South Africa snatch stoppage-time win in France

South Africa’s Mbongeni Mbonami celebrates winning the match with team mates REUTERS

PARIS, REUTERS: South Africa scored a try in stoppage time to edge to a dramatic 29-26 win over France at the Stade de France on Saturday, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi surging over to secure an unlikely victory. 

The Springboks stole possession with less a minute left and went almost the entire length of the pitch, with the help of four penalties that they kicked into touch to gain ground, before driving over for a smash and grab success. 

Mbonambi peeled off the side of the driving maul to dive over the line in the 85th minute and hand the South Africans success in the second game of their four-test European tour. 

They had been 23-9 down early in the second half but turned it around, marking a change of fortune after narrowly losing their last two test outings to New Zealand last month and England last weekend. 

“It was an incredible finish and the boys showed fight and perseverance. It was tough but we’ll take the win. We picked it up in the second half,” said winning captain Siya Kolisi. 

France and South Africa scored two tries apiece with the boot of visiting flyhalf Handre Pollard, who kicked five penalties and two conversions for a haul of 19 points, proving the difference.