Unbeaten Boks top Samoa, into last 8
Source: Agencies |
October 1, 2011, Saturday
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IF the Samoans had to go at the Rugby World Cup, they were determined to take some Springboks out with them.
Defending champion South Africa led 13-0 and was showing glimpses of championship-winning form yesterday before a counterassault from Samoa, which launched attack after brutal attack before succumbing 5-13.
The South Africans survived the onslaught to advance unbeaten to the quarterfinals and achieved some milestones on the way, including Bryan Habana's 10th World Cup try and skipper John Smit's 16th consecutive match at the tournament - even if that lasted only a couple of minutes before he was yellow carded for a professional foul.
It was the kind of bruising, energy-absorbing game that would have delighted South Africa's potential opponents in the knockout rounds.
Among them could be Tri-Nations champion Australia in the quarterfinals and top-ranked New Zealand in the semis.
The Wallabies, off-course since an upset loss to Ireland, finish off Pool C with an injury-plagued team featuring 35-year-old backrower Radike Samo starting on the wing against Russia today.
Two-time finalist France faces a nervy match against Tonga, another heavy-hitting Polynesian team that has a remote chance of progressing to the last 8 for the first time and will leave its share of bruises on the Frenchmen.
Today will conclude with what shapes as a classic encounter between unbeaten England and Scotland, the oldest rivals in international rugby, at sold-out, 60,000-seat Eden Park in Auckland. The Scots need to beat England by at least eight points - something they haven't achieved in 25 years - or they'll miss the quarterfinals for the first time at a World Cup. England can still be eliminated if it doesn't win or pick up a bonus point.
England team manager Martin Johnson spent part of yesterday fending off questions about the ball tampering fiasco which resulted in two of his coaches being banned from the sidelines for Scotland match.
"In the pressure of a World Cup these things can happen."
Samoa fullback Paul Williams had one of those moments in the 69th minute yesterday, when he responded to some baiting from Heinrich Brussow with a slap to the Springboks flanker's face in clear view of the match officials and just about everyone in the ground-record crowd of 29,734 at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland. It earned him the first red card of the tournament and all but derailed Samoa's comeback attempt.
South Africa scored all of its points in the first 27 minutes, with a converted try to Habana and penalties from Morne Steyn and Frans Steyn.
The Samoans launched an impressive comeback, which only netted a try to big No. 8 George Stowers in the 52nd minute.
Springboks coach Peter de Villiers was grateful his squad got through almost unscathed. "You'll never find a team more physical in rugby. It was a great preparation going forward for us. Just glad to come through it."
Defending champion South Africa led 13-0 and was showing glimpses of championship-winning form yesterday before a counterassault from Samoa, which launched attack after brutal attack before succumbing 5-13.
The South Africans survived the onslaught to advance unbeaten to the quarterfinals and achieved some milestones on the way, including Bryan Habana's 10th World Cup try and skipper John Smit's 16th consecutive match at the tournament - even if that lasted only a couple of minutes before he was yellow carded for a professional foul.
It was the kind of bruising, energy-absorbing game that would have delighted South Africa's potential opponents in the knockout rounds.
Among them could be Tri-Nations champion Australia in the quarterfinals and top-ranked New Zealand in the semis.
The Wallabies, off-course since an upset loss to Ireland, finish off Pool C with an injury-plagued team featuring 35-year-old backrower Radike Samo starting on the wing against Russia today.
Two-time finalist France faces a nervy match against Tonga, another heavy-hitting Polynesian team that has a remote chance of progressing to the last 8 for the first time and will leave its share of bruises on the Frenchmen.
Today will conclude with what shapes as a classic encounter between unbeaten England and Scotland, the oldest rivals in international rugby, at sold-out, 60,000-seat Eden Park in Auckland. The Scots need to beat England by at least eight points - something they haven't achieved in 25 years - or they'll miss the quarterfinals for the first time at a World Cup. England can still be eliminated if it doesn't win or pick up a bonus point.
England team manager Martin Johnson spent part of yesterday fending off questions about the ball tampering fiasco which resulted in two of his coaches being banned from the sidelines for Scotland match.
"In the pressure of a World Cup these things can happen."
Samoa fullback Paul Williams had one of those moments in the 69th minute yesterday, when he responded to some baiting from Heinrich Brussow with a slap to the Springboks flanker's face in clear view of the match officials and just about everyone in the ground-record crowd of 29,734 at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland. It earned him the first red card of the tournament and all but derailed Samoa's comeback attempt.
South Africa scored all of its points in the first 27 minutes, with a converted try to Habana and penalties from Morne Steyn and Frans Steyn.
The Samoans launched an impressive comeback, which only netted a try to big No. 8 George Stowers in the 52nd minute.
Springboks coach Peter de Villiers was grateful his squad got through almost unscathed. "You'll never find a team more physical in rugby. It was a great preparation going forward for us. Just glad to come through it."
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