Composed Boks put Fiji to the sword
The Springboks produced an impressive display of controlled rugby as they swept Fiji aside, scoring six tries on their way to a convincing 49-3 World Cup Pool D victory in Wellington on Saturday.
South Africa can play rugby. South Africa did play rugby tonight in Wellington. And Fiji can play rugby and they, too, did tonight. All of that made for a game of great movement and few stoppages – just 60 in all.
Fiji may not have scored a try but that was not for want of effort, skill and creativity. And they adapted their game.
For the first half they went through what are called phases – a repeat of the same tackle with different personnel, but in the second half, realising that that was getting them nowhere they went wide and put lots of strain on the South African defence. It took a great tackle by JP Pietersen and a forward pass by Akapusi Qera to deny them tries.
One question: have you ever seen Fourie du Preez play a rugby match without kicking? It happened in Wellington on 17 September 2011. For the Springboks ran from the start. They ran from their own 22, they ran from anywhere and they did so with confidence and obvious enjoyment. Suddenly their wings were there to play and not just make up the numbers.
It was a splendid match – a great performance by South Africa but Fiji got less than they deserved. Before the match, as at all World Cup matches this year, we were musically told that this was going to be a good night.
For rugby – and especially South African rugby – it was a good night in cold, breezy Wellington.
There were 18 scrums in the match, three of them remarkable. They were three tightheads that South Africa won in succession in the age when tightheads are almost extinct. That was remarkable. It was also remarkable, in normal circumstances but not at this World Cup, that Morné Steyn missed a penalty. Just after he had done so Frans Steyn stepped up to show that there was no reason to miss kicks by banging one over from 56 metres when Seremaia Bai was penalised at a tackle. 3-0 after 11 minutes.
Steyn played inside centre in this match and was excellent. And Patrick Lambie was at fullback and took a full part in the game.
A penalty gave South Africa an attacking line-out and they battered and bashed. Gurthrö Steenkamp, Heinrich Brüssow, Jannie du Plessis and Steenkamp again were close but Du Preez knocked on and the next thing the Springboks were defending, Jaque Fourie was off-side and Bai goaled. 3-3 after 20 minutes. It had all the makings of a close match.
After some sterile Fijian phases Pietersen counter-attacked, Morné Steyn and Frans Steyn carried it on till the Springboks went wide to the left where Steenkamp bumped off two defenders to score a try. Morné Steyn converted from far out. That made it 10-3 after 26 minutes.
Napolioni Nalaga had a strong run as Fiji attacked but then the Springboks ran out of their own 22. Jannie du Plessis had a great burst in midfield and with perfect passing the Springboks got the ball to Fourie on the left touchline and he got over in the tackle of Gaby Lovobalavu. 18-3 after 33 minutes.
On half-time Lovobalavu was penalised at a tackle and Morné Steyn goaled. SA led 21-3 at the break.
Where the Fijians had used phases the South Africans had gone in for interpassing. In the second half Fiji expanded their game to interpassing and were much more effective – except on the scoreboard.
Good news for South Africa in the first half was that Bakkies Botha is OK. Achilles or not, miracle or not, he was back strongly, but he was substituted at half-time and on came big, strong, willing Willem Alberts. When Alberts was off for blood soon afterwards, Francois Louw took his place with Schalk Burger moving to lock. Louw was not on for long but long enough to win a line-out and a turnover.
From his turnover Danie Rossouw burst through the Fijian defence and the ball went wide to the right where Brüssow dinked a chip through. Frans Steyn ran onto it, grabbed it, stepped and scored. The Springboks can play rugby! 28-3 after 48 minutes.
François Hougaard came on for Odwa Ndungane, who had had a fine game, and Bismarck du Plessis for John Smit, who also had had a fine game. The new men both made a great impact. In fact, Australian-born Tomu Buatava also was effective in the place of Neeamia Kenatale.
After a line-out maul, Rossouw was close and then Morné Steyn got a wonderful netball pass from Burger and neatly scored. 35-3 after 63 minutes.
Nicky Little, short back and sides and all, came on, kicked-off and the Fijians raced onto the attack. Nalaga would have scored but for a forward pass.
After the Springboks had won two tightheads Morné Steyn broke decisively. Frans Steyn carried it on but felled just short of the line by Nalaga, he popped the ball to Tendai Mtawarira who scored. 42-3.
The Springboks emptied their bench. Ruan Pienaar was on for his 50th cap but did not start it auspiciously, neglecting the ball at the back of a tackle/ruck and only Pietersen’s tackle prevented Nalaga from scoring.
At this stage Fiji were dominating possession and territory but Alberts stole their ball at the tackle, Hougaard had an excellent break and a long pass from Burger sent Rossouw pounding over for his ninth try in his 60th Test. That made it 49-3 with five minutes to play.
The Springboks can play rugby. After the match Deacon Manu, the Fijian captain said: “You can see why they’re world champions.”
Man of the Match: There are several South African candidates but our choice is big Danie Rossouw who won line-outs and ran with great purpose – 127 metres all told, according to the statistician.
Moment of the Match: Heinrich Brüssow’s chip for Frans Steyn’s try.
Villain of the Match: It is great to see players lifting opponents off the ground in ancient rugby courtesy but the late, tip tackle by Dominiko Waqaniburotu deserved much more than just a penalty and, if the citings of Courtney Lawes and Todd Clever are anything to go by, may well attract the attention of the citing commissioner.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: Steenkamp, Fourie, F Steyn, M Steyn, Mtawarira, Rossouw
Cons: M Steyn 5
Pens: F Steyn, M Steyn 2
For Fiji:
Pen: Bai
The teams:
South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Francois Louw, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Juan de Jongh.
Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Gaby Lovobalavu, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Waisea Sedre Luveniyali, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Dominiko Maiwiriwiri Waqaniburotu, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Deacon Manu (captain), 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma’afu.
Replacements: 16 Telemaitoga Dautu Tuapati, 17 Waisea Nailago, 18 Netani Edward Talei, 19 Sisa Koyamaibole, 20 Vitori Tomu Buatava, 21 Nicky Little, 22 Gaby Lovobalavu.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
By Paul Dobson
