5 Dec 2010

Baabaas beat Springboks

6:48 am on 5 December 2010

An under-strength South Africa rugby side rounded off their northern hemisphere tour with a 26-20 defeat to an impressive Barbarians side at Twickenham.

Australian Drew Mitchell scored two tries and James O'Connor one as the Baa-Baas stormed into a 19-3 half-time lead.

South Africa hit back through Odwa Ndungane but Quintin Geldenhuys went over in the corner to restore the invitational side's 14-point lead.

Bakkies Botha and Bandise Maku scored late tries for the Springboks.

The defeat provided a sour end to a mixed tour for the world champions, which featured victories over Ireland, Wales and England but a defeat to Scotland.

The Barbarians included Welsh flanker Martyn Williams as their only British Isles representative in a side featuring six Australians and five New Zealanders.