Third-string scrumhalf Cobus Reinach scored a hat-trick of tries in 11 minutes as South Africa celebrated their 500th test by storming into the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a 66-7 victory over Canada on Tuesday.
The Springboks ran in six tries in the first half-hour at Kobe Misaki Stadium, and Canada’s woes deepened a couple of minutes before halftime when replacement lock Josh Larsen was shown a red card for an illegal shoulder charge at a ruck.
The Boks’ dominance in the opening 40 minutes was stark as they cut the Canadian defence apart with speed at the ruck, slick hands and some intelligent use of the boot.
Canada were at times their own worst enemy and went a man down on 36 minutes when Larsen showed too much enthusiasm at a ruck and his shoulder connected with the neck of Bok prop Thomas du Toit.
But to their credit, they came out looking much more assured in the second half despite their numerical disadvantage, and after a succession of penalties won, some poor defence from Jantjies allowed Heaton to score his first international try.
It should have been his second after he had dropped the ball over the tryline in Canada’s defeat to Italy earlier in the competition
The Springboks have to wait until Sunday to find out who they will face in the quarter-finals in Tokyo.
