Lord of the tries

From: The Times.co.za
AFP Published:Sep 10, 2007

CAN’T TOUCH THIS: South Africa’s Bryan Habana celebrates scoring his fourth try during yesterday’s Rugby World Cup Group A match between South Africa and Samoa at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris Picture: DAVID DAVIES/AP

Bryan Habana scored four tries and Percy Montgomery contributed 29 points yesterday as South Africa withstood Samoa’s punishing first- half defence to win 59-7 and top Group A at the Rugby World Cup.

Montgomery collected two tries at the Parc des Princes, while centre Jaque Fourie and winger JP Pietersen also scored for the Springboks.

Outside centre Gavin Williams scored Samoa’s only try.

South Africa coach Jake White said: “I’m delighted with the win. It was always going to be a tough game against Samoa.”

The Springboks earned a bonus point to top the group with five points, one more than England after their 28-10 win over the US on Saturday.

South Africa plays England at Stade de France on Friday, and the 2003 world champions will have to improve on the uninspired performance against the Americans in Lens to win and possibly avoid a quarterfinal against Australia.

Led by locks Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield and flanker Schalk Burger, South Africa met the Samoan physical approach head on, dominating in the line-outs to allow the team’s backs to capitalise in the second half.

But it was Habana who broke the physical deadlock with a weaving 30m run to open his account.

Samoa had begun to tire when Habana notched his second try in the 56th, beating two defenders and just eluding winger Lome Fa’atau’s desperate lunge on the line.

Brian Lima made history in the 61st minute when he took the field for Fa’atau, becoming the only man to play in five World Cups. He made his tournament debut in 1991 against Wales at age 19.

Unfortunately, Lima had to be replaced after only four minutes after knocking himself out while attempting a big hit on reserve flyhalf Andre Pretorius.

Two minutes later, Habana bagged his hat-trick after he took a quick tap from a penalty and burst through a wall of defenders.

He then streaked away on a 45m dash in the 77th minute to score untouched.

Moments later Habana could have had another, to move even closer to former All Black Marc Ellis’s record for the most tries in a World Cup match (six v Japan in 1995), but the final pass he received was ruled forward, and Pietersen scored the last try in the 80th minute.