Joost hat-trick leads Springboks rout

By MITCH PHILLIPS

SOUTH AFRICA 72 URUGUAY 6

PERTH - South Africa overcame a poor World Cup build-up to begin their campaign with a record 72-6 thrashing of Uruguay in the opening pool C match this morning (NZ time).

The Springboks, bedevilled by dire form and off-pitch accusations of racism and violence, ran in 12 tries, including a hat-trick for captain Joost van der Westhuizen, the only survivor from their 1995 World Cup-winning side.

The victory, neatly secured with 36 points in each half, was the South Africans' biggest in their three World Cups, easily overhauling the 47-3 win over Spain four years ago.

With next Sunday morning's pivotal match against England looming, there were plenty of positives for South Africa, not least impressive try-scoring debuts for centre Jaque Fourie and flanker Danie Rossouw.

If coach Rudolf Straeuli had any concerns it would probably be about his players' concentration, which wavered during the second half with the game won and replacements pouring on to the field.

But the coach, who has used more than 80 players in the last year, is unlikely to be complaining.

His team made a dream start with a Van der Westhuizen try after 64 seconds and the halfback crossed the line again on six minutes.

The Uruguayans barely laid hands on an opponent as flanker Joe van Niekerk blasted through and fed Van der Westhuizen to touch down in the left corner.

The skipper, already his country's leading try scorer, took his tally to 37 five minutes later as the Springbok fans dotted around the less-than half full Subiaco Oval stadium settled down for a feast of attacking rugby.

But the South American side regrouped well, enjoying a 13- minute spell of parity before Van Niekerk showed neat handling to claim the third try, which Louis Koen converted.

Uruguay hit back, however, their forwards showing real determination to set up two penalties neatly tucked over by captain Diego Aguirre.

Any ideas of a dream comeback were soon put in their place, however, when lock Bakkies Botha, returning to action after an eight-week ban for gouging, scored the Springboks' fourth try in the 31st minute.

Winger Thinus Delport finished off a slick move for another five minutes later before Fourie capped a terrific debut with a 75metre breakaway score.

Koen converted with a time-saving drop-kick to give the Springboks a 36-6 halftime lead.

Some stout Uruguay defending kept South Africa out for the first 13 minutes of the second half before three tries in seven minutes broke their resistance.

Prop Richard Bands, Rossouw and Van der Westhuizen crossed before the halfback became one of several players to be substituted.

Replacement flanker Hendro Scholtz chipped in with a try and fullback Werner Greeff, playing his first international of the year, finished things off with the 12th try in injury time.

Uruguay are back in action on the same ground against Samoa on Wednesday, while South Africa can sit back and watch England against Georgia on Sunday knowing they will face a far stiffer examination from the Six Nations champions next weekend.

Teams:

South Africa: 15-Werner Greeff; 14-Ashwin Willemse, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12-De Wet Barry, 11-Thinus Delport (22-Ricardo Loubscher 68); 10-Louis Koen (21-Derick Hougaard 62) 9-Joost van der Westhuizen (captain) (20-Neil de Kock 61), 8-Juan Smith, 7-Danie Rossouw (19-Hendro Scholtz 76), 6-Joe van Niekerk, 5-Victor Matfield (18-Selborne Boome 68), 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-Richard Bands, (17-Faan Rautenbach 58) 2-Danie Coetzee, (16-John Smit 58) 1-Lawrence Sephaka.

Uruguay: 15-Joaquin Pastore; 14-Alfonso Cardoso (22-Juan Menchaca 46), 13-Diego Aguirre (captain), 12-Martin Mendaro, 11-Emiliano Ibarra; 10-Sebastian Aguirre, 9-Emiliano Caffera (21-Bernado Amarillo 62); 8-Rodrigo Capo, 7-Marcelo Gutierrez (19-Nicolas Grille 46), 6-Nicolas Brignoni (20-Hernan Ponte 60) 5-Juan Alzueta, 4-Juan Carlos Bado, 3-Pablo Lemoine (18-Guillermo Storace 77), 2-Diego Lamelas (16-Juan Andres Perez 73), 1-Rodrigo Sanchez (17-Eduardo Berruti 73).

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

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