JP Pietersen scored a hat-trick of tried to lead South Africa to an emphatic 46-6 victory over Samoa at Villa Park in their Rugby World Cup Pool B fixture this evening.
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The Springboks opened the scoring just moments after kickoff, settling any lingering nerves from their defeat to Japan in their opening fixture, with Handrie Pollard splitting the uprights.
Despite the two-time champions' bright start, Samoa soon took the lead as they started to dominate possession, allowing Michael Stanley to add a pair of penalties, but they could not get the try on the board.
Samoa had a lineout in a promising position as they continued to try to capitalise on their spell, but Pietersen intercepted the ball, sprinting back from inside South Africa territory to get the opening try of the match on the board.
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Pollard could not add the conversion, but did split the posts with a further three penalties before the interval, while Samoa continued to be frustrated in South Africa territory.
There was an eye-catching moment in the final seconds of the opening 40 minutes as Stanley tried to kick the ball through for three more from inside his own half, but it fell just short.
It did not take the Springboks long to extend their lead after the break, as a series of quick passes resulted in Willie Le Roux finding Pietersen in the corner after a dominant spell.
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Just as it looked like South Africa were starting to run away with it, Samoa pull off a spectacular move, with Tusi Pisi diving over after a stunning chip forward from Tim Nanai-Williams, but the TMO ruled that there was a forward pass in the build up.
Knowing that a fourth try would give them the bonus point, South Africa started to bear down on the Samoa try line again, with Le Roux coming up just short, while Bryan Habana looked sharp, but was unable to find the gap.
Schalk Brits came off the bench with 10 minutes remaining, and marked his World Cup debut with a try just moments later, grounding the ball following a maul, which also gives him his first international try.
Despite their comfortable lead, South Africa continued to pile forward in the closing stages of the match, shaking off the memories of last week's loss, eventually resulting in Pietersen sprinting over in the corner before grounding the ball for his third.
There was time for South Africa to increase their lead further as time elapsed, with the lively Habana sprinting down the left to finally get his try.
Sian Cowper
