South Africa have confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup in Japan with a 66-7 win over Canada in Pool B this morning.
Tries from Damien de Allendre, Sbu Nkosi, Warrick Gelant, Frans Steyn, Schalk Brits, Damien Willemse, Frans Malherbe and a hat-trick from Cobus Reinach saw the Springboks collect a bonus-point victory over their opponents.
The Boks got off to a flying start as de Allendre went over from close-range following a pass by Elton Jantjies to get their first try on the board after just three minutes. The No 10 made no mistake with the conversion to make it 7-0.
Three minutes on and Kwagga Smith produced a lovely offload on the left-wing to Nkosi, who raced over in the corner, with Jantjies missing the extras this time around.
Another three minutes on and it there was a piece of magic from Reinach as he broke through the Canadian defence deep inside his own half before chipping the ball over the top and gathering the ball and darting over for a wonderful individual try. Jantjies smashed over the conversion.
Eight minutes on and Reinach was in again as he took the ball from a ruck five-metres out from the Canadian line to dive over, with Jantjies once more perfect from the tee.
With 20 minutes on the clock South Africa sent a perfect cross-field kick over to Gelant who charged forward from his own half, with the ball eventually finding its way to Reinach who simply had to touch down for the quickest hat-trick in World Cup history. Jantjies kicked the two extras to make it 33-0.
Gelant got in for a try of his own just before the half-hour mark when the backs spread the ball out wide for the winger to power over, with Jantjies stretching the lead out to 40-0.
Things got worse for Canada just before the break as Josh Larsen was sent-off for a shoulder charge.
On the stroke of half-time Steyn took full-advantage of a loose piece of play when the Canadians took a quick tap and go on their own five-metre line, sending a pass out to the right which Steyn intercepted and went over. Jantjies made it 47-0 at half-time with the conversion.
Canada started the brighter of the two sides after the half-time break and went over for a try of their own through Matt Heaton six minutes in which Peter Horne converted to make it 47-7.
However, nine minutes on and the Boks were in once more as Brits gathered the ball near the line and charged over, with the conversion making it 54-7.
With 66 minutes on the clock Willemse raced over as the backs sent the ball through the hands, in what was his first international try and again Jantjies converted.
Seven minutes from time substitute Malherbe barged over from close-range, but Jantjies couldn’t add the extras leaving the score at 66-7 come full-time.
The win ensures that the Boks will go through to the last-eight, and will know their opponents come Sunday, while Canada will conclude their tournament when they face Namibia over the weekend as they go in search of their first win.
Springboks Player Ratings
Starting XV:
Damian Willemse (8), Warrick Gelantn (7), Damian de Allende (7), Frans Steyn (8), Sbu Nkosi (8), Elton Jantjies (8), Cobus Reinach (9); Thomas du Toit (7), Schalk Brits (8), Vincent Koch (7), RG Snyman (9), Franco Mostert (7), Siya Kolisi (7), Kwagga Smith (8), Francois Louw (7)
Replacements (7)
