Ahead of the match, Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick told a press conference that the Springboks want to produce a good performance for South Africa and the people of Bloemfontein.

“We owe it to them, especially after the last match we played here where we lost out narrowly against Wales,” he said.

They certainly delivered on the day even though South Africa received a yellow card – which was later upgraded to red - within the first 3 minutes of the game.  André Esterhuizen was carded for a pressure tackle on Portuguese center Jose Lima.

Portugal scored the first try in the form of substitute José Pavia dos Santos, which was converted by Joris Moura. But the Boks hit back three minutes later when forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored a try on debut. 

From then on, it was all the Springboks.  Phepsi Bhutelezi, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Ben-Jason Dixon all scored before the half hour mark.  Fly-half Manie Libbok had a so-so day with the boot, failing to convert Bhutelezi and Arendse’s tries.

South Africa received another yellow card shortly before half-time for a croc roll by Kurt-Lee Arendse, but Lukhanyo Am went over the line just before half-time, to bring the score to 29 – 7. 

The men in green dominated the second half as well with speedster Makazole Mapimpi scoring a hat-trick, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu taking over the kicking duties and converting every try - including those of Quan Horn and André-Hugo Venter - in the second half.  

But Portugal never stopped fighting and their hard work paid off with two more tries.  Dos Santos scored his second and flanker Jose Madeira also went over the line.

An excellent performance by many of the debutants is sure to give the Springbok coaching staff a few sleepless nights in the run-up to the Rugby Championship which kicks off in August.  Erasmus was full of praise for his young charges and told a post-match press conference that he believes his young team could have given Ireland a go.

“I’m saying it honestly, I don’t care if people go into the ‘A’ or ‘B’ side debate. I’m telling you that there is no difference,” he said.

“We learned that we can play with 14 men. We had to make plans from the field, that’s a nice experience.”

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger