Leicester stun Springboks 22-17

LONDON (AP) English club champion Leicester stunned World Cup holder South Africa 22-17 at Welford Road on Friday.

Leicester, playing without six England internationals and nine first-choice players, rallied from an early 8-0 deficit to lead 16-11 by halftime. Scrumhalf Ben Youngs added two more penalties in a 17-point haul to make it 22-11, then limited the Springboks to just two penalties in the last 15 minutes of their European rugby tour opener.

The hosts repulsed a sustained Springboks rally inside their 22 in the last minutes, finally forcing a knockon by winger Odwa Ndungane to seal one of rugby's great upsets.

"I don't think I've ever seen (a South Africa pack) as bad as that, especially from a coaching perspective. We were given a bit of a lesson at the scrums," assistant coach Dick Muir said.

"Hats off to the Tigers. They were incredibly strong in that department so we've got to go back to the drawing board."

Ndungane was one of eight players who were part of the champion Tri-Nations team, but they ran into a defense inspired by a record home crowd, a sellout 24,000 with the opening of a new stand.

Ruan Pienaar's first of four penalties was added to soon after when his grubber kick into the left corner was pounced on by winger Jongi Nokwe for 8-0.

After a Youngs penalty in reply, winger Johne Murphy began a Leicester counterattack in his half, and midfield prospect Manu Tuilagi fed winger Lucas Amorosino to finish off between the posts. Youngs' conversion put Leicester up 10-8, and in front for good.

With the home pack in charge against a Springboks test front five, Youngs booted over two more shots at the posts, while Pienaar finished the entertaining half with a penalty.

Two more penalties earned by the Leicester scrum were converted by Youngs for 22-11.

Pienaar didn't have another penalty attempt until there were 15 minutes left, making it, then hitting the post with another shot soon after. The Boks flyhalf kicked another penalty to close the gap to five, but that was all Leicester was prepared to concede as the defense stepped up.

"Our scrum was immense and Geoff Parling was superb in the front row," Leicester coach Richard Cockerill said.

"Rugby can get quite scientific in its analysis these days. Sometimes you just need 15 blokes to come here and roll their sleeves up. The scientists can't quantify that. And that's what we did tonight."

After the Springboks play France next week, they return to England to meet Premiership leader Saracens, then face Italy and Ireland.

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Leicester 22 (Lucas Amorosino try; Ben Youngs 5 penalties, conversion), South Africa 17 (Jongi Nokwe try; Ruan Pienaar 4 penalties). HT: 16-11.

Updated November 6, 2009

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