South Africa v Japan live: Feinberg-Mngomezulu inspires brilliant Springboks to big win at Wembley
South Africa 61-7 Japan: A decade on from the ‘Miracle of Brighton’, the Springboks demolish the completely outclassed Brave Blossoms with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Kurt-Lee Arendse the stars
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Kurt-Lee Arendse shone as South Africa thrashed Japan 61-7 in their clash at Wembley.
Ten years on from the greatest of all Rugby World Cup shocks, Eddie Jones was bidding to mastermind another Japanese success over the Springboks but instead watched his Brave Blossoms get demolished and outclassed for 80 minutes in London.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Arendse scored two tries apiece, with the former pulling the strings from No 10 spectacularly, while Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Andre Estehuizen and Jesse Kriel also crossed, as well as the fearsome South African driving maul earning a penalty try.
It was the latest ominous warning to the rest of the rugby world from Rassie Erasmus’s back-to-back world champions and they head into mouth-watering clashes with France and Ireland in the next few weeks full of confidence
Relive all the action from Wembley with our live blog below:
WATCH: South Africa down Japan at Wembley
Here’s a couple of South Africa’s tries this afternoon
South Africa 61-7 Japan
The Springboks had far too much in the tank for Japan today
Springboks start autumn internationals with a bang
A perfect day at the office for the Springboks at Wembley
FULL-TIME! South Africa 61-7 Japan
It’s all over at Wembley. A complete and utter demolition job by the Springboks.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was brilliant pulling the strings in the first half and Kurt-Lee Arendse produced moments of magic after the break as the Brave Blossoms couldn’t cope.
No one can stop South Africa at the moment.
TRY! South Africa 61-7 Japan (Jesse Kriel, 79 mins)
Still time for one more Boks try and they clear 60 points!
Libbok takes a high ball and quickly shifts it left to Arendse, he bursts through an arm tackle, draws in Greene and pops inside to Jesse Kriel. It’s an easy run-in for the centre and he gets his 20th try for South Africa.
Libbok adds the conversion which gets the Boks beyond 60
South Africa 54-7 Japan, 78 mins
Arendse with a jump step into a half gap before Nortje barrels into contact. But Japan hold firm and Libbok eventually opts for a kick, which he shanks straight into the air. The Brave Blossoms claims and clear over halfway. Into the final knockings at Wembley.
South Africa 54-7 Japan, 77 mins
A rare lineout malfunction from South Africa as Japan win the ball and scramble away, although they barely clear the 22.
The Boks come again, with De Allende providing a big carry before Smith knocks on in contact. Japan try to counter but the dark green wall shows no sign of breaking, so Sam Greene boots clear
South Africa 54-7 Japan, 74 mins
Faulua Makisi tackled by Libbok and Kwagga Smith is straight over the top of the ball. Perfect body position and wins the turnover penalty. Class.
South Africa 54-7 Japan, 71 mins
This is getting badly out of hand for Japan now. Arendse is smelling a hat-trick as he slips through a gap down the left flank and hares into the 22 but the Brave Blossoms scramble their defence back.
TRY! South Africa 54-7 Japan (Kurt-Lee Arendse, 67 mins)
WOW! This is a stunning try. Kolbe catches the ball in his own 22 and there’s not really anything on. But he makes something happen.
He accelerates and finds a gap between two defenders. Space opens up in front of him and he bursts into it before chipping a kick over the top.
It bounces forward into the 22 and Kurt-Lee Arendse has given chase, diving on it and sliding over the line for the try. Sublime!
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