Rugby Union: Mallett threat to cite Caledonian
Glasgow Caledonians 9 South Africa 6
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Your support makes all the difference.THE South Africa coach, Nick Mallett, last night threatened to issue a citing complaint against a Glasgow Caledonians player after the world champions had crushed the Scottish super-district in the tour opener at Firhill.
Mallett claimed the Springboks' stand-off, Braam van Straaten, was left with stud marks down his forehead and a cut nose after an off-the-ball incident with an unspecified Caley player. "I couldn't see who the player was," Mallett said. "But I shall certainly be citing that player if the video shows it up because that is inexcusable.
"The stud mark went straight through the headgear he was wearing. Braam is OK, but if he hadn't have been wearing a scrum cap he would have had 20 or 30 stitches in his head."
Without the services of their captain, Rob Wainwright, and Stuart Grimes, Rowen Shepherd and Shaun Longstaff, all meeting the call of international duty, Glasgow failed to relieve the hangover of Saturday's ignominious exit from the European Cup at Pontypridd.
South Africa rested several first-choice players for this opener, but they were hardly under strength. In terms of the Springboks' depth of reserves, their captain for the night, Bobby Skinstad, was a case in point. Undoubtedly among the best in his position, such is the competition for places that the flanker struggles to start regularly.
The signs looked ominous in the fourth minute when Selbourne Boome touched down after Ollie Le Roux's run had met with little resistance. Worse was to follow in the 10th minute when Breykon Paulse scored after linking with Adrian Vos.
Despite fielding seven internationals the Reds struggled to make any impression against the tourists' power and pace, especially the front row of Le Roux, Willie Meyer and Naka Drotske. There was some cheer, however, for the Firhill few, with the full-back Tommy Hayes converting three penalties.
Robbie Fleck increased the tourists' lead after a fine combination between Braam van Straaten and Christian Stewart, before Fleck turned provider for Lourns Wenter to sprint over. The tourists reasserted their authority after the break with successive tries through Gaffie du Toit, Fleck and Van Straaten.
With 15 minutes remaining Skinstad glossed his captaincy with a touchdown, and Paulse, with a frightening burst of speed, completed the rout.
Glasgow Caledonians: Penalties Hayes 3. South Africa: Tries Paulse 3, Fleck 2, Boome, Wenter, Du Toit, Van Straaten, Skinstad. Conversions Van Straaten 6.
Glasgow Caledonians: Hayes; Craig (Bulloch), Jardine (capt), Leslie, Stark; Smith, Patterson (Scott); McIlwham, McKenzie, Kittle, Campbell, Perrett, White, Mackay, Shaw.
South Africa: Du Toit; Paulse, Fleck, Stewart, Venter (Kayser); Van Straaten (Mark Ram), Swanepoel; Meyer, Drotske (Nkufane), Le Roux (Van der Linde), Boome (Smit), Trytsman, Krige, Skinstad, Vos (Alcock).
Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales).
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