November Tests: Boks steal Paris thriller, Ireland continue record home run

Sun, Nov 11, 2018, 12:00 AM
AAP
by AAP
Bongi Mbonambi scored the match-winning try for South Africa in Paris. Photo: Getty Images
Bongi Mbonambi scored the match-winning try for South Africa in Paris. Photo: Getty Images

Another massive weekend of November internationals .

Missed anything? Catch up right here.

FRANCE vs SOUTH AFRICA 

South Africa beat France 29-26 thanks to a dramatic last-minute try in torrential rain at the Stade de France on Saturday.

France led 26-22 with the 80 minutes up but hooker Bongi Mbonambi stunned the home crowd when he was driven over for the converted score.

t was a major blow for France who had led 16-9 at the break and then 23-9 before the Springboks hit back.

Replacement hooker Mbonambi's touchdown after 85 minutes allowed the Springboks to celebrate a win which followed narrow losses to New Zealand and England.

The result also extended South Africa's nine-year unbeaten run against France and restored some confidence for coach Rassie Erasmus with less than a year to go until the start of the World Cup in Japan where his team face world number one side the All Blacks in the group stages.

RESULT

France 26

Tries: Guirado, Bastareaud

Cons: Serin 2

Pens: Serin 3

DropLopez

South Africa 29

Tries: Nkosi, Mbonambi

Cons: Pollard 2

Pens: Pollard 5

England vs New Zealand

Full match report here

RESULT

England 15 

Tries: Ashton, Hartley 

Cons: Farrell 

Drop: Farrell 

All Blacks 16 

Tries: McKenzie 

Cons: Barrett

Pens: Barrett 2

Drop: Barrett

IRELAND vs ARGENTINA

Ireland made it 10 successive home wins in a 28-17 victory over Argentina on Saturday at Lansdowne Road that came at a cost for the Six Nations Grand Slam holders.

The hosts scored three tries to the visitors' one but lost flanker Sean O'Brien, scrum-half Kieran Marmion and centre Robbie Henshaw, who was hurt in the warm-up, to injuries. 

Their losses could prove a spanner in the works for head coach Joe Schmidt's plans with world champions New Zealand due next Saturday in a clash of the top two-ranked teams in the world.

"There are lots of positives to take out of this," said Irish captain Rory Best.

"It's been a long time since this group played together so rust was inevitable.

"With Robbie dropping out too so close to the match was also a blow."

All the stats here.

RESULT

Ireland 28

Tries: Marmion, Aki, McGrath

Cons: Sexton 2

Pens: Sexton 3

Argentina 17

Tries: Delguy

Pens: Sanchez 4

SCOTLAND vs FIJI

Stuart Hogg and Scotland celebrate a try against Fiji. Photo: Getty ImagesTommy Seymour scored a hat-trick as Scotland ran in eight tries to beat Fiji 54-17 at Murrayfield on Saturday and claim their first win of the Autumn internationals.

Allan Dell, Fraser Brown, Sean Maitland, Jamie Ritchie and Adam Hastings also scored tries as the Scots survived an early scare when scores from Viliame Mata and Semi Radradra gave Fiji a 17-14 lead.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend had recalled the experience of Stuart Hogg, Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell from the side beaten 21-10 by Wales in Cardiff last week and they also all played a big part in a fine display.

Townsend knew to his cost how dangerous the Pacific Islanders could be after watching his side suffer defeat in Suva 17 months ago.

And there were early warning signs as Radradra's lightning burst required a last-gasp intervention from Hogg to prevent the visitors adding to Ben Volavola's second-minute penalty.

But it was Scotland who grabbed the opening try after 12 minutes as the forwards bludgeoned their way to the line before Dell dived over for a score converted by Laidlaw.

Seymour then played his part in Scotland's second try as Brown burrowed over.

But the hooker was at fault as Fiji pounced on his overthrown line-out moments later, with Bill Mata powering through the middle to score under the posts.

And the visitors moved in front thanks to a moment of inspiration from Leone Nakarawa as he found a chink in the Scots' defence.

Frank Lomani was sent scampering clear before Tevita Cavubati popped the ball off to Radrada to touchdown.

However, the pressure imposed by Scotland's forwards soon proved too much for the Fijians, who had both Cavubati and Nakarawa sent to the sin bin after hauling down mauls within sight of the line.

All the stats here.

RESULT

Scotland 54

Tries: Seymour 3, Dell, Brown, Maitland, Ritchie, Hastings

Cons: Laidlaw 5, Russell 2

Fiji 17

Tries: Mata, Radradra

Cons: Volavola 2

Pens: Volavola 

ITALY vs GEORGIA

Italy flyhalf Tommaso Allan in action against Georgia. Photo: AFP

Italy did their best to dampen Georgia's Six Nations aspirations with a 28-17 win in Florence.

The Azzurri were dominant for most of the game and flyhalf Tommaso Allan's 13 points propelled them to a confidence-boosting win over the Georgians.

It was just Italy's second win of the season after beating Japan in June.

All the stats here.

RESULT

Italy 28

Tries: Campagnaro, Bellini, Ferrari, Allan

Cons: Allan

Pens: Allan 2

Georgia 17

Tries: Mchedlidze, Penalty

Cons: Matiashvili

Pens: Matiashvili

USA vs SAMOA

An 80th-minute Will Hooley penalty has handed the USA their first-ever win over Samoa, 30-29.

Hooley's final three-pointer was his fourth successful shot of the day and it was his most important.

No. 8 Cameron Dolan had a second half double as the Americans continued their unbeaten 2018 with the historic victory.

All the stats here

RESULT

USA 30

Tries: Dolan 2, Germishuys, Taufet'e

Cons: Hooley 2

Pens: Hooley 2

Samoa 29

Tries: Mulipola, Fidow, Matavao, Taulagi

Cons: Pisi 3

Pens: Leuila

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