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South Africa too strong for France
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSPORT ELIZABETH, South Africa -- South Africa beat France 27-13 in their second rugby test to clinch the series 1-0 in Port Elizabeth. The home team outscored France by three tries to one for their first home series victory over the visitors since 1975. The first test in Durban ended 30-30. The win also maintained South Africa coach Jake White's unbeaten home record before the Springboks head to Australia for a meeting with the Wallabies in a Mandela Cup match in a fortnight. Fullback Percy Montgomery contributed 12 points with the boot from three conversions and two penalties while left wing Bryan Habana scored two tries to take his tally in the series to four. The Springboks dominated the first half, scoring two tries and holding the advantage in terms of possession and territory to deservedly go into the break with a 20-6 lead. They were also unflinching in defence and frustrated France with brutal tackling that cut short just about every French attack. It was a vastly improved performance on the first test, which was almost a complete opposite in the opening 40 minutes when France dominated. The French players, who ended a long domestic season before the tour, looked jaded and failed to put the home team under pressure as they had a week earlier. Montgomery gave the home side the lead with a penalty in the eighth minute and then turned provider four minutes later. The ball was turned over in midfield and immediately worked left where Montgomery outpaced flanker Remy Martin and gave an inside pass to flying wing Habana who scored his third try of the series. Right wing Jean de Villiers added the second try in the 29th minute after an intercept on the halfway line. He juggled the ball and beat the despairing covering defence to run in under the crossbar. France only had two penalties to show for their efforts in the first half -- one by scrumhalf and captain Dimitri Yachvili and the other by flyhalf Frederic Michalak. Habana showed his instinctive ability seven minutes into the second half when he intercepted a wayward Yachvili pass on the halfway line and sprinted to line with the cover defence unable to close the gap. That put the match beyond the visitors but they showed great resolve as they pounded away at the Springboks and were eventually rewarded with a consolation try three minutes from the end when Michalak was driven over the line. 
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