South Africa 72 Uruguay 6
Veteran Joost van der Westhuizen scored a hat-trick within an hour as South Africa opened their World Cup campaign with a crushing 72-6 Pool C victory over minnows Uruguay at Subiaco Oval today.
The Springboks scored six first-half tries to leave Uruguay gasping, and then further turned the screw as their pace and power took a terrible toll on the South Americans.
Van der Westhuizen, skipper in the absence of injured controversial captain Corne Krige, led by example to help South Africa post their record World Cup score.
He was joined by eight other try-scorers - Bakkie Botha (two), Jaque Fourie, Joe van Niekerk, Richard Bands, Thinus Delport, Danie Rossouw, Werner Greeff and Hendro Scholtz - as South Africa finished with 12 touchdowns in front of a disappointing 17,000 crowd.
Fly-half Louis Koen kicked six conversions, but it was nothing more than a Pool C warm-up for far more serious matters against England next Saturday. Uruguay were predictably brave, especially in defence, yet they could not cope with South Africa's superior physical power, and managed just two Diego Aguirre penalties.
South Africa needed just 66 seconds to open their account, as they caught the Uruguayan defence cold.
Van der Westhuizen was the beneficiary of a superb power-play, and then he struck again just four minutes later following excellent approach work.
It was the worst possible start for Uruguay, and although Aguirre slotted two penalties in quick succession, there was no halting a first-half try procession.
Lock Botha, back on the Test match scene after he was suspended for foul play during South Africa's Tri-Nations clash against Australia two months ago, crashed over from close range after van Niekerk's touchdown.
Delport then put his name on the scoresheet, but newcomer Faure provided the first-half highlight when he showed the Uruguayan defence a clean pair of heels on a weaving 60-metre run to the line.
The Springboks had a bonus point secured after just 28 minutes, and even though Koen could afford to miss half his first-half conversion attempts, South Africa had done more than enough damage.
Van der Westhuizen completed his hat-trick on 58 minutes, and was immediately substituted by coach Rudolf Straeuli ahead of the England game.
The romp was completed by further scores from Botha, Scholtz and Greeff, and while Uruguay had given it everything, they were comprehensively out-muscled in every key area.