Toyota City (Japan) (AFP)
Nine tries, a handful of flying chances ... The Springboks were rather clement with Namibia, beaten "only" (57-3), Saturday to Toyota as part of the World Cup.
All content ... South African professionals and their Namibian neighbors, most of whom are semi-professionals, have greeted spectators at the Toyota stadium with a sense of accomplishment.
A week after their loss to the All Blacks (23-13) who probably sentenced them to finish in second place in Pool B, the Springboks, who lined up an "encore team", recited their scales. Another reason for satisfaction: no injuries as the knockout matches approach.
"It was a great match," laughed the South African captain of a day, Schalk Brits, 38, a regular hooker, lined up at n.8.
"We played with a lot of courage, I'm very proud of my players," said Namibia coach Welshman Phil Davies, with a big smile on his face, as relieved of the final reasonable addition.
His players made a strong commitment in defense and in open scrums to avoid losing a beating-like defeat, as in 2007 in Cape Town (105-13) or in 2011 (87-0) in their previous showdown. World Cup.
Courage and pride have enabled Namibians to stop certain sequences of Boks, who have managed to register nine trials. They are the first to cross the 50-point mark after 15 matches played in this World Cup-2019. Without forcing their talent.
© 2019 AFP