Tournament heavyweights South Africa lost flying winger Bryan Habana with a gashed cheek as they went on a try-scoring spree against the United States at the World Cup here on Sunday.
The Springboks tuned up for next Sunday’s quarterfinal against Fiji with nine tries in a 64-15 victory, but the loss of Habana and some defensive holes leave coach Jake White with some patching up to do this week.
Electric winger Takudzwa Ngwenya also left the Springboks with red faces when he burnt off Habana sprinting around him to finish off a terrific 85m try just before halftime.
South Africa were never in trouble, despite the Eagles’ tenacity, and flyhalf Butch James, centre Jaque Fourie and returning backrower Schalk Burger had strong games just a week out from the knockout stages of the tournament.
Habana’s injury and prop BJ Botha’s retirement with a knee injury were injury concerns ahead of the quarterfinal with the Fijians in Marseille.
Fullback Percy Montgomery finished with 15 points, from six conversions and one penalty to take over again as the leading tournament scorer with 67 points.
The Americans leave the tournament having failed to win a game but finished with a bonus point from their 25-21 loss against Samoa in St Etienne last Wednesday.
A sensational long-distance try finished off by lightning-quick American winger Ngwenya highlighted the opening half.
The Springboks dominated territory and possession and put the Americans under immense pressure to lead 24-3 with five minutes to halftime.
But Zimbabwe-born Ngwenya brought the crowd roaring to their feet when he finished an intercept by openside flanker Todd Clever deep inside the US’s quarter and burnt off Habana to run around and score under the crossbar for the Eagles to trail 24-10 at halftime.
The try gave the gutsy Americans some reward for a backs-to-the-wall rearguard with flyhalf James controlling the Springbok attack.
It was James’s pass that put number eight Burger over for the first try in the ninth minute, the blond giant scooping up the pass on the half-volley to score in his first match back from a two-game suspension.
Inside-centre Francois Steyn cleverly stepped past two tackles for an individual try in the 28th minute, while Habana scored five minutes out from the break.
James and Montgomery gave Habana the space to score in the corner, but it was Ngwenya who had the last word in the half with his scorching try, his second of the tournament.
The Springboks powered on in the second half with Habana grabbing his second try and sixth touchdown of the tournament off a James pass and replacement prop CJ van der Linde surged over to stretch the lead to 36-10 after 48 minutes.
But the Americans again pierced the South African defence for their second try of the night, fullback Chris Wyles scoring in the corner.
Habana was forced to leave the field in the 53rd minute after a clash of heads with Ngwenya. Habana appeared to have blood coming from a cut cheek and was replaced by JP Pietersen.
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez darted over from the back of ruck for a converted try and Fourie scored finishing off a break by Pietersen to give the South Africans a 50-15 lead with 19 minutes left.
Fourie nabbed his second try and Juan Smith crossed before the Springboks called it a night. – Sapa-AFP