Mapimpi's Hat-Trick Propels Springboks to Dominant Victory

Makazole Mapimpi scored three tries as South Africa defeated Portugal 64-21, despite being a man down for nearly the whole match. The match took place at Free State Stadium and featured seven South African debutants. Despite an early setback, the Springboks outplayed Portugal, scoring ten tries.

Makazole Mapimpi delivered a stellar performance, scoring a hat-trick of tries to help South Africa secure a dominant 64-21 victory over Portugal. The match, held at Free State Stadium, saw the Springboks down to 14 men for virtually the entire game after Andre Esterhuizen was sent off just minutes in for a head-high tackle.

The visitors capitalized on their numerical advantage early on, with Jose Paiva dos Santos scoring a breakaway try in the 11th minute. However, the top-ranked World Cup winners quickly regrouped and showcased their class, overcoming the initial setback to entertain the crowd with a festival of running rugby.

South Africa, who featured seven debutants, ultimately outscored Portugal by ten tries to three, underlining their depth and prowess in the sport.

(With inputs from agencies.)