South Africa have secured first position in Pool B at the 2015 Rugby World Cup following a thumping 64-0 win over USA in London.
South Africa needed to win to secure first spot and set up a quarter-final with either Wales or Australia at Twickenham on October 17.
USA, meanwhile, entered the match having not won any of their games in this section, but victory would have kept them in the running for third position and therefore automatic qualification for the World Cup in 2019.
It was USA that forced the first penalty of the match inside three minutes when Schalk Burger was penalised for a dangerous tackle, but Folau Niua's kick was just short of the posts.
South Africa moved 7-0 ahead inside 10 minutes, however, with Damian de Allende showing his power to score the first try, before Handre Pollard converted for another two points.
From shorter distance, USA had their second penalty in the 15th minute, but Niku Kruger could only strike the post as South Africa kept their seven-point lead in tact.
South Africa thought that they had scored their second try of the match in the 25th minute when Jesse Kriel burst towards the line, but replays showed that he was just short after excellent defensive work from Kruger. South Africa did move onto 12 points in the 27th minute, however, with a penalty try, before Pollard converted for 14-0.
It did not take long for South Africa to move 21 points ahead early in the second period, with Bryan Habana's try being awarded despite the TMO saying 50-50. Pollard then converted to maintain his 100% record in the game.
South Africa scored another try in the 47th minute when Bismarck du Plessis moved over the line, but the resulting conversion was missed by Pollard to leave the Springboks 26-0 ahead with 30 minutes to play.
South Africa's domination continued as they moved 31-0 ahead through a Francois Louw try in the 53rd minute, before Pollard converted for 33-0.
Habana completed his hat trick either side of another Pollard conversion, with South Africa taking a 45-0 lead in the 61st minute, before Morne Steyn squeezed one home from a wide angle to make it 47 unanswered points.
Louw made it 52-0 with little over 10 minutes remaining, but Steyn missed the chance to add his second conversion. Kriel further extended that led in the 73rd minute, but Steyn again missed his resulting kick.
USA continued to struggle late on as South Africa's class and strength proved far too much as Lwazi Mvovo made it 62-0 in the third minute of additional time, before Steyn converted to make it 64 unanswered points.
South Africa have now won all four of the meetings between the two teams by at least 23 points.
Matt Law
