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RWC 2019 has been the most competitive of all-time. Japan upset Ireland while Uruguay upset Fiji. Aside from those games results have been closer than in prior tournaments. South Africa’s win over Namibia was another case of this trend though the match was the first in which a team scored 50 or more points.
The Springboks were 57-3 winners over Namibia, a result which saw them claiming a bonus point to go into second place in Pool B with five points. Top of the group is Italy with 10; New Zealand have four points while both Canada, and Namibia are yet to register a point.
Early dominance by South Africa saw hooker Bongi Mbonambi rewarded with two tries. His first try saw from a rolling maul and was followed quickly by flanker Francois Louw scoring from a drive several minutes thereafter.
Discipline concerns saw Namibian N8 Adriaan Booysen yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on. The one man advantage was instantly used to South Africa’s advantage as Mbonambi scored his second. Like his first it came from a maul.
Namibia hit-back to register their only points of the match. It came from fly half Cliven Loubser who landed a difficult attempt in the 24th minute.
Before the half-time siren arrived Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am both scored to give South Africa a 31-3 lead with the bonus point secured.
In the second half Namibia kept the Springboks quiet for lengthily periods. Ultimately the superior side would get over the try line with Mapimpi scoring his second, before regular captain Siya Kolisi, and captain of the day, Schalk Brits both scored.
Pool B continues on Wednesday with Canada facing New Zealand in Oita. South Africa’s next game will be on Friday against Italy in Shizuoka while Namibia’s next game is to be against New Zealand on Sunday, October 06 in Tokyo.
SCORING
SOUTH AFRICA
Try: Mbonambi (9′, 16′), Louw (14′), Mapimpi (26′, 53′), Am (41′), Gelant (47′), Kolisi (58′), Brits (63′)
Conversion: E Jantjies (10′, 18′, 42′, 49′, 54′, 65′)
NAMIBIA
Penalty: Loubser (23′)
Yellow Card: Booysen
TEAMS
NAMIBIA
1 Desiderius Sethie, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 3 AJ de Klerk, 4 Johan Retief, 5 Tjiuee Uanivi (capt.), 6 Thomasau Forbes, 7 Max Katjijeko, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 Lesley Klim, 12 PJ Walters, 13 JC Greyling, 14 Chad Plato, 15 Johann Tromp
Replacements: 16 Obert Nortjé, 17 André Rademeyer, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Prince Gaoseb, 20 Janco Venter, 21 Wian Conradie, 22 TC Kisting, 23 Johan Deysel
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 RG Snyman, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Francois Louw 7 Kwagga Smith, 8 Schalk Brits (capt.), 9 Herschel Jantjies, 10 Elton Jantjies, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Frans Steyn, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 15 Warrick Gelant
Replacements: 16 Steven Kitshoff, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Eben Etzebeth, 19 Siya Kolisi, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Damian de Allende, 23 Cheslin Kolbe
