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Rugby World Cup 2015: South Africa hammer USA 64-0
BBC Sport – Bryan Habana scored a hat-trick of tries to equal Jonah Lomu’s record as South Africa reached the World Cup quarter-finals by thrashing USA.
Bryan Habana scored a hat-trick of tries to equal Jonah Lomu’s record for South Africa. (Getty Images)
The winger scored three tries in 21 second-half minutes to draw level with Lomu’s mark of 15 World Cup tries. The Springboks ran in eight second-half tries in all to earn a bonus-point win at the Olympic Stadium.
South Africa top Pool B and will now play the loser of Saturday’s Pool A decider between Australia and Wales.
A tale of two halves
A mixture of South Africa’s ill-discipline and poor finishing kept the score down in the first half, while despite enjoying plenty of possession, the USA only made it into the Boks’ 22 in the last minute of the half. Centre Damien de Allende scored his first international try before South Africa were awarded a penalty try as the USA struggled at the scrum.
A different South Africa came out after the break as Habana scored almost from the restart, collecting a Fourie du Preez kick to score in the corner. Bismarck du Plessis and Francois Louw both crossed the line, before Habana scored two tries in two minutes to complete his hat-trick.
Louw scored his second with Jesse Kriel also getting on the scoresheet before Lwazi Mvovo rounded off a dominant performance from the Springboks.
Brilliant Habana
Habana had a subdued first half, with his only contribution of note seeing him clatter into Blaine Scully as the pair competed for a high ball.
But he came out firing in the second half and his hat-trick not only saw him equal New Zealand legend Lomu as the tournament’s all-time leading try scorer, but also draw level with Australia’s David Campese for joint second in the list of Test try scorers with 64.
The 32-year-old, a 2007 World Cup-winner with the Boks, scored 62 seconds into the second half for his 13th World Cup try.
He then went over unopposed in the 59th minute after a break by De Allende and swooped on a loose ball to dive over in the corner just two minutes later.
Habana could have broken All Black winger Lomu’s record but a knock-on as he tried to collect another chip through denied him a fourth try on the night.
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