Wynberg gave Paul Roos a scare in taking a deserved lead late in the first half but ultimately fell away in the second half to rue what could have been in Stellenbosch in what proved to be a highly watchable match.
Wynberg made the worst possible start, when their captain and scrumhalf Asad Moos had his clearance kick charged down by his Paul Roos counterpart Herman Lourens, and then scrumhalf Liam Stander gathered the ball to go over close to the poles to give the hosts a 5 – 0 lead after 4 minutes.
This Wynberg is made of stern stuff and they struck back almost immediately. After good work from the forwards through strong carries in the 22m, livewire hooker Sifiso Mpanza went over to draw level at 5 – 5 and there weren’t yet 10 minutes on the clock.
Paul Roos reclaimed the lead via a penalty after some good pressure in the Wynberg half, with their maul and big pack coming ot the fore. Again, Wynberg came back with interest. Summing up their confidence in their abrasive pack, when they got a penalty handy to the poles they passed up the opportunity for the three points to go for the corner. This gamble paid off as Mpanza scored his second from a well constructed maul, after Paul Roos had collapsed a well set maul a minute before.
The turning point in the game came when Paul Roos scored on the stroke of half time, after a number of pick and go’s at the Wynberg line. Wynberg’s defence was initially resolute but after conceding an offside penalty at the ruck, they couldn’t prevent lock Cameron Meill from going over and after the try was converted, Paul Roos took a 15 – 10 lead into the break.
Paul Roos struck first in the second half, after more good work from their forwards. Wynberg No. 8 Louw brought down a maul cynically, conceding a penalty and was shown a yellow card for his trouble. From the resulting lineout, Paul Roos got to Wynberg’s line and again their muscularity up front was enough and their lead was extended to 20 – 10 as Meill also grabbed a brace.
YouTube sensation Jurenzo Julius was on the bench as a late change for Paul Roos and he made an immediate impact, to enhance his popularity. The scenes in the stands when he scored his try were spine-tingling. From a scrum inside their own half, Paul Roos went blind and Julius got the ball about 60m out and was only in second gear but outstripped the cover defence and pretty much jogged to the tryline untouched, to make the score 25 – 10. He looked injured and was heavily strapped. Having just overcome an injury at Craven Week, one could debate the sense in bringing him back so soon.
Julius then turned from hero to villain when he made a seatbelt tackle to prevent what would have been a great Wynberg try when they made a great break from a turnover. Julius received a yellow card and from the resulting lineout, Wynberg scored through Pascoe, their replacement winger, to make the score 25 – 17 with just six minutes left to play.
As if to underline the impressive set piece performance by Paul Roos, with about 3 minutes to go, they mauled Wynberg about 30m before making more metres through carries from their forwards. They were then awarded a penalty for offside and from the lineout they secured their own ball and after a few pick and go’s, hard-working lock Sampie Joubert went over to make the score 32 – 17 and seal the victory.
Full Time
Paul Roos 32 – 17 Wynberg
Wynberg brought an abrasive pack and a dangerous backline to Stellenbosch and probably leaf feeling frustrated that they didn’t come away with a surprise win on Markotter. The lead changed hands a few times in the first half but Paul Roos proved too good at home in the end. For Wynberg, Mpanza, Molekwa and February were excellent up front and Moos was always a threat from the base. It was a pity that exciting centre Ridhau Bey had such a quiet game.
For the hosts, their pack laid a solid platform at the set piece and locks Meill and Joubert were excellent, but No. 8 Wyatt Strydom stood out and was named man of the match.