JP Pietersen hat-trick helps South Africa return to winning ways against Samoa in Rugby World Cup
Last Updated: 27/09/15 12:01am
JP Pietersen scored a hat-trick of tries as South Africa bounced back from their shock World Cup defeat to Japan with a 46-6 six-try, bonus-point victory over Samoa at Villa Park.
The two-time World Cup winners learned lessons from the 34-32 loss to Japan in their opening Pool B match and overpowered Samoa in a hugely physical contest in Birmingham.
South Africa enjoyed the perfect start to the game, earning a penalty from the very first play, which Handre Pollard converted into three points.
The match was billed as one with big collisions, and the two sides delivered in the early exchanges, with TJ Ioane of Samoa particularly present in the tackle area.
South Africa were caught offside during a threatening Samoa attack, and Mike Stanley stepped up to level the scores.
He was on hand to take the lead almost immediately afterwards, when Pollard sent the restart out on the full, and the Boks conceded a penalty from the resulting scrum on the halfway line.
The kick seemed set to derail South Africa's good start, but a long-ranging move from Samoa gifted Pietersen an intercept try, with the Sharks winger able to run through untouched.
Pollard missed the conversion but kicked three further penalties to give the Springboks an 11-point lead.
There was a minor flare up involving Alesana Tuilagi after Eben Etzebeth's fine defence, before the former Leicester winger was caught round the neck by Pietersen after chipping over his opposite number.
Pietersen avoided a yellow card, but Stanley was short and wide with the penalty attempt from his own half.
They did not have to wait long for Pietersen to claim another simple score as, after Samoa were squeezed back up front, the wing completed the overlap.
Stanley missed two more penalties, before being replaced by Tusi Pisi, but momentum was already with the Springboks.
Burger crashed through two tackles to score a third try. Pollard's conversion hit the post.
Cracks appeared in the Springboks' defence, but they were reprieved when the Television Match Official spotted a forward pass from Tim Nanai-Williams to Kahn Fotuali'i, ruling out what would have been a fine score by Pisi.
Willie Le Roux was again denied in the corner by Paul Perez's covering tackle as the Springboks chased a fourth try and with it a bonus point.
But replacement hooker Schalk Brits emerged with the ball after a rolling maul from a lineout as the Springboks claimed the score they were looking for.
Pietersen again touched down out wide and Bryan Habana raced around a tired Samoa defence late on.
Replacement Pat Lambie converted as the Springboks ensured their World Cup campaign was back on track.
