In their last game before the 2002 Tri-Nations, South Africa ran in eight tries, including a brace each for centre De Wet Barry and winger Dean Hall, as the Springboks overcame Samoa 60-18 in a one-off Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
But never mind what the scoreboard said, this was not the kind of performance coach Rudolf Straeuli would have liked to see with the All Blacks waiting in Wellington in two weeks' time.
The Bok forwards struggled against a Samoan pack not exactly known for their brilliant forward play. The home team played far too loose and never looked like a unit.
A few players did catch the eye, and Joe van Niekerk and Hottie Louw showed that Straeuli can't leave for Australasia without them. Van Niekerk was rewarded with a late try, but got a fist on the eye when he accidentally hit a Samoan player, lying on the ground, with the ball in his celebration.
On the other hand, Samoa's pack did very well, with their three loose forwards -- Semo Sititi, Maurie Fa'asavlu and Kitiona Viliamu -- making life difficult for the Boks with superb play in the loose.
They were well backed up by Trevor Leota, who could teach the Boks a few things about playing with vigour. Yes, the gold-haired hooker did get sin-binned, but he was the heart of the Samoan pack.
André Pretorius again showed his worth in the Bok No.10 jersey, while Werner Greeff's stock also rose considerably with a great game at fullback before he left the field after 55 minutes with what looked like a knee injury.
The visitors deserve praise for the way that they played. Coach John Boe had said during the week that they came to Pretoria to play rugby, which is what they did when they got the ball.
Samoa played much more enterprising rugby, and the Boks and England can take notice of this young islanders team ahead of next year's World Cup.
The Springboks were slack on defence and they won't be happy with the three tries scored against them.
In fact, the Samoans scored the try of the game when Fereti Tuilagi crossed after a move that had started behind their own goalline. The Boks' poor defence, and a crucial missed tackle from No.8 Bob Skinstad, did help Samoa get on the scoreboard, but that was a good indication of how the Samoans play rugby.
The line-outs and the restarts were a huge problem for the Boks, and with players like Chris Jack and Justin Harrison waiting for them, the South Africans will have to give serious attention to these areas.
Straeuli could take some heart from a few good tries scored by the home team.
The first five-pointer, after 14 minutes, was a beauty.
Greeff kicked downfield, with a speeding Van Niekerk chasing. The loose forward gathered the ball 10 metres out and unselfishly passed to Greeff after he had crossed the line for the fullback to dot down under the uprights.
Five minutes later the visitors got one back after Tuilagi scored a superb effort that started behind the Samoans' own posts. Their rich Sevens heritage showed and after a few great passes -- and poor tackles by the Boks -- the inside centre was able to get over for his second Test try.
But from then on it was plain sailing for the home team, and although they failed to grab the imagination, the South Africans scored two more tries -- by recalled lock Victor Matfield from a line-out drive, and De Wet Barry from a five-metre tap-kick -- to lead 27-5 at the break.
The second half was not a very memorable affair, and the Boks got most of their points in the last 20 minutes when the game had opened up and the Samoans tired in the thin highveld air.
The Boks also scored two tries -- through Delarey du Preez on his Test debut and big Dean Hall -- while Trevor Leota was in the sin bin for a late charge on his opposite number Danie Coetzee. But, even with 14 men on the park, Samoan skipper Semo Sititi also crossed for a try.
Man of the match: André Pretorius was the best back on the park, but loose forward Joe van Niekerk showed that the Boks can't keep on persisting with him on the bench. He played a superb game, defended well and is a more than useful option in the line-outs. He played a lot like a young Bob Skinstad, only a bit tighter.
Moment of the match: Samoa's first try, in the 19th minute, was pure class. For a moment they forgot that this was not a Sevens game and threw the ball around with finesse, beating tackles before Fereti Tuilagi crashed over for a superb five-pointer.
Villain of the match: The game was played in good spirit, but Trevor Leota was yellow-carded for a needless late-charge on Danie Coetzee.
The Teams:
South Africa: 1 Faan Rautenbach, 2 Danie Coetzee, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 4 Victor Matfield, 5 Hottie Louw, 6 Corne Krige (c), 7 Joe Van Niekerk, 8 Bobby Skinstad, 9 Bolla Conradie, 10 Andre Pretorius, 11 Dean Hall, 12 De Wet Barry, 13 Marius Joubert, 14 Stefan Terblanche, 15 Werner Greeff
Reserves: Neil De Kock, Delarey Du Preez, Adi Jacobs, Shaun Sowerby, Quinton Davids, Daan Human, Breyton Paulse
Samoa: 1 Jeremy Tomuli, 2 Trevor Leota, 3 Tamato Leupolu, 4 Leo Lafaiali'i, 5 Opeta Palepoi, 6 Maurie Fa'asavlu, 7 Kitiona Viliamu, 8 Semo Sititi (c), 9 Stephen So'oilao, 10 Earl Va'a, 11 Lome Fa'atau, 12 Elvis Seveali'i, 13 Fereti Tuilagi, 14 Alesana Tuilagi, 15 Silao Leaega
Reserves: Aleki Toleafoa, Potu Leavasa, Kas Lealamanu'a, Carl Manu, Jonathan Meredith, Ponaly Tapela, Denning Tyrell
Referee: Cole a.
Points Scorers:
South Africa
Tries: Barry De W. 2, Du Preez G.J.D. 1, Greeff W.W. 1, Hall D.B. 2, Matfield V. 1, Van Niekerk J.C. 1
Conv: Pretorius A.S. 7
Pen K.: Pretorius A.S. 2
Samoa
Tries: Sititi S. 1, Tuilagi F. 1
Pen K.: Va'a E.V. 1
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