SOUTH Africa’s resounding victory over Samoa has come at a price, with captain Jean de Villiers being ruled out of the World Cup with a broken jaw.
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Heyneke Meyer paid tribute to De Villiers, saying: “Jean is a true ambassador for South Africa and a person everyone in our country can be immensely proud of”.
Winger JP Pietersen ran in a hat-trick of tries as the Springboks recovered from their astonishing defeat to Japan last weekend, including this effort from the halfway line after a clever interception.
“We’re a country that needs hope and forgiveness working for each other”, said Meyer.
South Africa ruthlessly applied the pressure thereafter, with scrum-half Fourie du Preez outstanding in dictating the tempo.
His performances have been criticised but Meyer stuck with de Villiers as World Cup skipper.
“When we got out of the team hotel, people were clapping for us, going insane”, Matfield said.
“I would love to play for the Springboks again but I won’t get that opportunity and that’s just life”, he said.
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree denied England were trying to create a siege mentality in the face of the Welsh challenge and pointed out that two successive wins by England over their bitter rivals would have an effect on the opposition.
Stanley kicked two penalties, but the fly-half’s lofted pass was next anticipated by Pietersen, who plucked the ball from the air and raced 50 metres to score. Jan Serfontein has been summoned to replace De Villiers.
Injury has blighted the Springbok centre’s previous World Cups, with just handful of his 109 caps over the last 13 years coming at the showpiece tournament.
A guy who watched the match say South Africa won against a good side.
Man of the match Handre Pollard contributed 14 points with the boot via four penalty goals and a conversion, while Pat Lambie added a conversion.
In 2008 after a fantastic Super 14 season with the Sharks it became apparent that the Zimbabwean star had fantastic potential and that year he was selected into the Springboks squad though at first receiving limited game time.
“After that intercept it was really tough”, Samoa captain Ofisa Treviranus said.
“They are going to attack us from the start and the first 15 minutes will be crucial”.
The bonus-point win came at a cost with captain Jean de Villiers heading to hospital for an X-ray on his jaw.
In fact, it could be argued De Villiers was keeping better players out of the midfield.
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Jones, whose side stood up to the brute force of South Africa throughout the epic 34-32 win in Brighton, needs a South African victory nearly as much as the Springboks do against the physically intimidating Samoans, who beat the United States on Sunday.
