Defending champions South Africa broke their own Rugby World Cup points record with an 87-0 blitz of doughty Namibia to all but seal a place in the quarter-finals at North Harbour on Thursday.
The Springboks didn’t quite replicate their landslide 105-13 win of their African neighbours four years ago but they still finished with 12 tries, seven of them coming in the final 20 minutes as the floodgates opened.
It was a night of milestones with the Springboks bettering their previous record winning RWC margin of 66 points against Uruguay in 2003.
South Africa also equalled their own record run of 10 unbeaten games at the World Cup and former IRB Player of the Year Bryan Habana set a new Springbok tryscoring record with his 39th career try.
Winger Gio Aplon, replacement back Juan de Jongh and scrumhalf Francois Hougaard all scored try doubles with fly-half Morne Steyn finishing with 20 points.
The Namibians gave it a crack and held the Springboks to 31-0 at halftime before the effort told and their defensive line cracked wide open.
South Africa moved to 14 points at the top of Pool D, eight ahead of Samoa and nine ahead of Wales, needing only one more point in their final group game against Samoa next week to clinch a berth in the last eight.
The Springboks have now totted up 153 points in their three games at the World Cup and are moving ominously into form ahead of a likely quarter-final with Australia.
Habana finally overtook Joost van der Westhuizen to establish a new Springbok tryscoring record with his team’s second try in the 22nd minute.
Right winger Aplon, who proved a handful for Namibia, scored the opening try after seven minutes helped by centres Jaque Fourie and Frans Steyn.
But the Springbok scoring was stalled by dropped ball and wayward lineout throws until Habana scooted clear after a great cut-out pass from lock Danie Rossouw.
The Springbok pack was relentless with loosehead Gurthro Steenkamp prominent and were awarded a penalty try in the 30th minute after attempts for a pushover try.
Fourie extended his Springbok record for most career tries as a centre to 28 when he scored off a clever Frans Steyn offload. Fourie has now scored nine RWC tries.
Fourie’s try claimed South Africa a scoring bonus point and a 31-0 halftime lead.
Namibia had their moments in the opening half none more than blindside flanker Tinus du Plessis punching through the Springbok line twice, while winger Heini Bock took play deep into the Springbok half in a rare excursion.
The impressive Frans Steyn crossed nine minutes after the interval off a Pierre Spies offload and Morne Steyn’s conversion pushed the Boks to a 38-0 lead.
Morne Steyn’s last act was to convert his own 60th-minute try from the sideline for seven out of seven kicks before he was replaced along with Frans Steyn and Steenkamp.
He finished with 20 points from a try, six conversions and a penalty.
The tries began to flow late in the half as the Namibians tired with Aplon nabbing his second and replacement de Jongh and Hougaard helping themselves to doubles
Rusty
Roar Guru
Boks got ahead of themselves and tried to rush things from the offset. In the end the better conditioning blew the amateurs off the park and the score reached the expected levels. Some notes though - Boks need to stick to the direct game before going wide. Leave the forced passes to Quade & co - Smits lineout throwing which is usually spot on was very erratic and 3 times ruined a very good attacking setpiece - Boks missed Brussouw at ruck time with little attention going in till Louw came on. I think Burger missed him too as the both of them are the defensive edge with an average of 40 tackles per game between them - Pack was very good come scrum time until the front row changes and Louw on as lock. Admittedly it was Namibia - Steenkamp had another very strong game in the tight and the loose. Defenite starter and not a bad thing to have the Beast backing him up although it may mean CJ will bench as he packs on both sides - I dont know what people were smoking but Alberts was nowhere near the man of the match and missed alot of tackles by not employing his arms enough. Also went missing for large periods of the game. An impact subs bench spot beckons - Rossouw had a strong game but with Botha running out of puff every 50-60min he will be awarded with a sub spot when Matfield comes back. - Hougaard wasnt nearly as good at being scrumhalf as he was a wing. His passing from the base was a little laboured and he was caught behind the gainline more than a few times. FdP brought a lot more composure in the second half and freed Hougaard to run amok on the flank. Hougaard to a starting wing spot with JPP - F Steyn had another excellent game in 12 and should be starting in the rest of the campaign - Morne again showing more than a kicking game which was pleasing. Also nailed all his kicks - Spies again showed he can mix it with front foot ball although a couple of lateral runs when he should be going forward will count against him Overall a mixed bag as they missed the clinical edge of the previous game but still dominated most facets. Team for Samoa 1. Steenkamp 2. Bismarck 3. Jannie 4. Botha 5. Matfield 6. Brussouw 7. Burger 8. Spies 9. Fdp 10. Steyn 11. Hougaard 12. F Steyn 13. Fourie 14. JPP 15. Lambie 16. Beast - LH 17. Smit - Hooker/TH 18. Rossouw - Lock/6/8 19. Alberts - 6/8/lock 20. Jdv - centre/wing 21. Aplon - wing/15. 22. Pienaar- centre/10/9
Amorita Maharaj
Roar Rookie
Brilliant!!! Go Springboks :)