Rugby World Cup 2011:South Africa dismantles Fiji, 49-3.
WELLINGTON, 17 Sept. - The 49-3 scoreline pointed to irresistible attacking, but victorious South African captain John Smit was equally satisfied by the way his side's defending shut out Fiji.
The world champions ran in six tries to overwhelm their Pool D rivals at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday, but they also kept the free-running Fijians to a solitary penalty.
"We had some work to do and we put in a quality first 40 (minutes)," Smit said. "It was what we needed and I'm happy to keep a team like Fiji off our try-line."
Morné Steyn weighed in with 21 points, including a try just after the hour mark to bring up a bonus point for the Springboks as the Fijians were overwhelmed by an impressive display of pace and power.
Fiji captain Deacon Manu admitted: "It was a difficult game today and South Africa showed why they are world champions. They played with intensity for 80 minutes and it was a difficult old time for us."
Intense pressure
A 15-minute spell of intense pressure leading up to half-time left the Fijians reeling, and the dominance continued after the break.
As well as Morné Steyn’s try, the Springboks crossed in the second half through Frans Steyn - after a neat chip by flanker Heinrich Brüssow - Tendai Mtawarira and man of the match Danie Rossouw. Morné Steyn converted all four second-half tries.
In the first half, the teams had been locked at 3-3 after South Africa’s Frans Steyn and Fiji’s Seremaia Bai swapped penalties.
Pierre Spies ran strongly from the back of a scrum and Fiji conceded a penalty at the breakdown to allow the centre to put South Africa 3-0 ahead.
Fiji soon found their own attacking flair and when the Springboks backs stepped offside, Bai stepped up to equal the scores.
Powerful pack
However, with the powerful Springbok pack trying to bludgeon its way over from close quarters, the pressure finally told when prop Gurthrö Steenkamp ploughed his way through four defenders to score after 26 minutes.
Morné Steyn slotted a difficult conversion to put South Africa ahead 10-3 and soon added a penalty before Jaque Fourie crossed in the corner to put the Springboks 18-3 up.
The fly half added another penalty on the stroke of half-time to make it 21-3.
Hooker and captain John Smit notched a Springbok landmark, equalling Victor Matfield's record of 108 caps.
Source:www.rugbyworldcup.com
The world champions ran in six tries to overwhelm their Pool D rivals at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday, but they also kept the free-running Fijians to a solitary penalty.
"We had some work to do and we put in a quality first 40 (minutes)," Smit said. "It was what we needed and I'm happy to keep a team like Fiji off our try-line."
Morné Steyn weighed in with 21 points, including a try just after the hour mark to bring up a bonus point for the Springboks as the Fijians were overwhelmed by an impressive display of pace and power.
Fiji captain Deacon Manu admitted: "It was a difficult game today and South Africa showed why they are world champions. They played with intensity for 80 minutes and it was a difficult old time for us."
Intense pressure
A 15-minute spell of intense pressure leading up to half-time left the Fijians reeling, and the dominance continued after the break.
As well as Morné Steyn’s try, the Springboks crossed in the second half through Frans Steyn - after a neat chip by flanker Heinrich Brüssow - Tendai Mtawarira and man of the match Danie Rossouw. Morné Steyn converted all four second-half tries.
In the first half, the teams had been locked at 3-3 after South Africa’s Frans Steyn and Fiji’s Seremaia Bai swapped penalties.
Pierre Spies ran strongly from the back of a scrum and Fiji conceded a penalty at the breakdown to allow the centre to put South Africa 3-0 ahead.
Fiji soon found their own attacking flair and when the Springboks backs stepped offside, Bai stepped up to equal the scores.
Powerful pack
However, with the powerful Springbok pack trying to bludgeon its way over from close quarters, the pressure finally told when prop Gurthrö Steenkamp ploughed his way through four defenders to score after 26 minutes.
Morné Steyn slotted a difficult conversion to put South Africa ahead 10-3 and soon added a penalty before Jaque Fourie crossed in the corner to put the Springboks 18-3 up.
The fly half added another penalty on the stroke of half-time to make it 21-3.
Hooker and captain John Smit notched a Springbok landmark, equalling Victor Matfield's record of 108 caps.
Source:www.rugbyworldcup.com
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