA
Mick Hayward, Steve Parkinson, Perry Singleton, Scott Lofthouse, Pat Foulstone, Danny Lynch, Danny Rowse, Mick Ledger, Danny Fairhurst, Dave Lowery, Adam Prendegast, Scott Davidson, Matthew Huby. Subs: Craig Savage, Mark Briody, Mark Tyson, Tom Hopkins