RWC2011 Pool Match Report: South Africa -v- Fiji
WELLINGTON, 17 Sept. - Morné Steyn weighed in with 21 points as South Africa ran out 49-3 winners over Fiji in their Pool D clash at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday.
The fly half's try just after the hour mark brought up the bonus point for the Springboks as the Fijians were overwhelmed by an impressive display of pace and power.
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 Danie Rossouw.
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 Frans Steyn to put South Africa 3-0 ahead.
Attacking flair
Fiji soon found their own attacking flair and when the Springboks backs stepped offside, Seremaia Bai stepped up to equal the scores.
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.
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