adminLONDON. — Barbarians coach Robbie Deans believes the future is bright for South African rugby despite his scratch side holding the Springboks to a dramatic 31-31 draw at Wembley.An already tough year for South Africa threatened to get worse when they were 31-19 down with just nine minutes left in their European tour opener on Saturday.But an unfamiliar-looking side several first-choice players were missing ahead of next weekend’s Test against England across London at Twickenham squared the match after centres Francois Venter and Rohan Janse van Rensburg both crossed late on.
Their efforts completed a 10-try thriller which saw Australia’s Luke Morahan, a second-half replacement, score two for the Barbarians. It is just over a year since South Africa came within two points of eventual champions New Zealand in a gripping World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.
But under Allister Coetzee, who replaced Heyneke Meyer as coach after the World Cup, they have lost five of their last 10 matches including a record 57-15 defeat by New Zealand in Durban last month.
Nevertheless, Deans said: “South Africa are always thereabouts. — AFP
Online Reporter