The Springboks‘ end-of-year-tour went from bad to worse last night as they went down 24 – 23 to a spirited Saracens side at Wembley.

After a promising start in which they built up a 18-6 lead at halftime the Springboks fell away drastically in the second period as an amazing midweek crowd of 46 281 cheered Sarries home to a famous victory.

Notwithstanding Welsh referee James Jones making a number of odd decisions that favoured Sarries and the fact that this was South Africa’s second string the Springboks’ proud record of being the No 1 side in the world lay in tatters as they prepared to fly to Italy for Saturday’s test against Italy.

In what was a match between the Experimental Boks and the Expatriate Boks (Saracens had ten South Africans, including four former Boks, in their squad) the supposed next generation of Springbok rugby was made to look thoroughly inept once the Guinness Premiership log leaders got a sniff of victory in the second half.

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Brendan Venter, Saracens’ director of coaching was asked to leave Springbok practice at Old Albanians training ground on Monday before Tuesday’s friendly match against the English club side.

The Springboks meet Saracens at Wembley on Tuesday night where they are desperate for a win after losing to Leicester and France so far on tour.

The Bok coaching staff were rightly upset that Venter was at the side of the field, despite the close working relationship between the club and tourists.

On Sunday night Springbok and Saracens players enjoyed a meal and drinks together but on Monday it was business as usual and the sight of Venter worried the team management.

Media manager Anthony Mackaiser was dispatched to ask Venter to leave, which lead to a terse exchange between the two.

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The Stormers and Springbok flanker Schalk Burger have turned down a offer from Saracens in England and won’t join the exodus of South African players to Europe.

“I am with the Stormers until the end of the year. I want to play my rugby here. There are big tests coming up against the British and Irish Lions, as well as a Tri-Nations,” said Burger.

“I would like to play in South Africa and for the Springboks for as long as possible. If I want to do that, I probably can’t go overseas.”

Saracens were planning a loan agreement with Burger for ten games during the Currie Cup. It is believed that Stormers captain Jean de Villiers was also in their sights.

Brendan Venter, who is currently working as a defence consultant for the Stormers, will assume the role of director of rugby at Saracens in July.

It was reported on Wednesday that the English club had decided not to renew the contracts of 15 players, including former All Black lock Chris Jack.

Saracens reportedly want to replace them all with South Africans, but that is not entirely accurate. However, a handful of South Africans are in Saracens’ sights.

Loose forward Justin Melck has already joined, while a source told Die Burger that Stormers hooker Schalk Brits has “already signed” for the club. Brits can effect an escape clause in his contract after the Super 14.

It has been reliably learned that offers are also on the table for the Lions duo of hooker Ethienne Reynecke and lock Anton van Zyl.

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The 25 000 spectators that flocked to Newlands on Sunday got their money’s worth for this pre-season warm-up, with the two teams stacking up nine tries. The Stormers eventually came out on top by beating the English Premier side Saracens 43 – 33.

The half-time score was 24-16 in favour of the Stormers, who in the first half looked like the team with the more ammunition and deserved to be ahead. That Newlands can prepare itself for a bumper Super 14 season was evident with such a big crowd rocking up to see their heroes in action.

The Stormers will be happy with the performance, although they know that they would have to up the intensity levels considerably in the competition proper. They showed good skills on the attack and although there were a few defensive lapses the tackling was generally good.

They held their own in the scrums – except maybe for the last 15 minutes or so after a few changes were made to the pack – and lineouts and their loose play was good.

It was not the ideal start to the match for the Stormers, as Saracens right wing Kameli Ratuvou was the beneficiary of a pretty fortunate bounce – and for Stormers wing Tonderai Chavhanga a very cruel one as he completely missed the ball – after a kick ahead from scrum-half Justin Marhsall.

Fly-half Glen Jackson converted. With barely 3 minutes gone on the clock the home side was behind 7-3.

The Stormers, however, made their intentions clear with an intense onslaught on the visitors’ try-line which resulted in a penalty close to the Sarries try-line. Flyhalf Peter Grant made it 7-3.

In the 12th minute the Stormers attacked strongly again and scrumhalf Ricky Januarie was stopped short of the line but had enough presence of mind to hand the ball to wing Sereli Naqelevuki, who stretched and scored the first Stormers try of 2009. Grant converted to put his side in the lead (10-7).

Jackson, however, drew the scores level with a penalty in the 16th minute. A minute later former Natal Sharks centre Brad Barritt left the field in a shaken state after an illegal tackle on Grant.

Centre Gcobani Bobo, who showed impressive early-season form, darted through the defence from close range in the 19th minute after a good build-up from his mates. Grant converted to make the score 17-10 just before the first water break.

Jackson slotted penalties in the 23rd and 31st minutes to bring his side back into contention at 17-16.

A scintillating movement, in which number eight Luke Watson, full-back Percy Montgomery featured prominently, led to a great try by hooker Schalk Brits in the 38th minute. Grant again converted to make the half-time score 24-16.

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Rassie Erasmus have chosen the strongest possible Stormers team possible to face the English club Saracens in the friendly Super 14 warm-up match at Newlands on Sunday.

Percy Montgomery will get a chance to return to the Stormers No15 jersey in the absence of the injured Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes and Schalk Burger will be out for another week with a foot complaint, otherwise the team looks a close replica of the one likely to start the Super 14 campaign against the Sharks on Valentine’s Day.

Duane Vermeulen, the star loose-forward newcomer from the Cheetahs, will start in the No7 jersey, with Francois Louw being entrusted with the task of taking over Burger’s openside duties for this match.

“As you know, in our side the No8 is the openside,” joked Erasmus, who has often expressed the opinion that numbers on the back mean little to the loose-forward configuration.

“Francois will have the job of doing most of the work of the openside flanker in this game, but they will help each other out and do a bit of both.”

Vermeulen is normally a No8, so it is interesting to see Luke Watson retained at No8. What will be even more interesting, however, will be to see what Erasmus does with his selection once Burger is fit again.

As anticipated, Erasmus is giving Tongan Alipate Fatafehi, who apparently showed some good touches in an opposed practice session against UCT last weekend, a chance to show what he can do in a match situation.

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Former Stormers and Western Province player and current Saracens scrumhalf Neil de Kock won’t visit Newlands on the 25th January because of a broken arm.
“Neil will be out of action for ten weeks. It’s a huge blow for us. He’s a very important player in our side,” said Eddie Jones, Saracens director of rugby.
Saracens thrashed Bristol 37-13 on Sunday and are now sixth on the English log.
Former Wallaby coach Jones said there was a strong possibility that ex-Springbok tighthead prop Cobus Visagie would play for Saracens against the Stormers.
Visagie was a pillar of strength for the Stormers and Western Province for years before his decision to move to England.
He is now in the twilight of his career as player and is assisting with the coaching of Saracens’ forwards.
He was used as a substitute against Bristol and is still a powerful scrummager.
“Cobus is likely to be involved,” said Jones.
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