Saracens 24-23 South Africa
Derick Hougaard's late drop-goal secured an historic win for Sarries
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By Martyn Thomas.
South Africa's winless tour of the northern hemisphere continued as a late Derick Hougaard drop-goal secured a memorable win for Saracens at Wembley.
Hougaard's kick capped a remarkable second half performance from Sarries as they came back from 18-6 down at half-time to win.
Fly-half Hougaard had already missed with three woeful drop-goal attempts when he dropped back in the 74th minute. However, with a penalty coming he made no mistake and hammered the ball through the posts.
Indeed, Sarries, who started with ten South Africans in their 22-man squad, were second best for much of the first half.
After the two sides traded penalties in the first ten minutes, Ruan Pienaar nudged the Springboks 6-3 in front with another penalty on 17 minutes.
South Africa were controlling the game and nearly scored the first try of the game just a minute later. Great handling from Earl Rose, Odwa Ndungane and Andries Bekker put Jongi Nokwe in the clear before he returned the favour to Bekker.
However, as the big second row honed in on the line, Noah Cato got back to pull off a try-saving tackle and edge the Springbok into touch.
The understudies were enjoying themselves now and their superiority was underlined as skipper Dewald Potgieter elected to kick to the corner rather than take the three points a simple penalty offered.
And the visitors' dominance eventually paid off in the 29th minute as de Jongh showed great strength to hold off a challenge and bundle over.
Then, after Pienaar missed the conversion and a subsequent penalty, the Springboks stretched their lead with a second try. Rose's long clearance appeared to have been knocked on by Ashley Johnson but referee James Jones allowed play to continue and Nokwe touched down under the posts.
Saracens were able to peg the visitors back before half-time thanks to Hougaard's penalty. But South Africa's 18-6 lead looked unassailable as the team's turned round.
However it took just six minutes of the second half for Sarries to get back in the game. Ernst Joubert charged down Francois Hougaard's attempted clearance before racing onto the loose ball to score.
And just eight minutes later when Brad Barritt powered over from close range, and Hougaard added the extras, the home side were level.
Saracens were now on top and were camped in the Springboks half.
However, as Hougaard wasted possession with three woeful drop-goal attempts, it looked as though South Africa were back in the ascendency as Nokwe went over for a classy score.
A great inside ball from Rose had set up the move, though Ndungane's crucial pass to his wing partner was forward.
Sarries wouldn't go away however as a Hougaard penalty and then his dramatic late drop-goal condemned the Springboks to the third defeat of their tour.
Saracens: Horak; Cato, Ratuvou, Barritt, Tagicakibau; Hougaard, De Kock; Gill, Reynecke, Skuse, Botha, Vyvyan, van Heerden (capt), Melck, Joubert.
Pens: Hougaard (3)
Tries: Joubert, Barritt
Con: Hougaard
Drop-goal: Hougaard
South Africa: Rose; Ndungane, de Jongh, Olivier, Nokwe; Pienaar, Adams; du Preez, Strauss, van der Linde, Rossouw, Bekker, Deysel, Potgieter (capt), Johnson.
Pens: Pienaar (2)
Tries: de Jongh, Nokwe (2)
Con: Pienaar
Ref: James Jones
Att: 46,281