Live Commentary: South Africa 46-6 Samoa - as it happened

Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of South Africa against Samoa.

Without further ado, here are the teams...

South Africa: le Roux, Pietersen, de Villiers, de Allende, Habana, Pollard, du Preez; Mtawarira, Strauss, J de Plessis, Etzebeth, Matfield, Louw, Burger, Vermeulen
REPLACEMENTS: Brits, Nyakane, Malherbe, de Jager, Kolisi, Pienaar, Lambie, Kriel

Samoa: Nanai-Williams, K Pisi, Perez, Lee-Lo, A Tuilagi, Stanley, Fotuali'i; Taulafo, Matu'u, Perenise, Paulo, Tekori, Ioane, Lam, Treviranus
REPLACEMENTS: Avei, Afatia, Johnston, Levave, S Tuilagi, Afemai, T Pisi, G Pisi

South Africa have national pride to restore after that historic loss to Japan. Samoa meanwhile beat USA and like a shark off the southern tip of Africa, they will be scenting blood and another upset.

The lovely Sian Cowper is at Villa Park today for Sports Mole. Let's see what she thinks of today's game:

"Villa Park is packed with South Africa fans who will be hoping to see their team get off the mark following last weekend's shock defeat to Japan. Springbok jerseys vastly outnumber the Samoa supporters in the stadium at the moment, with fans arriving in the city from early this morning.

"South Africa would have already seen this match as a potential banana-skin, but slipping up this afternoon would leave them facing an uphill battle just to make it out of the pool stage. It should be a real battle of youth vs. experience, with South Africa's starting XV coming into this match with more than three times as many caps as their opponents.

"In other news, a Minions balloon with a Samoa flag is on the loose!"

Minions, they get everywhere...

In case you missed it, Canada came close to upsetting Italy just now but the Europeans did just enough to see out the game. Just.

Ready for a lovely little stat?

South Africa and Samoa have played eight previous tests - the Springboks have won all eight. This is the ONLY fixture that has been played at every World Cup this century.

Nice, eh?

A lot of South Africa's hopes will be resting on the giant frame of Duane Vermeulen who makes his return from injury. If you've never seen the No.8 before, you're in for a treat.

As the anthems get underway, a reminder that Heyneke Meyer made eight changes to the team that lost to Japan. You can read all of them here.

Samoa meanwhile, made three, with Mike Stanley replacing Tusi Pisi at 10.

Samoa are currently getting us underway with the Siva Tau, which is not, repeat not, called the Haka.

Alesana Tuilagi is leading it, a man who looks like the Incredible Hulk, if the Hulk only ate yams all of his life.

KICKOFF! Handre Pollard gets us underway at Villa Park. I'm expecting a lot of big hits this afternoon.

Straight away South Africa win a penalty as Tuilagi is penalised for holding on. Tempers are flaring already.

Straight through the middle for Pollard. It was Victor Matfield that won the Africans that penalty.

Straight from the restart South Africa set up a maul that rumbles on for 20 metres before winning a penalty. Pollard has gone for the corner.

BIG HIT! That won't be the first time I'll be using that. TJ Ioane has just crumpled Adriaan Strauss. Samoa win the scrum.

Samoa keep it tight off that scrum and they are awarded with a penalty at the breakdown.

Here's the lovely Sian:

"It's been like a home match for South Africa in the opening moments of this match - there was a stunning reception for the South African national anthem and the crowd are right behind the two-time champions. Handre Pollard's opening penalty kick should settle any lingering nerves. That's just what South Africa needed."

Samoa are smashing this up the middle with Perez and Ken Pisi heavily involved.

The backs look impressive, leg drives, offloads, everything, and they win a penalty out wide. Stanley goes for the posts.

He gets it with a little help from the inside post.

Pollard has just sent his kickoff straight into touch too.

A couple of things as we get on with this game. Census Johnston is a late inclusion into Samoa's starting lineup, and Wayne Barnes is refereeing, so expect yellow cards. Those two things may, or may not, be connected.

Samoa, and Johnston, win the penalty from that scrum and they go for the posts.

Stanley, just one of a number of players who are currently without a club, has just smashed that over with room to spare from halfway. Samoa are looking strong.

Tim Nanai-Williams makes half a break from that restart before Ken Pisi kicks down Willie le Roux's throat, who calls for the mark and kicks for touch.

Out of nowhere! Samoa go sideways from that lineout and when Stanley tries to float a pas over the top, JP Pietersen is there to pluck it out of the air and race away. Pollard fails to add the extras.

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Matfield steals lineout ball for the South Africans and Schalk Burger runs over Stanley with ease. Samoa end up giving a penalty away and Pollard lines up the three points.

He gets it. Straight through from 40 yards out.

A quarter of the game has gone so it's time to here from Sian:

"It had been all Samoa since the opening kick from Pollard, with Michael Stanley's efforts quietening the Springbok faithful. However, JP Pietersen's interception, right in front of my seat, was only going one way, as his accelerated away from the chasing Samoans with ease. Once he gets away like that, there's very little anyone can do to stop him getting the try."

South Africa have just won another penalty off that restart as Samoa come round the side of the maul and Pollard goes for the corner.

Ioane has just nailed another player, Burger this time, dislodging the ball in the process and giving Samoa the scrum.

Ioane is a man possessed. He smashes a green shirt in a ruck but at the next one, Samoa are penalised for a dangerous clearout and Pollard goes for the corner.

Samoa's discipline is just letting them down at the moment.

From the lineout Damian de Allende crashes into midfield and the ball is recycled. Le Roux tries a chip into the corner but there's too much on it. South Africa had advantage though and Pollard lines up a kick again.

Too easy from in front of the posts.

Samoa try and attack from deep following the restart but Ken Pisi is crunched by Eben Etzebeth. Arial ping-pong ensues before Nanai-Williams calls for the mark and kicks into touch.

Close! De Allende finds space from that lineout before the ball goes wide and Bryan Habana is smashed. Le Roux tries to break down the blind side, his offload inside to Jean de Villiers looks good and the centre dives over the line. Turns out le Roux was in touch though, but only just.

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Samoa win a penalty from the lineout after Matfield pulls his man down. Stanley can't find touch though and South Africa attack.

Etzebeth is penalised for holding on though.

Kahn Fotuali'i taps quickly and his side go wide. Nanai-Williams chips ahead and le Roux bundles the ball into touch, giving Samoa the ball.

Great defence from Etzebeth. He comes straight through the maul and holds up the ball, giving his side the ball. Miniature handbags ensue.

Replays of that show Etzebeth pulling Tuilagi's hair and the winger takes exception. Obviously. South Africa get the penalty.

A nice inside backs move sees Pietersen fly into the midfield, but Johnston of all people intercepts the ball as South Africa try and go wide. Samoa win a penalty after Strauss goes off his feet at the ruck.

South Africa steal the lineout again and a high kick is won back by Pietersen. Matfield finds space at the edge of a ruck before Habana goes makes hard yards, as Samoa are penalised for offside. Pollard lines up the kick and I'm surprised we haven't seen any yellows yet.

Pollard increases the African's lead from right in front of the sticks.

South Africa earn a penalty on halfway and they rumble forward, before de Allende spots a small hole. Etzebeth drives into the 22, and The Beast carries on but they give away a penalty.

Ooh, we're going to the TMO. Samoa take a quick tap and Pietersen pulls Tuilagi back as the big winger chips forward. Samoa get the penalty but Barnes tells Tuilagi that he goes down too easily. He does.

Now then, Stanley is 60 metres out and he's going for the posts. If anything's to go by his previous kicks, he could get it.

He doesn't. Short and wide.

South Africa appear to be in the driving seat but my, this is a physical match. Samoa definitely have the ability to cause problems in the backs with Fotuali'i and Nanai-Williams, but if Pollard can keep knocking over the penalties and South Africa can score early on, this should be an easy win.

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KICKOFF! Mike Stanley restarts proceedings for us.

Stephen Betham and co look dapper in their funky, Hawaiian-ish shirts up in the box.

Close! Etzebeth finds space down the wing and his basketball pass to the touchline finds de Villiers. The centre's offload to le Roux is nice and the fullback chips ahead but he can't regather two yards out and he knocks on.

Jannie du Plessis and South Africa impede at the scrum and Samoa get the penalty.

South Africa are back on the attack though, with the forwards bulldozing through the blue defence. Again, Samoa give away a penalty but Pollard goes for the corner when three points were available. The Africans are trying to close this game out.

The lineout is good and du Preez darts forward. De Allende makes hard yards before nice hands and an overlap sees le Roux feed Pietersen in the corner. Pollard converts as de Allende is brought off for Jesse Kriel.

Vermeulen gives away a penalty at the restart and Stanley lines up the penalty.

And he slices that miles right.

Here's Sian who's been having problems with the internet at Villa Park. They're obviously not used to so much media being there:

"What a start to the second half for South Africa. The Springboks have been dominant in the opening few minutes of the second 40, and the second try really had been coming. It's no surprise to see Pietersen adding his second, he's been superb this evening."

Samoa look to attack down the centre of the field and Matfield gives away a penalty for not rolling away. Surely they will go for the corner now.

Nope. Stanley has another pop from 50 metres out but he misses just right of the posts.

Both teams are making front-row changes now and Tusi Pisi comes on for Stanley.

Pietersen does brilliantly to steal that ball in the air from the South Africa dropout, but his pass inside sees Etzebeth run into his own player. Scrum to Samoa.

There's a couple of scrum restarts as the new boys get acquainted with each other.

Lovely wraparound from Samoa but Tuilagi is greedy and ruins a two-on-one. It's the wrong decision and Kriel's tackle makes him spill the ball.

South Africa hit Samoa up the middle off that scrum and Vermeulen is nearly away. Habana ends up with the ball in the corner but Ken Pisi does extremely well to pull him into touch just a couple of centimetres out.

Stupid. Samoa try an over-the-top lineout but Treviranus drops the ball and South Africa snaffle it up. It goes through the hands and Burger is there to topple over the line. Pollard hits the posts with his conversion attempt.

Here's our Sian:

"It feels like South Africa could start to run away with this. The crowd is roaring the Springboks on - there's even been a Mexican wave! Every time South Africa have the ball they look like they could add to the score, including with Berger's try, which comes just moments after they missed out with another move down the opposite side of the pitch. The Springboks are looking to make a statement!"

Oh my! Samoa look as it they're running into brick walls but Nanai-Williams chips over and regathers. He throws a Hail Mary of an offload that lands in Fotuali'i's arms who offloads to Tusi Pisi to score. Great try! But Wayne is going to the TMO.

NO TRY! It turns out that Hail Mary was forward. What a shame because that was up there with try of the tournament.

I told you Nanai-Williams was special. That boy is electric.

South Africa break from a kick-return through Pollard. Burger and Strauss carry hard before le Roux shows great hands again to send Kriel away. Samoa track back and turn the ball over after Francois Louw is penalised for holding on. This game is breaking up.

George Pisi makes his way onto the pitch for Tuilagi meaning that for the first time in World Cup history, there are three brothers on the park - George, Ken and Tusi.

Samoa are currently playing keep-ball in their own 22.

Close! Tusi Pisi kicks down Habana's throat and the winger chips into le Roux's hands down the far side, but Tusi Pisi makes amends and bundles the fullback out of play.

South Africa are hammering away at the Samoa defence again, de Villiers very nearly breaking away before Samoa give away a penalty.

It's gone to the corner.

Schalk Brits, only just on for Strauss to make his World Cup debut, gets on the end of an unstoppable rolling maul to score his first international try at the age of 34. Pollard misses again but that's the bonus point.

They're off again. Kriel powers his way down the touchline before Louw picks up the ball in midfield and makes big yards along with Lood de Jager.

Samoa turn it over though. Louw offloads to Frans Malherbe who gives it to Brits but the hooker is tackled and penalised for holding on.

BOOM! Samoa's lineout is too long and Vermeulen catches it before sending attempted tackler Fotuali'i into Birmingham city centre.

South Africa are pounding away again and as Samoa give away another penalty, here's Sian for you:

"That fourth try, as well as securing the bonus point for South Africa, has seen a bit of a change in the atmosphere at Villa Park. With just a few minutes still to go, some of the neutrals are starting to filter out, but the Springbok supporters are still making themselves heard as South Africa look for a fifth. The two-time champions have been relentless throughout this match, and despite the win surely being in the bag, they're still pressing. Doubters silenced."

That's Pietersen's hat-trick. Samoa hold up a maul short but Louw does well to pop up to Pat Lambie who is storming around the corner to pop to Pietersen in the corner. Lambie misses the kick.

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PITCH INVADER! It's not a streaker but Samoa aren't happy anyway. Wayne Barnes gets in there before the guy gets filled in by 15 pairs of Pacific boots.

Samoa are looking for a consolation but they're going nowhere. In fact, South Africa turn it over and there we are...

Vermeulen causes the turnover and sharp hands sees Habana end up with the ball and he races away untouched. Only Jonah Lomu and Doug Lambie have scored more World Cup tries. Lambie adds the extras.

Well in the end that was all too easy for South Africa. A Boklash as it were....

Here's Sian with the final word:

"Well, that was certainly the performance South Africa needed after last week! Samoa said before the match that they'd be facing a wounded animal, and they were right. Samoa had their moments, but it really only ever looked like their would be one winner. South Africa are most certainly back!"

That's all from me folks but don't forget that England and Wales kick off in about an hour. You can follow it here.