New record: Bryan Habana
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South Africa cruised to an emphatic 87-0 World Cup Pool A win over Namibia on Thursday.
Veteran wing Bryan Habana's first-half score saw him set a new Test try-scoring record for the Springboks, finally breaking Joost van der Westhuizen's long-standing benchmark.
The Namibian scrum was under the cosh from the start, meaning South Africa's backs had plenty of quality ball and the men in green and gold raced to a 31-0 lead at the break
The defending champions had the bonus point secured by half time thanks to tries from Gio Aplon, Habana, Jaque Fourie and a penalty try against the Namibian scrum.
Aplon added a second in after the restart while Francois Hougaard and Juan de Jongh both also touched down twice.
With the Namibian defence dead on their feet, the game turned into a try festival as Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn and Danie Rossouw added their names to the scorecard.
Aplon was the first man to cross the whitewash after Hougaard beat three defenders to put him clear, but the moment all of South Africa had been waiting for came on 22 minutes when Habana had an easy run-in to collect his 39th Test try.
With the Namibian scrum buckling, referee George Clancy raised his arms under the sticks for the Boks third try before a magic off-load from Frans Steyn's set Jaque Fourie free for number four.
The Racing Metro utility back was in the mix again to score South Africa's first try of the second period - meaning Steyn has scored in all three of the Boks games in the tournament so far.
It was one-way traffic in the last quarter with seven tries being scored in the last twenty minutes. Morne Steyn, and his replacement Ruan Pienaar, made sure that no points were left behind as they slotted all thirteen of their kicks at goal.
If ever there was any doubt about the Springboks' capacity to defend their title, the rout in Albany confirmed that they mean business.
Man of the match: Hard to pick a single player because the Boks dominated all over the park. The official award went to Willem Alberts, who didn't score but left plenty of Namibians bruised. We'll go for Francois Hougaard however. Something always seems to happen when he has the ball in hand as illustrated by his two tries.
Moment of the match: Twelve tries to choose from but one had special significance. Bryan Habana's record-breaking try was a long time in coming, but is just reward for a distinguished career.
Villain of the match: N/A
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: Aplon 2, Habana, penalty try, Fourie, F. Steyn, M. Steyn, De Jongh 2, Hougaard 2, Rossouw
Cons: M. Steyn 6, Pienaar 6
Pen: M. Steyn
South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn , 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Willem Alberts, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Francois Louw, 19 Heinrich Brüssow, 20 Fourie du Preez, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Juan de Jongh.
Namibia: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Danie van Wyk, 12 Piet van Zyl, 11 Heine Bock, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7 Jacques Burger (c), 6 Tinus du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Heinz Koll, 3 Marius Visser, 2 Bertus O'Callaghan, 1 Johnnie Redelinghuys.
Replacements: 16 Hugo Horn, 17 Jane du Toit, 18 PJ van Lill, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Ryan de la Harpe, 21 Darryl de la Harpe, 22 Conrad Marais.
Venue: North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Tim Hayes (Wales)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Comments
APV1 says...
@ JayStarr - no, ESPN. Was invited by a chum and joined in three leagues. I'm rubbish, by the way. The players I select keep getting injured or banned and I miss the transfer window. That's how much I know!!
(But I still reckon I'm slightly more sane than either PdV or Lievremont!)
Posted 14:57 23rd September 2011
JayStarr says...
@ ashley71: Ha ha... sorry - I was just talking about the British. But of course the Irish fall into that catagory as well... :) The Irish I know at least...
@ GCP_JONES: No problem. You should visit Namibia some time - one of the most beautiful places on earth... In fact it doesn't even feel like you're on earth - more like some alien planet! Breathtaking landscapes all over the country.
@ APV1: you mean "fantasies"... :P Are you competing in the Testrugby/Planetrugby division?
Posted 12:24 23rd September 2011
melkdave says...
@'Real Rugby
LOL your right i put marios instead of moaris sorry about that .But what a team that would be super plumbers forever lol.Thanks for pointing it out its good to laugh at yourself once in a while LOL
Posted 12:03 23rd September 2011
APV1 says...
@ JayStarr - I have and, in fact, am "competing". I was just off on one and had horrible visions... lol
Posted 10:39 23rd September 2011
GCP_JONES says...
@ JayStarr...
Thanks for the answer, have to say I hope the boks keep playing the way they are at the moment, very impressive.
Posted 09:55 23rd September 2011
RealRugby says...
@melkdave - NZ mario's?
I'm assuming this is the Mario cuzzie bro's!
Posted 01:21 23rd September 2011
JayStarr says...
@ GCP_JONES & blametheref: Namibia did compete in one of our competitions - the Vodacom Cup. That's the one below the Currie Cup (which in turn is below Super Rugby)... And they came dead last! We also invited Argentina to compete in it (minus their players playing in Europe, so all their amateurs) and they won it. Namibia's best players tend to play for South African provinces or clubs because then they get a salary. The thing is that there isn't much chance to grow the game there - Namibia is a massive country with a very small population (most of it is desert - the oldest desert in the world in fact!)... So I think they only have something like 1,000 registered players!
APV1: Wow... that was weird. Fantasy rugby - have you ever heard of it..? lol
@ Welshy: Are you an Englishman in disguise..? Welsh and Scottish people are the interesting nice ones... I thought only English people were bitter and sarcastic.
Posted 22:26 22nd September 2011
FTM89 says...
@Islandpower
This wasn`t even our best team and rugby is becoming a more competitive sport, just like soccer.
I do agree that the weaker teams need to be helped to get even more competitive...
Posted 21:42 22nd September 2011
Dylbull says...
@ruggaluva
agree with you 100%, we have been very poor at the breakdown. I believe it is a combination of things. Schalk and Pierre spend a lot of time in the backline when we are in possession of the ball. Brussow is always there but it's not enough. I believe we are missing Bizmarck in this area more than we realize. A hooker in the modern game needs to be mobile, like a 4th loose forward, check the stats, when we had him starting regularly and smit injured we didn't lose this much ball at the break down, he is immense in that area.
Posted 18:02 22nd September 2011
letsgoboks says...
Darthbok - I dont think a team would want to just draft in randoms to compete...
The reality is - I can see the bigger nations like Japan, USA, Russia all progressing in the future cause they can throw a lot of money at the sport and have the resources. Smaller countries like Namibia/Fiji etc just dont have that and will always lag behind.
Posted 17:57 22nd September 2011
blametheref says...
@GCP_Jones
That's a great idea you posted...
Posted 17:52 22nd September 2011
whatisthis says...
@ darthbok
i dnt think that is the solution to things...im sure the namibian players that are there are happy to get the chance to represent their country also.. just for the sake of scalk brits or any other pro...
im a leinster fan and the talk is of richardt strauss playing for ireland... would be a good addition but isnt a good message to all the other irish players that you can try hard but if their is a better foreign player at a club he could take your place...
Posted 17:45 22nd September 2011
winsum says...
I hope Namibia hurt waling Wales, soften them up and shut their mouths a bit, pathetic moaners!
Posted 17:41 22nd September 2011
melkdave says...
I agree the IRB should be doing more to promote the sport worldwide ,and to be fair they have now started to USA and Canada will shortly be joining the test sheduals of the tier 1 nations as have Samoa Fiji and Tonga.This hopfully will get american tv interested whitch will help no end there .As for Georgia ect in europe yeah the time is fast approching for a playoff game or games between the european nations winners and the last placed 6N team.But to be honest i think its at least 4 years off maybe 5 as vested interests will lobby against it in the IRB.In Africa maybe a version of the Churchill cup could be forthcomming with Namiba-Kenya-Camaroon -Niger or simalar playing against a Bokkes A side and NZ marios ??.To start with .As for Asia im afraid i dont know much of whats happening there except that China and India have started local /regional leagues now long way to go in those countries lol.Of course all this is going to take money whitch kinda explains why the IRB was asking £95 million from NZ to host in 11 and £125 million for England 15 and i think simalar for Japan 19.Oh almost forgot S.America lol well atm i think they are exploring an Americas cup secnario with Argentina A Uragray -Chile-Mexico and any other american countries playing strutchered rugby.And lets not forget the 7s game that will now go along way to introducing nations to the sport now its an olympic one that needs promoting aswell lol
Posted 17:31 22nd September 2011
Welshy says...
Sorry guys. You're right, I wasn't giving S Africa a fair shout. Forgot to say well done in the Tri Nations - you must be very proud.
Also didn't give Habana his due - He was a great player in his time just a shame he never had a truly great team to back him up. 39 trys is pretty good although some way to go to Shane Williams with 55. At Habana's current rate he should surpass Shane in around 2027.
Look forward to hearing from the Bok supporters. Remember it is only a game. Yeah right!
Posted 17:22 22nd September 2011
APV1 says...
@ JayStarr - the thought of Mornê Steyn in your fantasy worries me a little, my friend - I do hope he's a gentle lover..!! Does he take his boots off when you're together..? ;-)
@ blametheref - you wrote, "What effect does this have on Namibian rugby?" I suspect that playing in the RWC provides a whole lot of support, resources and development opportunities. The IRB pump cash into the emerging nations to fund the development of their rugby and playing in the RWC is great exposure, regardless of the result. I imagine if you asked any of the Namibian team or squad whether they would rather get beaten 87 -0 by the Boks, or not be in the RWC at all, they'd take the beating every day of the week. I for one would love to pull on a jersey and face up to some of the finest players in the world, even if I knew I would get munted.
As IslandPower and leinster_goy mentioned, it's great that it was ONLY 87 this time. Perhaps next time it will be less than 50 and Namibia will get some points themselves... A few years ago Italy joined the 5N to make the 6N. They used to get hammered every match. This year they beat the French. Development for these emerging nations takes time and lets applaud them for how far they've come, rather than condescend them by suggesting that nothing was achieved for them.
Posted 16:43 22nd September 2011
darthbok says...
`smaller ` rugby nations should have different rules for naturalisation -- ie the could recruit players from other countries deliberately 6m before the RWC -- about 6 -8 per squad , and then they would be majorly competitive -- there are LOADS of players who would love to play in the RWC for the minnows .scalk britts playing for namibia --wanderbar !
Posted 16:35 22nd September 2011
ruggaluva says...
Actually i thought it was a pretty messy affair from the Boks.... the protection at the rucks has been poor all tournament, no change today. apart from the scrums even set piece was scratchy and the forwards were not cohesive/ hunting as a pack. Everyone trying to be the star. Habs got his try now put him out to pasture. i would have Fdp at scrummie and Hougaard on the wing for starter. Lambie is a cool customer but still looks out of his depth.
Posted 16:31 22nd September 2011
GCP_JONES says...
@JayStarr says...
why not let the Nambian National side compete as one of the Super 15 sides or in the Currie Cup... thats the kind of thing thats needed. All the Tier 1 countries should change the dynamic of their set-ups to help these sides.
Say in Europe, have the six nations as a promotion relagation competition, or let the likes of Georgia, Romania, Russia Spain etc...compete in a league competion of the Heineken cup.
These countries were competiive before the sport went professional, things need to change, its time that the IRB stopped the talking and started to take the game forward to make it a ral world sport.
Posted 16:25 22nd September 2011
Rude_Dawg says...
Wow, the 2nd half showed that the Boks are looking hungry, confident and even quite stylish. Of all the big nation/ minnow games I have watched so far, they are also looking the most relaxed and really enjoying their game. I think this in itself is quite telling and may just be the sign we Saffas all looking for. All credit to the coaches and Smit
Agree with PR, Hougaard was the in my view the Super Star of the game. When this guy gets the ball, SA moves forward (that includes me in the couch), and he combines so well with those around him ¿ the rest of team feed off him and carry on the momentum he creates. I think he played excellently in both positions (other than the odd iffy kick in the 1st half).
The other stand-out players were: Alberts, F Steyn, Rossouw ¿ all played brilliantly well. I really think the back-line has stepped up since F. Steyn moved to centre. Do you guys reckon he should be a permanent feature with de Villiers on the bench?
And let¿s no forget Morne ¿ 100% conversion ¿ that must be double every other team¿s rate in the tournament so far!!!! If he keeps to these kinds of stats, we will be going far in this tournament.
The rest of the team played well ¿ Well done okes!!
My only niggle is with Habana who again was frequently out of position and did not combine well. And for Smit fluffing 3 throw-ins.
Posted 16:11 22nd September 2011