South Africa score 10 tries to rout Portugal in one-off rugby test
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Portugal's full-back Jose Paiva dos Santos is tackled by South Africa's outside centre Lukhanyo Am (right) and loose forward Elrigh Louw in their International rugby union match at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on July 20, 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
Winger Makazole Mapimpi scored a hat-trick of tries as South Africa overwhelmed a gutsy but outgunned Portugal 64-21 despite being down a man for all but two minutes of Saturday’s clash at the Free State Stadium.
The World Cup winners were stung early in their first test meeting against 15th-ranked Portugal when centre Andre Esterhuizen was sent off for an illegal head-high tackle in the second minute.
They were then caught out by a breakaway try for the visitors, brilliantly finished off by winger Jose Paiva dos Santos in the 11th minute.
But the top-ranked Springboks, who made 14 changes from the side that narrowly lost to Ireland in Durban last week, rallied from 0-7 down to dominate in a festival of running rugby in front of a capacity crowd.
South Africa, with seven debutants used in the match, outscored Portugal by 10 tries to three. REUTERS
