South Africa are ranked 2nd in the world, and they are taking on the team ranked 19th.
Namibia's most famous ever rugby player, Percy Montgomery played for their neighbouring country South Africa. There are only 1000 rugby players to choose from in Namibia, while across the border there are more like hundreds of thousands.
Namibia's tournament has been patchy at best. They performed credibly against Fiji to whom they lost 49-25. Then they got smashed by Samoa 49-12. They head into a match against the World Champs who are on the improve, and like a big cat, hungry for blood. Namibia aren't merely vulnerable, they are more like a new born crippled antelope who has only just found its feet.
I was at the Cake Tin to see the Boks soak up enormous pressure and then strike back to demoralise Fiji 49-3, and I am certain that much worse awaits the Namibians in the half a stadium tonight. Their nickname is the Welwitschias, and all we can do is wish them well because this will be a cricket score.
Namibia start very well and look somewhat competent for the first 3 minutes, until the first scrum that is. They then get demolished and the Boks earn a penalty which is slotted by Morne Steyn 3-0 SA. Namibia will be smarting, and will try to avoid further scrummaging wherever possible - good luck with that.
Hello! On the 5 minute mark a Namibian spot tackle makes mince meat of Schalk Burger (Sorry I had to do that). Sadly they can't keep hold of the pill and Gio Aplon races away for the first Springbok try after just 7 minutes. Steyn converts, 10-0.
The Namibian forwards can't compete with their bigger and more skilful opposites. Every set piece sees the Boks dominant, with the Namibians only option to infringe to prevent South African progress. It'll be a long night for the blue pack here. Every scrum is hurting them in particular. And the tireder they get, the more this will compound.
Twenty minutes in and Namibia are doing delightfully well. They don't seem to be able to win any set piece ball at all, but they are fighting for the scraps like a starving hyena. But I've cursed them here by commenting on it, because a turnover sees Bryan Habana clocking up a record scoring 39th try as a Springbok. Impressive. Steyn converts 17-0 after 23 mins.
Habana has always been my favourite Springbok, not that there is much contest. I admire Victor Matfield and John Smit too. Habana seems a genuinely likeable guy, and has no apparent badness in him, unlike backs from the James Small and Butch James mould. Also for most of the time he has played, he has been the best winger in the world. He's a class act and deserves every accolade. A little habit I have is singing his name into the song Sierra Leone by Coconut Rough. This is great fun, but probably a little irritating to my companions.
28 minutes in and Namibia are bogged down in their left hand corner. They lose a tight head to the South Africans, then concede a penalty at the next scrum. The Boks opt to scrum again and earn the inevitable Penalty Try. I told Megan it was coming 30 seconds before it happened, for the Springboks this is like shooting fish in a barrel. 24-0 after 30 mins
Jaque Fourie walks in a beautiful try to South Africa after 38 minutes. Namibia are almost out on their feet here - fortunately for them they are saved by the bell. The score is 31-0 at the break.
Despite their pack's obvious dominance, the South Africans will not be very happy with themselves. Their line-out has failed several times, with the Namibians not even contesting many of the throws. In the first 7 minutes of the second spell, the Boks make repeated errors and seem ready to stumble until the 48th minute when Fracois Steyn finds himself on the end of a huge overlap. 38-0 after 50 minutes then.
It takes ten more minutes to crack the Welwitschias again, and Morne Steyn adds a try to his 6 kicks this evening. He adds two more and is subbed of with 7 out of 7 kicks and a try to boot. Nice effort.
Moments later Juan De Jongh gets in on the action getting on the end of another bullocking Springbok attack. The try is converted by Ruan Pienaar 52-0
Moments later Aplin scores his second try. Pienaar converts 59-0 after 65 minutes. Here comes that cricket score.
It has become like an exhibition match. The Namibians are spent, but the Boks have plenty of fresh legs on the pitch, and they all want to get on the scoreboard. The brilliant little halfback Francois Hougaard is next on the sheet, diving over under the crossbar with a ripper showboat. The conversion follows 66-0 after 68 minutes.
The quality of the Springbok kicking is looking a huge factor for the tournament. They have had 10 shots at goal thus far and missed none, using two different kickers. They are like New Zealand's finest netballer Irene Van Dyke! Holy cow, De Jongh gets his second now. It is 73-0 and that is the Springboks' highest ever test score.
I actually am starting to feel like a reporter observing an execution. This is too cruel. I can't do this anymore. I will post a final score at game's end.
It ends up 87-0 with two more tries coming to Danie Rossouw and another to Hougaard. They didn't miss a kick all night! Peter De Villiers will be delighted with his team's defensive efforts. For two games in a row they've conceded the donut. This is a bad sign for every other team in the tournament. They looked rubbish against Wales 2 weeks ago, but that is ancient history now. The Boks are on a roll.
Final score: South Africa 87 - Namibia 0
22 games 126 tries.
Tweet of the match - "Namibia should stick to what they're really good at.. Which is..... I'll get back to u on that" @Sparkzozo
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