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MONTPELLIER - South Africa's 64-15 World Cup rugby win over the United States today was overshadowed when the Springboks lost prop BJ Botha for the rest of the tournament with a knee injury.
South Africa tuned up for next Monday's (NZT) quarterfinal against Fiji with nine tries in their pool A victory, but the loss of Botha, as well as some defensive holes, left coach Jake White with serious patching up work to do this week.
Initial fears about a facial injury to winger Bryan Habana were eased with news that he only needed stitches.
Habana had a clash of heads with opposite number Takudzwa Ngwenya and came off with a cut cheek.
"Bryan's fine, he's got some stitches, but I think BJ (Botha) is going to be ruled out, he has done some knee ligament damage and a decision has to be made whether he has an operation," White said.
"I was very pleased and what we wanted to accomplish was to run some structure and get some continuity and do all the things we've been practising in the last few weeks.
"There was some tries we scored which were pleasing because it helps us when other teams are doing their analysis against us going forward."
American winger Ngwenya left the Springboks with red faces when he burnt off Habana, reputedly the fastest man in rugby, sprinting around him to finish off a terrific 85m try just before halftime.
"My guys fought for every bit of ground and we didn't seem to get the rub of the green with a lot of the decisions, they seem to go against the minnow sides," American coach Peter Thorburn said.
"I am absolutely proud of them. They fought it out until the end. South Africa put almost their best side out to try and prove something and they got a fairly good workout."
South Africa were never in trouble, despite the Eagles' tenacity, and first five-eighth Butch James and returning loose forward Schalk Burger had strong games.
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 21-25 loss against Samoa in St Etienne last week.
A sensational long-distance try finished off by 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 remaining until 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 quarter and burnt off Habana to score under the crossbar for the Eagles to trail 10-24 at halftime.
The try gave the gutsy Americans some reward for a backs-to-the-wall rearguard, with James controlling the Springboks attack.
Centre Jaque Fourie and Habana finished with two tries each and Habana has now scored six tries at the tournament, one behind leading tryscorer Drew Mitchell, of Australia.
James' distribution was outstanding and he featured in many of the Springbok tries, although Burger, playing in the unfamiliar No 8 position, was judged man-of-the-match in his first game back from a two-match suspension.
The Americans again pierced the South African defence for their second try, with fullback Chris Wyles scoring in the corner with five minutes left.
- AFP
