South Africa 13 - 5 Samoa: Springboks send Samoa home after bruising test

DEFENDING champions South Africa advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals by winning Pool D with a 100 per cent record after beating Samoa in a titanic tussle at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

All of South Africa’s points came in the first half, but despite a mighty effort, Samoa, who were reduced to 14 men when Paul Williams was sent off late on, were unable to keep their last-eight hopes alive.

Bryan Habana scored a ninth-minute try, Morne Steyn added the conversion and a penalty and Frans Steyn kicked a penalty from his own half for the Springboks, who are set to play in the runners-up in Pool C in Wellington next Sunday.

George Stowers’ second-half try was not enough for Samoa, who had full-back Williams sent off after 70 minutes for punching Heinrich Brussow.

South Africa also finished the match with 14 men after captain John Smit, on as a replacement, was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

Samoa’s failure to get a losing bonus point means they are set to finish third in the pool and Wales should advance as runners-up, barring a major shock against Fiji tomorrow.

Entering the match, Samoa needed at least a losing bonus point and a Fiji win in Wellington to have any chance of progressing, but the Springboks were determined to find their form for the knockout stages in their own uncompromising style. It was a brutally physical contest and there were a couple of heated off-the-ball exchanges in an absorbing 80 minutes.

After Morne Steyn missed a drop-goal attempt and Frans Steyn hit the crossbar with a long-range penalty, South Africa broke through. Habana went over in the corner for his 40th Test try and his tenth in ten World Cup appearances. Morne Steyn converted.

Frans Steyn kicked a penalty from almost 60 metres and Morne Steyn added one from 40 metres.

Samoa spread the ball wide in the second half and Stowers barged over. Their chances suffered a blow after Williams was shown a red card for lashing out at Brussow after the South Africa flanker had been held back at a ruck, but South Africa also ended the game with 14 men when captain Smit was shown a yellow card after 71 minutes.

Scorers: South Africa – Try: Habana. Con: M Steyn. Pens: F Steyn, M Steyn. Samoa: Try: Stowers.

South Africa: Lambie; Pietersen, Fourie, F. Steyn, Habana; M. Steyn, du Preez; Mtawarira, B. du Plessis, J. du Plessis, Rossouw, Matfield, Brussow, Burger, Spies. Replacements: Hougaard for Habana (47), Steenkamp for Mtawarira (62), Smit for B. du Plessis (69), Alberts for Spies (61). Not used: van der Linde, Louw, de Villiers. Sin bin: Smit (70).

Samoa: Williams; Lemi, Mapusua, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Tuilagi; T. Pisi, Fotuali’i; Taulafo, Schwalger, Johnston, Leo, Thompson, Tuifua, Fa’asavalu, Stowers. Replacements: Mulipola for Taulafo (77), Avei for Schwalger (77), Perenise for Johnston (60), Tekori for Leo (60), Treviranus for Tuifua (73). Not used: Poluleuligaga, G. Pisi. Sent off: Williams (70).

Referee: N Owens (Wales).