David Leggat: Rip-snorting Rugby World Cup second half full of-if onlys

Samoa's Seilala Mapusua and Alesana Tuilagi. Photo / Greg Bowker

Samoa are gone from the Rugby World Cup, but what fabulous memories they left at North Harbour Stadium last night.

Someone, or something, flipped the switch within the Samoans in the second half, perhaps the knowledge that they were sliding out of the tournament, perhaps sensing the South Africans weren't as far out of sight as they might have been after a first half which seemed to lay the platform for a standard formula.

The usual script suggested the defending champions - ahead 13-0 at the interval - would ease clear over the last 40 minutes.

Samoa had other ideas. They knew they blew their big chance against Wales in Hamilton a fortnight ago. They had a mountain to climb last night but came a few steps from accomplishing what seemed impossible.

What a rip-snorting second half it was, loaded with bone-jarring collisions, an edge in the forward exchanges and the sellout crowd in a frenzy.

Samoa grew an extra leg in that period. South Africa were rattled - make no mistake - but their robust defence held, just, and so they move on.

Had they finished one point closer, they'd still be alive, at least another day, a point ahead of Wales, who should beat Fiji tomorrow.

It was desperately close to Samoa's finest 80 minutes, bar nothing.

Key moments? Try three, in the 51st, 56th and 69th minutes.

First wing David Lemi was penalised after a dazzling break, when for once the Springbok line was split; then captain Mahonri Schwalger spilt the ball diving for the South African line; and finally the ludicrous red card for the otherwise outstanding fullback Paul Williams for an open-handed slap on Heinrick Brussow. All this with the scoreboard showing a tenuous 13-5 lead to the Springboks.

Samoa needed more than mere physical grunt, which the South Africans could match comfortably anyway; their finest performance was required if their tournament was to continue. Up against it doesn't half tell the story.

Not that there was much wrong with South Africa's rugby early on. For the first 20 minutes the groundwork was laid. Samoa were still in the hunt at halftime, although you sensed that perhaps the game was slipping away.

That all changed 11 minutes after the restart with George Stowers' try. Then the fun began. Samoan tails went up. South Africa were wobbling.

Cue those frantic charges from the Samoans, but in the end they were left thinking that the world is full of if-onlys.

They had given the defending champions some serious cheek. The Springboks will wake today with sore bodies, but they remain on track, even if the train took a serious ding or two along last night's journey.