South Africa 56 - 23 Samoa: Habana hikes Test try count

BRYAN Habana scored his 50th Test try as South Africa beat Samoa to win the Castle Lager Incoming Series in Pretoria.

Habana moved to joint fifth in the Test tryscorers standings with two yesterday as the Springboks went over eight times with Francois Louw (two), JJ Engelbrecht, Bjorn Basson, Morne Steyn and Trevor Nyakane all on the scoresheet.

Teofilo Paulo and Junior Poluleuligaga scored for Samoa but the Springboks were irresistible, their pace and power constantly tying Samoa in knots.

Steyn put South Africa in front with a penalty after three minutes before two James So’oialo efforts put Samoa 6-3 ahead, but it was merely a prelude to a relentless Springboks attack.

First Habana went over for his 49th Test try, Steyn adding the conversion, then a driving maul ended with Louw grounding the ball, Steyn again converting.

Steyn then traded penalties with So’oialo before South Africa drew further ahead through Engelbrecht.

The hosts increased their lead when Basson went over, South Africa stand-off Steyn converting again as South Africa reached half-time 32-9 ahead.

Samoa’s Paulo went over, narrowing the score to 32-16, but then went a man down when Alesana Tuilagi was sent off for a challenge on Jean de Villiers. Moments later Habana got his 50th Test try. Steyn then went over before missing the conversion and going off.

Habana was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on and the following lineout found Poluleuligaga collecting and charging over, Paul Williams converting.

Louw got his second before Nyakane powered over with Patrick Lambie converting both.