Sent off: Samoa's Paul Williams
South Africa remained unbeaten in Pool D and move on to the World Cup quarter-finals after beating Samoa 13-5 at North Harbour Stadium on Friday.
Samoa knew going in that it would be a tough ask to make it into the quarter-finals, but no one ever doubted they would fight until the final whistle.
There was a smidge of 'what might have been' attached to the result though for the islanders as had Mahonri Schwalger grounded a score, who knows what might of happened in the final stages. As it was the reigning champions had enough in the tank to stave off their opponents.
The Springboks came out with intent and quickly set about using their star player of the tournament thus far, Danie Rossouw, to make the metres. Nothing came of their foray after Morne Steyn sliced a drop-goal attempt, but the marker was laid that they weren't going to lose the physical.
South Africa tried for the opening points again moments later when Frans Steyn had a 60-metre penalty shot after good breakdown work from Heinrich Brüssow. That struck the crossbar in what turned out to only be delaying the inevitable as the Bok power soon shone through. They attacked down the left via Schalk Burger, who used his backline, which allowed Bryan Habana to cross in the corner. Morne Steyn's conversion made it 7-0 on ten minutes.
Samoa needed to up the ante and subsequently played to their strengths, with carrying from George Stowers and Seilala Mapusua making ground. That passage certainly let the Boks know they were not going to have it all their own way in Albany as slowly but surely Samoa gained momentum, being willed on by their passionate supporters. It was also apparent South Africa were not going to enjoy a similar score of their triumphs in 2007 and 2003.
That was not to say the Boks were struggling to make their presence felt, and with Frans Steyn sending over a 65-metre penalty on 25 minutes, they knew territory was not going to be a problem. That three was promptly doubled by namesake Morne two minutes later too as Samoa were penalised at scrum-time. 13-0 it was with barely half-an-hour played as Samoa's hopes looked to be getting even slimmer. Wales' fate was also almost known.
North Harbour Stadium was treated to a pulsating finish to the half when Kahn Fotuali'i broke down the right wing before handing on to Mapusua, but the ex-Exiles centre's Hail Mary pass failed to find its man, sending the teams in at 13-0 in favour of the Springboks.
It was a bumper 29,734 crowd on Friday that while packed into an open stadium, did not lack in atmosphere with the vocal Bok fans met by the islanders. And the former were soon to be silenced by a mass of noise from those waving blue and red as a lovely dummy and run from Tusi Pisi unlocked the defence. His offload to Mapusua was then recycled for Stowers to crash in. Pisi missed the kick that would have brought them within one score.
South Africa could have blamed that swing in momentum on the fact they had lost duo Habana and Rossouw, who later returned, to injuries minutes earlier. However, that is doing a disservice to Samoa who were turning up the heat on their rivals during the opening 20 minutes of the second stanza. The Boks needed to some fresh legs and Peter de Villiers oblidged, throwing on forwards Gurthrö Steenkamp and Willem Alberts for the last quarter.
It did little disarm the Samoan assault though as they kept on coming, mixing power up front with stepping wider out until Schwalger came within touching distance of the line before fumbling. Was that to be the moment that would haunt his outfit in the morning?
That it proved to be as an ill-tempered finish that saw Paul Williams sent-off for pushing Brüssow in the face and then John Smit shown yellow after a deliberate slap-down, ultimately ended Samoa's 2011. South Africa are now set to face the Wallabies.
Man of the match: Although on the losing side, Tusi Pisi again showed that he had a big future leading Samoa. The fly-half was light on his feet throughout and marshalled well, finding holes on more than one occasion. Mentions too for Bok props Tendai Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis at scrum-time and also flanker Schalk Burger, who was a genuine nuisance to Maurie Fa'asavalu and George Stowers. David Lemi was also very impressive.
Moment of the match: Had captain Mahonri Schwalger managed to hold onto the ball when reaching out on 66 minutes, maybe the Samoans were on the verge of something historic. But it was not meant to be as even with John Smit going to the sin-bin soon after, South Africa held on to top the Pool and set up a probable last-eight clash with Australia.
Villain of the match: It was played hard but fair until Paul Williams pushed/punched Heinrich Brüssow after being held at a breakdown. Williams will be upset with how he ended the tournament as the frustration got the better of him.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Try: Habana
Con: M Steyn
Pens: F Steyn, M Steyn
For Samoa:
Try: Stowers
Red card: Paul Williams, 67 mins (Samoa, punching)
Yellow card: John Smit, 70 mins (SA, killing the ball)
Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 David Lemi, 13 Seilala Mapusua, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 George Stowers, 7 Maurie Faasavalu, 6 Taiasina Tuifua, 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Daniel Leo, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (c), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 Logovi'i Mulipola, 19 Ofisa Treviranus, 20 Filipo Lavea Levi, 21 Junior Poluleuligaga, 22 George Pisi.
South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie Du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie Du Plessis, 2 Bismarck Du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 CJ van der Linde, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Jean De Villiers.
Referee: Nigel Owens
By Adam Kyriacou at North Harbour Stadium
Comments
arguti says...
Samoa played out of their skins and have raw talent in abundance but often lacked the final killer decision in one on one situations.
If they spent less time trying to demonstrate their physicality and more time using their talent and skills, they will deffo step up to the high table. I am sick and tired of SA kicking away possession to teams like Samoa and NZ when we know exactly what they can do with the ball. Great defence but knackers us and increases the risks of injuries.
Boks should have kept it tighter in first 40 when they had the wind and played to their strengths, set pieces especially line outs.
Even if they beat Australia and ABs, will there be enough fuel in the tank, worried that Hougaard's knock looked quite bad and he should not medically be playing in the next match but they need him too much.
French refs are the most balanced overall and this one likes his own voice too much.
Posted 16:36 30th September 2011
rugbylover11 says...
@objective!!!
bunch of thugs? where were you when the boks were doing neck high tackles in the first half from every angle? and were the samoans reactions unprovoked?? hehehehe!!!
I think the only thug that was at the game was YOU!! Your language proves it.
Why don't you go down town and give that kind of comment in public?
I AM SURE YOU WILL BE CIRCUMCISED DOWN THERE WHERE REAL THUGS ARE.
Change your name to pessimistic, it best represents you.
Posted 16:31 30th September 2011
JayStarr says...
The Springboks kept Samoa in this game by kicking their ball away aimlessly... they didn't allow themselves to find any kind of rhythm with ball in hand, while Samoa held on to the ball well and found a rhythm. I knew the Boks would treat this game like a knock-out game (i.e. play conservatively), but I expected them to try and hold onto the ball! THEY kept Samoa in the game - and therefore fired up - while they slipped into defensive mode...
Nevertheless, that was the best defensive effort of the tournament so far, their discipline was also fantastic and they just won the Pool of Death, so I'm not going to be too harsh on them... Besides, I think the mistakes they made today and the intense game it resulted in will pay dividends in the knock-out stages.
As for Samoa - I can't believe their captain says the ref was harsh on them..! They got away with murder in that game! With the amount of late tackles, taking out players without the ball, headlocks, high tackles, not giving ANY daylight to the tackled player and just constant nasty stuff off the ball, he should be happy that his team didn't have at least 10 penalties and a yellow card more! With someone like Allain Rolland they would've... and then it would've been a different game. No doubt Owens was out of his depth, but he was bad both ways - so no merit in Schwalger's accusation.
As for John Smit's yellow card - what a joke! Last time I checked a knock-down (whether deliberate or accidental) required a player to actually knock the ball down..! His arm was clearly moving in an upwards motion and he was clearly going for the intercept... which is not a penalty - and definitely not a yellow card!
Anyway, the Boks might not have won by much, but they still won convincingly. They also won the Pool of Death, now there is just 3 games between them and glory...
Shosholoza South Africa!
Posted 16:30 30th September 2011
TVaddict says...
@pierredelot1
You started well then went down hill. You can't just ban the top 8 teams from having foreign born players. That is far too simplistic! For example, your parents could be on holiday when your born, or working abroad for couple of years when your born, etc...
I don't like it when people make sweeping comment about this matter, as people don't think about how it can be very hurtful to people in the position. It is a very complicated issue as it is very subjective (i.e. there are always going to be situation you can think of where it doesn't work). The 4 years rule is just because after you've lived in a country for 4 years you legally qualify as a resident (or is it citizen?), and so gain all the benefits of that. So I expect everything will stay as it is for the foreseeable future as it's less about winning and more about legal rights.
Posted 16:22 30th September 2011
rugbylover11 says...
@voice
.."samoa new thungs of world rugby"????????????
you should have noticed tonight the boks being thugs as well hehehehe!!!!!!!
Posted 16:14 30th September 2011
SNAKEFACE says...
The Boks should get on the 1st plane tomorrow, AND HEAD HOME. Crap rugby, Crap coach & Crap SARFU president.
Posted 15:23 30th September 2011
FTM89 says...
Great game Samoa, instead you made an upset...SA need to count their injuries now and pick themselves up and hope Italy can make an upset against the irish...
Posted 15:14 30th September 2011
ztekkiwi says...
I must first confess that I turned off the game at the 67th minute. How BOTH players were not sent off is beyond my comprehension. After reviewing the incident that feeling is only confirmed. Brussow clearly landed three forearm smashes to the head and/or neck of Paul Williams before wailing on Williams' clutching arm. He also fell like a 2nd division striker after the so called, Williams 'punch'. However, Nigel Owens had clearly lost control of this match long before: those of us who have been on the bottom of a ruck know that what goes on there is what the referee will allow ... and Owens allowed quite a lot! It was clear from the tone in his voice that he was in over his head on this night.
But the Boks had only themselves to blame for the slim victory; they had a clear advantage at the line-out and consistantly overpowered Samoa when they chose to maul. Samoa was playing its 4th game in 16 days and in the first half the precision kicking of the Boks should have been turning them around and running them back at every turn considering that north Aukie breeze. The long range goal kicking display certainly was meant to send the message to all future opponents that if you may a mistake in the SA end of the pitch they'll make you pay.
Lastly, the IRB need to closely review Nigel Owens' performance throughout this game before assigning him to the knock-out stages.
Posted 15:09 30th September 2011
Brandolin says...
Powerplay - you're obviously a proud Samoan supporter, you're angry that they lost - get over it.
I thought SA would win by 20, they didn't but I reckon if they played the whole 80 minutes they would have. Having said that - play this match again and I'll only predict a 15 point margin :)
Can anyone answer me this, why did the ref go to the TMO for Schwalger's "try" when he knew it was knocked on before hand - since a TMO can't talk about what happens before the tryline?
Posted 14:55 30th September 2011
The_Block says...
Wow, the Boks should have lost. The Samoans owned them. Blindest ref ever seen. Manu Samoa, you should be proud. You beat the Boks today. You just couldn't beat the ref. Biggest upset so far in the world cup. The fact that you were denied your win.
Posted 14:51 30th September 2011
ruggaluva says...
@tuisamaurugby... I dont think you read my piece properly. You cant argue that in the 1st half that the Boks were completely on top in every department of the game. They should have been able to kick on from that platform but they didnt. Samoa were not in it and were given the opportunity after that to play and to their credit they took it and took it well and won the 2nd half. Samoa showed great spirit but ultimately do not have the personnel to go all the way.
All this whining about the ref and dirty play from both sides is absolute BS... it was rough and messy and that what we expected - i am not Nigel Owen's biggest fan as his matches tend not to flow very well BUT he did ok.
Posted 14:43 30th September 2011
zambokke says...
PDivvy - bad tactics again. Kick the ball away every time? Kick tactically, but not every time. Hats of to Samoa - they can hold their heads high; they did the same to us as Wales - mind you, we used the same tactics i.e kick everything away and then try and defend. 2 games that we could have lost.
Posted 14:27 30th September 2011
pierredelot1 says...
What sort of twaddle is this bit about Williams not letting go. He was holding the man in. Brussouw was making a fuss about it, they broke, Williams grabbed him with one arm and slapped him with the other. Red card, end of story. Personally it seemed well refereed, there was ongoing communication which was clear, what more do players need. Overall it boiled down to the fact that there was not quite enough Samoan wit to break down the Bok defence but they have really come on in the last four years and another four may see them having a more succesful campaign. Australia v South Africa is not going to be a given for either side so I wait for that result with interest. All these arguments about overseas players playing for their non native countries is a waste of time. It is all down to money and whether or not players are willing to play for another nation. Personally I can't see it, I just wouldn't do it, but players see a reward and a once in a lifetime opportunity and feel compelled to take it. Most of the major nations have fielded teams with foreign born players, so why don't they ban it for the top 8 nations altogether. But that would probably be against human rights and winning is more important in the professional game than principal.
Posted 14:14 30th September 2011
darthbok says...
manu samoa tripped and fell
springbok bruised and a little sore
bruises turn to muscle - pain to distain
the dark green cloud grows a little more ---
sorry ...........
Posted 14:08 30th September 2011
blindmice says...
As a neutral, this game showed a few things of concern for our SA friends. Tactics in the fast half all wrong. should have played the wind and stuck the ball in the corners for the first 40. leaving the kicks at goal aside, they had the scrum and the lineout to do some real damage in the first 40. 13-0 did not recognise the advantage they had. second half were telling in 2 ways. Samoa smashed the bokkie forward and consequently the backline disappeared. The tactic of reverting to the high ball did not work either and only accelerated the fatigue that became apparent in the last 15 minutes. Samoa were breaking tackles and the bokkie loose defence was a shambles. For samoa, they did not have the presence of mind to capitalise on this and passes went down and wrong options taken. 50/50 calls went against them and it just was not going to be their night. Somehow the bokkie held on. did anyone notice after the whistle went? SA were exhausted. They were good enough to get out of jail, but there are worrying signs going into the quarters with the fuel gauge empty sign showing in the last 10 minutes. it was grit, a bit of luck and some ill discipline from samoa that got them through. Aussies and Kiwis will have watched that last 20 minutes with interest going in to the bokkies next couple of matches. great game all up and despite the chorus, refereeing was fairly good save for a couple of dubious decisions against both teams. Cards were due for the 2 incidents, but should have been 2 yellows....
Posted 14:06 30th September 2011
lawynd says...
@Fred91 - careful about bringing up racism, when you've got absolutely no evidence to back it up. Owens has been called many things in his time but I don't believe 'racist' ever has been, or should be, one of them. I'd also love to know how he did it in the Samoa - Wales game too, given that Alain Rolland refereed that game with Romain Poite and Jérôme Garces as his assistants...
@gooseberry - I suggest you take a trip to the opticians and then watch the game back with the correct prescription; Brussow clearly struck Williams on the head twice in his attempts to free himself. I'd also dearly love to hear how you can 'blindsided' by a strike to the face!
@abrad - I totally agree, it's another of these niggly areas that I wish referees would clamp down on; it happens at almost every ruck now, along with blockers, and it's a disgrace. I do think that the touch judges need to be given greater licence to follow these aspects of play to help the referee, and I do wonder if the experiment with two referees on the field in the NRL produced any results. Mind you, that would mean we needed significantly more referees - the IRB need to do more to encourage players to take the same route as Glenn Jackson when they retire, IMO.
Posted 13:59 30th September 2011
tuisamaurugby says...
ruggaluva...u one dum azz...look at the game stat how could you say it could have been an easy game for sa...they just got lucky the ref made a lot of bad calls....wallabies will run around your d-fense...good luck..nz will win all the way eventhough their fan base are useless...lol GO MANU...
Posted 13:48 30th September 2011
tuisamaurugby says...
canesno1Fan, you one of those one wanna be samoan and wanna be kiwi...pretty u just lost in a big world..stick with your all blacks don't comment anymore on the samoan pple....make sure u not there illegal...lol se malo manu....
Posted 13:44 30th September 2011
tuisamaurugby says...
canesno1Fan, you one of those one wanna be samoan and wanna be kiwi...pretty u just lost in a big world..stick with your all blacks don't comment anymore on the samoan pple....make sure u not there illegal...lol se malo manu....
Posted 13:44 30th September 2011
RuckingFlanker says...
Disgraceful thuggery from Samoa, that's not what rugby is about. Reminds me of the Irish style in the era of Woods and Clohessey, if you can't win, niggle, illegally disrupt, foul, hold on, punch, and all manner of low blows. Would love to see Samoa concentrate on playing rugby, as opposed to what they do, they would be very hard to beat. As it is, they need to be censured in some way.
Posted 13:40 30th September 2011