South Africa went top of Rugby World Cup Pool B thanks to a dominant 34-16 victory over Scotland in Newcastle this evening.
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After a bruising opening 10 minutes at St James' Park, it was South Africa who scored the first try of the contest through veteran flanker Schalk Burger, who was adjudged to have grounded the ball by the TMO.
Handre Pollard made no mistake with the conversion and not long after put the Springboks 13 ahead with a pair of penalties as Scotland struggled to cause any problems in the other half.
Dark Blues captain Greig Laidlaw got the Scots on the board with a penalty of his own but then missed his second kick to leave Vern Cotter's men 10 points behind.
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Jannie du Plessis was sent to the sin bin for dangerous tackling in the final 10 minutes of the first half, but Scotland failed to make their numerical advantage pay and it was South Africa who scored the second try shortly before the break.
JP Pietersen, who scored a hat-trick against Samoa last week, was the man who touched down and Pollard continued his 100% record with the boot to put the Springboks 17 points in front at half time.
Laidlaw's penalty reduced the deficit shortly after the resumption and then St James' Park erupted as Tommy Seymour scored Scotland's first try after Duncan Weir had stolen the ball and surged into Springbok territory.
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The kick out wide from Laidlaw was good, but the momentum swung straight back South Africa's way as Pollard scored a drop goal before Laidlaw was sent to the sin bin for blatantly upending Bryan Habana as the South Africa winger overtook him in pursuit of a loose ball.
Scotland cut the lead back to seven thanks to Weir's penalty, but Pollard soon answered with one of his own from just inside the halfway line, restoring South Africa's double-digit lead as the match entered its final quarter.
Pollard added another penalty in the 68th minute and South Africa then put the game to bed five minutes later as Habana went over for his 61st international try.
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South Africa leapfrog Scotland in the group ahead of their final match against the USA. Scotland face Samoa in their last group game and will feel victory is needed with Japan up also up against pointless USA in their last match.
Pascal Lemesre
