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Unimpressive Boks see off Georgia
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- A second-string South Africa side stumbled to an error-ridden 46-19 victory over a spirited Georgia team in pool C at the World Cup on Friday. The Springboks scored seven tries, but five came through forwards and a litany of handling errors and poor decision-making in the backline left them struggling for dominance. . Only loose forward Danie Roussow, who grabbed two tries, and debutant flyhalf Derick Hougaard, who got a try and kicked four conversions and a penalty, enhanced their reputations. Georgia grabbed a thoroughly deserved first try of the tournament through hooker David Dadunashvili after a catch-and-drive from a lineout early in the second half. Lock Bakkies Botha, number eight Joe van Niekerk, outside centre Jaque Fourie and replacement forward Schalk Burger also scored tries for the Springboks, while Paliko Jimsheladze booted three penalties and a conversion for Georgia. Georgia started well enough, trading early penalties to stay level at 3-3 after the first 14 minutes, before they suddenly fell apart, conceding three tries in the next eight minutes. Rossouw scored the opening try when he busted his way through the defence from close range, then Hougaard strolled through a hole to score and Van Niekerk finished off a sweeping move to dive over in the left corner. Lead stretchedSouth Africa led 24-6 at halftime then stretched their lead to 29-6 when Rossouw secured a bonus point for his team with a try in the first minute of the second period. That seemed to be the signal for an avalanche of points, but the South African failed to drive home their advantage as they squandered a string of opportunities with sloppy handling. They were reduced to 14 men when flanker Henro Scholtz was yellow-carded in the 53rd minute for repeated infringments at the ruck and Georgia immediately made them pay for their indiscretion when Dadunashvili peeled his way off a rolling maul to score. However, the South Africans replied immediately with a try from Fourie, who grounded a perfectly weight grubber-kick from Hougaard then put the issue beyond doubt with late touchdowns from Botha and Burger. The Springboks play Samoa in Brisbane next week to decide the likely runner-up in pool C, while Georgia tackle Uruguay in Sydney on Tuesday in their final game. Copyright 2003 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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