Bryan Habana equaled South Africa’s try-scoring record as the Springboks swamped Italy 55-11 in the second Test at Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday.
The flying wing scored the fifth of South Africa’s seven tries to take his tally to 38 in 60 Tests. The mark was set by scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen in 89 internationals.
Habana did not get a chance to claim the record as he was substituted immediately after his try when the Springboks made numerous changes with the result assured.
PHOTO: AFP
It was South Africa’s final match before they start their defense of the Tri-Nations championship against New Zealand on July 10 in Auckland.
This was a much improved performance by the Springboks following a scrappy 29-13 first Test win in Witbank last weekend.
“It was much more clinical,” Springboks captain John Smit said after the side’s 50th win under his captaincy. “We needed to polish up considering what’s coming up. We eliminated the errors from last week and the guys stuck to their guns. We’ve still got lots to work on, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
Italian coach Nick Mallett praised the Springboks, but said that playing two Tests in successive weeks against opposition as strong as South Africa was not good for his team.
“I’m glad this is the last time we tour the southern hemisphere in June [at the end of the northern hemisphere season],” Mallett said. “My request last year already was to play against sides like the US and Canada, sides we can hopefully be more competitive against, because you don’t really learn anything when you play against sides like this, when losing 29-13 is a good performance.”
Italian captain Sergio Parisse disagreed: “It is not easy for us to play against the best side in the world, but it is the only way for us to improve.”
A home team showing seven changes to their starting lineup from the previous Test opted for a tighter approach and starved the Italians of possession.
Italy, who made a surprising nine changes, were under pressure almost from the start, with the Springboks proving superior in the scrums and line-outs.
Playing into the wind in the first half, the Europeans were pinned in their own territory for most of the opening 40 minutes as South Africa built a 27-6 halftime lead.
Springboks flyhalf Morne Steyn and Italy winger Mirco Bergamasco swapped penalty goals in the first nine minutes, but South Africa opted to kick for touch and set up a line-out when they were awarded another penalty soon after.
The Springboks drove from the line-out and Steyn dummied his way over for the opening try.
A break by center Gonzalo Canale enabled Italy to mount a rare attack, which ended with another Bergamasco penalty, before South Africa took control.
Steyn scored a second try on the half-hour after a break by Habana and Pierre Spies went over two minutes before halftime, when South Africa won a turnover and lock Andries Bekker galloped downfield before feeding the No. 8.
As in the first Test, Italy started the second half promisingly, but apart from one run down the right touchline by captain Sergio Parisse, did not threaten to beat the Springboks defense.
The brief Italian flurry spurred South Africa into action and they scored three tries in the space of nine minutes to make the game safe. With coach Peter de Villiers bringing on all his replacements, the team lost some cohesion during the last 20 minutes and Italy were able to score a try through right wing Michele Sepe after a well-judged grubber-kick by flyhalf Craig Gower.
Replacement prop B.J. Botha wrapped up a comprehensive Springboks win with a try two minutes from the end.
It was the 50th Test win for South Africa under the captaincy of John Smit.
■ARGENTINA 41, FRANCE 13
AP, BUENOS AIRES
Captain Felipe Contepomi tallied a career-best 31 points to lead Argentina to a record 41-13 hiding of Six Nations champions France in a one-off Test at the Jose Alamfitani Stadium on Saturday.
Contepomi, in brilliant fashion, scored two of the Pumas’ four tries, converted three and nailed all five penalty attempts.
The Pumas achieved their highest score and biggest margin against France, who completed a disastrous two-Test tour of the southern hemisphere, including a 42-17 mauling from South Africa two weeks ago.
Following that worst loss to the Springboks in 13 years, France made seven changes, but they turned out to be in vain.
Coming off consecutive home losses to Scotland, the humbled Pumas, packed with 10 starters who play professionally in France, rebounded with a startlingly aggressive display that was masterfully conducted by Contepomi.
France barely ventured into Argentina territory in the first half and, after the visitors tied the score on penalties at 6-6 after 17 minutes, Contepomi’s third penalty in the 26th minute following turnover ball put Argentina in front for good.
His fourth penalty, when France midfielder Florian Fritz was yellow-carded, made it 12-6, then from the restart, livewire No. 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe began and finished an attack from his own half, ending with his converted try.
Within eight minutes of the new half, Contepomi crossed for his first try, a great individual effort started by center Gonzalo Tiesi.
Minutes later, France finally responded when flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc used line-out ball to send winger Julien Malzieu over, but another ball-jolting tackle by Argentina sent left winger Rafael Carballo down the sideline and the attack finished on the other wing, where Martin Rodriguez fed Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino to score.
Contepomi missed the conversion, but added a fifth penalty for 34-13, then converted his own try with 10 minutes to go after another Carballo run.
■SAMOA 31, FIJI 9
AP, APIA, SAMOA
Samoa became the first Pacific Island nation to win the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament when they shocked favorites Fiji 31-9 in the Samoan capital on Saturday.
Fiji went into the final round of the tournament unbeaten in two games and widely expected to win the Pacific title for the first time, but Samoa scored five tries to none to clinch the title.
Both teams finished with two wins and a loss from three games, but Samoa compiled a better points differential.
The Pacific Nations Cup has been dominated by New Zealand teams since its inception in 2006, but the absence of New Zealand and Australian sides this year opened the way for Samoa to become the first Pacific Island winner.
Flyhalf James Arlidge kicked 16 points as Japan beat Tonga 26-23 in the other match played on Saturday.
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