Springboks breeze past Samoa in Johannesburg

Daniel Leo of Samoa tries to fight his way past BJ Botha of South Africa during their Test match in Johannesburg on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

South Africa scored five tries to beat Samoa 35-8 in a rugby international at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday.

There were 13 changes to the Springbok side which defeated England 55-22 last week, and the lack of continuity in the team's play was evident after they led 23-3 at half-time.

Samoa the match at pace, trying to stretch the Springbok defense out wide, but were unable to convert some half chances into tries.

Instead, it was flyhalf Derick Hougaard, playing in his first Test for South Africa since 2003, who kicked a penalty to give the home team the lead.

Samoa Gavin Williams leveled with a penalty, and after Hougaard regained the lead with another, South Africa's tighter play began to tell.

Captain John Smit drove through a lineout for the first try in the 20th minute, after which the pressure around the fringes of the scrums, rucks and mauls allowed Enrico Januarie to poach a pass and set up a sweeping backline move which sent J.P. Pietersen over for the Springboks' second.

With Samoan scrumhalf Steven Sooialo in the sin bin, South Africa took advantage of the stretched defense to see fullback Francois Steyn over for their third try.

But Samoa managed to get more possession in the second half, varying their play cleverly at the set pieces, and it took until the 59th minute for replacement flanker Pedrie Wannenburg to score South Africa's next try against the run of play after a good burst by Pietersen.

Percy Montgomery came on for the Springboks, and he finished off a good attack by working his way through some poor tackling to score the try and convert.

Samoa a consolation try when center Anitelela Tuilagi went over in the right corner in the 77th minute.