South Africa defeated USA 29-16 to take the gold medal in the 2005 Maccabiah Rugby competition. South Africa has won the competition in four of the last five tournaments. USA confidence was high going into the match after their impressive 23-3 dismantling of Great Britain in the semi-finals, but an erratic first 20 minutes that saw the South Africans force USA mistakes en route to a 20-3 lead was too large a hole for the Americans to overcome.

Israel defeated Great Britain in the consolation finals to win the bronze medal.

South Africa jumped out to a 0-3 lead on the first play of the game when USA took the kickoff and committed a high elbow penalty going into the tackle. USA responded, however, with a series of rucks going forward in the attacking end which drew an offsides penalty, slotted by scrumhalf Greg Vander Grift from the corner and the score was tied (3-3). USA then commited several mistakes in its own end, losing possession off stalled mauls and poached balls in tackles. South Africa made two penalty kicks (3-9) and then scored two converted tries off loose play (3-23). USA responded with a Van der Grift penalty just before halftime (6-23). There were few USA bright spots in the first half. Hooker Aaron Blatt, who had been a leading force in the tournament, left the game after only a few minutes with a rib problem sustained in the semi-finals. Flanker Aaron Ellison showed gave the USA a boost with several open field breaks off line-outs.

In the second half, USA coach Stu Krohn substituted liberally, trying to get a comeback started. USA scored on a penalty kick (9-23) and appeared to be settling down and keeping sustained drives in the attacking end. South Africa immediately went into a game-slowing strategy, kicking to touch and taking injury time whenever the USA appeared to be building momentum. Midway through the second half, South Africa extended its lead with a long penalty kick (9-26), but USA answered by showing exceptional patience driving in a maul, touched down by lock Aaron Davis. With Van der Grift’s conversion (16-26), USA was down 10 and within striking distance with plenty of time. Fullback Micah Mills led the offensive attack in the backs with several breakaways off counterattacks. Reserve center Aaron Manheimer saved a try by outracing a South African back who had squibbed into the try zone.

However, USA could not convert on several late scoring chances, including a 5 meter lineout and a scrum from 10 meters. South Africa scored another penalty goal from 45 meters to put the game out of reach with time running out (29-16). In the end, the South Africans were effective in controlling the pace of the game to reduce USA’s advantage of strength, speed and fitness.

1. K. Schulman 2. A. Blatt (D. Glattstein) 3. R. Perle (D. Gertzkov) 4. J. Kaplan 5. A. Davis 6. B. Brown (D. Pitzele) 7. A. Ellison (J. Bakst) 8. G. Dotan 9. G. Van der Giff (M. Fair) 10. J. Nash 11. B. Burns 12. A. Mayer (A. Manheimer) 13. A. Lebowitz 14. J. Sturman (D. Ostriker) 15. M. Mills