Paul Roos kick off their Sanix campaign with victory
Paul Roos played the opening game of the SANIX World Youth Rugby Tournament vs the home team and number 1 ranked team in Japan from Fukuoka.
The scoring was opened in the 4th minute by Nico Leonard who ran a beautiful short line to score underneath the sticks. Kristoff Baard added the extras. 5minutes later JP Kleynhans joined Nico on the score sheet with a great finish of team play in the left hand corner of the field. Kristoff was not able to add the extras but made up for it with a try and conversion in the 15th minute.
In a game where the halves are only 25 minutes PRG looked like they had full control of the situation. The 1st
half was ended on a high when Malan Basson crashed over on a shoulder ball from Tiaan Coetzee and Baard once again added the extras. Fukuoka did manage a penalty and the half time score was 26-3.
After half time the men from Stellenbosch looked tired and battled to get of the line on attack and defence. The traveling and fun in Singapore was taking its toll and the sun was beating down in the Global Arena. 7 minutes into the second halve Kleynhans crossed the whitewash again, but taking a big knock in the back in the process. Baard added the 2 once again.
Three minutes later Lazlo Pscorn decided he had enough of the Japanese defence and burst through the men from the rising sun to score under the stick. Baard added the 2 once again. Troy Payne finished the scoring with the teams 7th try after a bouncing ball was collected at the back and passed to the burly wing to score in the corner.
Fukuoka managed a drop goal in the second half and had the last say in the match after they picked and drive for multiple phases to cross the Maroon Machine’s line.
Too many errors and lack of concentration halted the progress of the team. But… this tournament is a war of nutrition and 5 points in the bag and top of the pool after day 1 is goal achieved for the day for the Paul Roos men.
Tomorrow the “fresh” lads will take the field against the RKU Kashiwa High School at 11:00 local time.
Tries: Nico Leonard, JP Kleynhans (2), Kristoff Baard, Malan Basson, Lazlo Pscorn, Troy Payne. Conversions: Kristoff Baard (5).
