Speedster Lwazi Mvovo showed that he's not a spent force after an eye-catching performance for the South African 'A' side in their 36-28 victory over the French Barbarians at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night.
Mvovo scored a brace of tries -- one in each half -- and was the standout player for the home side. Flyhalf Lionel Cronje also had a decent outing for Johan Ackermann's men.
Sharks winger Mvovo lost his place in the Springbok team last year after a poor performance -- especially under the high ball -- in the second home Test against Ireland. However, he was lively throughout a match that was rather disjointed, but actually delivered a couple of nice moments.
Both teams looked a bit disorganised, especially at set-piece time. The lineouts were a bit of shambles, while the scrums were a 50-50 affair as well. Most of the tries in the first half came from turnover ball or an unforced error by the opposition.
There was nothing to choose between the teams throughout the match, although the visitors did start the better of the sides. But in the end the night the South Africans' fitness and quality off the bench shone through.
The Barbarians played some lovely rugby in the first quarter, with some great offloading in the tackle and support play. They opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the match.
After a scrum, they had the SA 'A' side chasing shadows and managed to advance close to the home side's goalline. Scrumhalf Yann Lesgourgues then darted over next to a ruck.
The local side showed a lot of intent on attack, regularly running the ball from their own 22. They almost hit back in the 12th minute when Mvovo turned a ball over and sprinted down field. However, after passing to Makazole Mapimpi, the move broke down when the winger was tackled into touch.
However, from the resulting lineout, the South Africans stole the French side's feed and captain Juan de Jongh put Mvovo away to score in right corner.
However, the Barbarians hit back from the restart when they turned over the SA 'A' side's ball. Veteran Frederic Michalak then darted through to score after some terrible defending by the home side.
It was raining turnovers halfway through the first half. Prop Thomas du Toit and hooker Franco Marias did excellent work to free up Mapimpi, who finished off the move this time around.
The SA 'A' team's third try also came from turnover ball. The French side spilled the ball in their half, and SA 'A' flyhalf Lionel Cronje picked the ball. The Southern Kings beat a couple of defenders, before offloading to No. 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe to score.
The SA 'A' side's fourth try, though, came from a planned move from set piece. After clean ball at the lineout, loose forward Uzair Cassiem broke away from the lineout before popping a pass to centre Harold Voster, who ran a great angle, to score.
France back Anthony Billeau scored the last try of the first half after yet another turnover, before scoring the first try of the second half after following up a beautifully weighted kick by Michalak.
Voster's second try also came from kick, but this time it was more of a kick and hope by wing Ruan Combrinck. Cronje then kicked the conversion to give the South African team the lead.
Mvovo, though, made sure of a local win when he burst free on the halfway line when to score his second try and round off a good personal outing for the fullback.