0
BRISBANE, Nov 1: South Africa blasted their way into the World Cup quarterfinals with a clinical 60-10 victory over Samoa in their final pool C match on Saturday.
The 1995 champions were in command from the moment Joe van Niekerk scored a second-minute penalty and after they reached the break 31-3 ahead.
Derick Hougaard, the 20-year-old preferred by Rudolf Straeuli to the experienced Louis Koen at flyhalf, repaid the coach’s faith with a superb performance.
In only his fourth appearance and uncapped before the tournament, he scored a try, five conversions, a penalty and a drop goal for a haul of 21 points.
South Africa scored eight tries in all to stroll into a probable quarterfinal meeting with their greatest rivals New Zealand.
A typical piece of enterprise from Joost van der Westhuizen saw the scrumhalf slip untouched down the short side of a scrum and then feed the supporting Van Niekerk for a try after 90 seconds.
Hougaard added a seventh-minute drop goal then centre Jorrie Muller touched down after good work by his pack.
Samoa finally settled and put together some promising attacks but more poor handling allowed Hougaard to kick and chase his way to the third try after 26 minutes.
Hooker John Smit then threw a neat dummy to open the way for his virtual namesake Juan Smith to score just before the break, Hougaard converting.
Samoa showed far more enterprise in the second half and their efforts earned a try for lock Opeta Palepoi after six minutes. South Africa survived the test though, then cooled the Samoan ardour when Hougaard landed a penalty.
He limped out of the action a few minutes later, but only after he had converted winger Ashwin Willemse’s 68th-minute breakaway try.
Samoa’s usually indomitable spirit was then broken and Jaque Fourie scored a minute after coming on as a replacement, fullback Jaco van der Westhuyzen got in on the action and replacement scrumhalf Neil de Kock got a try in the last minute which he successfully converted.
Unconvincing Australia
MELBOURNE: Champions Australia came through a stern World Cup examination to edge out Ireland 17-16 on Saturday and set up a quarterfinal meeting with Scotland.
Ireland, always playing catch-up but who got to within a point after a second-half try and drop goal by centre Brian O’Driscoll, will face France after finishing as runners-up in group A.
Ireland’s David Humphreys missed a drop goal by a couple of feet in the final five minutes.
Australia failed to dominate despite going ahead through a George Gregan drop goal after 10 minutes and adding a try soon after when winger Wendell Sailor was held up just short before the ball was swung left and flanker George Smith ran in unopposed.
Flyhalf Ronan O’Gara kept Ireland in contention with two penalties before O’Driscoll, his foot just inches clear of the touchline, dived in for his try.
Scotland DOWN Fiji
SYDNEY: Scotland survived a Fijian battering and two fine tries from explosive winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca to snatch a last-gasp 22-20 victory and reach the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
The Scots, who have never failed to reach the last eight in the tournament, went ahead with just over two minutes left after scoring through prop Tom Smith from a rolling maul, moments after Fiji lock Api Naevo was sin-binned.
Caucaunibuca, just back from a two match ban for foul play, smashed through the tackles of fullback Glenn Metcalfe and winger Kenny Logan to score in the left corner after 13 minutes.
He scored an even better try just before the break with two sidesteps inside and a run from his own half.
But Scotland, 14-6 down at the break, survived some ferocious tackling and kept it tight as flyhalf Chris Paterson slotted five penalties.
They reached the last eight as runners-up behind France.
Fiji, who put on a fine display of tacking and free running, had crossed the Scottish line three times in the first half but each was ruled out for infringements.
STANDINGS
P W D L F A BP Pts
Australia 4 4 0 0 273 32 2 18
Ireland 4 3 0 1 141 58 3 15
Argentina 4 2 0 2 140 57 3 11
Romania 4 1 0 3 65 192 1 5
Namibia 4 0 0 4 28 310 0 0
France 4 4 0 0 204 70 4 20
Scotland 4 3 0 1 102 97 2 14
Fiji 4 2 0 2 98 114 2 10
U.S. 4 1 0 3 86 125 2 6
Japan 4 0 0 4 79 163 0 0
South Africa 4 3 0 1 184 60 3 15
England 3 3 0 0 144 34 2 14
Samoa 4 2 0 2 138 117 2 10
Uruguay 3 1 0 2 43 144 0 4
Georgia 4 0 0 4 46 200 0 0
New Zealand 3 3 0 0 229 20 3 15
Wales 3 3 0 0 95 45 1 13
Italy 4 2 0 2 77 123 0 8
Canada 4 1 0 3 54 135 1 5
Tonga 4 0 0 4 46 178 1 1
—Reuters
