It may be a big win for the Springboks, but Portugal can be immensely proud of the performance they put in tonight in Bloemfontein. They managed to make a couple of epic breaks, going from deep within their 22 for the opening try of the match and making some more linebreaks that had the Boks scrambling on defence. The Boks come away with a result that does leave room for improvement, but with a group of youngsters on the pitch this was a great first performance for the debutants. South Africa have a three week break now ahead of the kick off of the Rugby Championship, and they'll be kicking that off against the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Portugal struggled to get their own game going most of the time due to the Boks' defence. They tried to spread the ball wide, but for the most part the home side were able to get themselves over the breakdown to force turnovers or made crunching tackles that were able to push the visitors backwards to prevent them from getting good quality ball out wide to the back three. Nonetheless, the likes of Pinto, Bento, and Paiva Dos Santos still made some huge carries up the wide channels when they did get ball in hand, and it was often just the last pass or a desperate last line of defence tackle that managed to prevent Os Lobos from crossing the line.

The Boks' scrum was huge, as usual, putting Portugal under enormous pressure and winning a couple of penalties in the process. Their rolling mauls also had Os Lobos scrambling backwards on defence a couple of times, although the visitors did manage on a few occasions to drive the Boks effectively to touch to force them to spread the ball infield instead.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was absolutely flawless off the tee when he came on in the second half, converting all five tries. He was also epic to watch in-game, making a couple of breaks, putting kicks into space to put his back three onto the front foot, and offloading well to his outside to keep the ball alive. South Africa had some big performances all over the park really, with four of their debutants crossing the chalk tonight just the tip of the iceberg for South Africa.

South Africa scored 5 tries before the break to take a decent lead into halftime, and added another 5 in the second 40 while Portugal were able to add another two to their own tally after the break. The Boks would have taken a bigger win had it not been for some poor kicking from Manie Libbok in the first half, with three of his five attempts off the tee going awry. Portugal's kickers were right on target, with Moura adding the first conversion and Cabral the second and third.

The Portuguese side also had a far better showing than the Springboks in terms of their discipline, managing to keep all their players on the pitch while the home side were reduced to 14 from early on and then to 13 twice during the remainder of the match. Despite the cards, South Africa were not going to be constrained. Their first card -- given to Esterhuizen with less than 3 minutes on the clock -- was upgraded to red, and it was Portugal who struck first on the scoreboard shortly after. But after both their second and third cards the home side quickly crossed the chalk, finding gaps in the Portuguese defence that really shouldn't have been there for the team down to 13.

A huge result for the Springboks in Bloemfontein! 10 tries from the home side, but it was a great showing from Portugal as well as they crossed the chalk three times themselves, opening the scoring early on in the match with a try that shocked the Boks as Os Lobos ran it in from deep in their own 22. It took them until deep into the second half to cross the line again, and by that point the Boks already had an unassailable lead, but it didn't stop the visitors from fighting right to the end, adding another try in the final couple of minutes after the home side were shown their third card of the game.

80+1'

Feinberg-Mngomezulu adds the icing to the cake with yet another stunning kick from the left wing to add the extras!

64-21 S. Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Conversion

80+1'

80'

Quick ball off the lineout and Portugal spread it wide across the width of the pitch back behind their tryline! They are looking for the space out on the right wing, but the Boks are quickly across and force the turnover on the floor! The home side flick it back infield where they drive quickly back up over the 5 through Venter. Van den Berg with the quick recycle to the left where Mapimpi dives right through the gap for his third!

62-21 M. Mapimpi

Try

80'

78'

Snyman forces his way up to the 5 before it's flicked up to Venter who offloads well. A bit loose as they go to the right, and hacked through from Portugal. Feinberg-Mngomezulu gets back for it first. The Boks drive it back up a little before the kick up the right touchline for Arendse who is absolutely haring after it! He scoops it up on the bounce, but the crossfield cover throws him into touch!

77'

Portugal miss the restart, and Arendse is there to clean up! Louw on the inside with a strong carry up into contact before Venter has a go. Van den Berg tries to dart up the side of the ruck, but he's quickly repelled. Louw with another carry in the midfield before it's flicked through the hands to the left wing for Mapimpi who drives halfway up the 22. Louw back on the inside stopped short.

76'

Great kick from Cabral to add the extras from out wide on the left.

76'

57-21 D. Cabral

Conversion

75'

Tap and go this time! Crossfield kick to the left wing where Pinto dances up towards the defence, dodging Am and then Snyman before slipping out of the tackle from Mchunu. Pick and go from the eventual ruck, and it's Madeira who dives over the line after running into his teammate...

75'

57-19 J. Madeira

Try

74'

Horn to the bin for the contact in the air, and the Boks are back down to 13.

Q. Horn

74'

Lineout set up halfway up the 22 this time. Pinheiro again, and this time Os Lobos are going to use the maul! They run it off their own feet though, so Camacho will bring it infield. Crossfield kick out to the right wing, and a penalty as there's contact in the air on the Os Lobos player.

73'

Lineout set up on halfway. Pinheiro brings the set piece ball down, and it's quickly popped off the back of the maul. They send it infield, and the Boks are pinged for hands past the ball at the ensuing breakdown.

72'

Deep restart onto the Boks, and Van den Berg puts the box kick ahead. Snyman only just manages to make the tackle thanks to a desperate hand on the bottom of Cunha's jersey. And that's forced the loose ball! The Boks clean up and run it up the right wing before putting the crossfield kick out to the left wing. Portugal gather deep inside the 22 and spread it through the hands to the left where they drive up out of the 22. Penalty called for a dangerous tackle from the most recent try-scorer.

70'

Easiest conversion of the night for Feinberg-Mngomezulu from just to the left.

57-14 S. Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Conversion

70'

69'

Moerat brings the ball down into the maul, but it's being shoved towards the touchline... Venter breaks away just in time and drives up on the inside. Louw with the next carry before Feinberg-Mngomezulu has a go. Venter with a strong carry and a good offload on the 5 as well! Venter with a monster leg drive off the pick and go, and yet another debutant crosses the chalk!

55-14 A. Venter

Try

69'