Record Boks put one foot in quarters

Reigning champions South Africa put one foot in the quarter-finals with their biggest ever World Cup win Wednesday as New Zealand wheeled out the big guns for their clash with France.

Elsewhere England struggled to quell the tabloid storm surrounding centre Mike Tindall and World Cup chief Martin Snedden spoke out after reports that Australian fans were abused by New Zealanders.

Ruthless South Africa pulverised neighbours and World Cup whipping boys Namibia 87-0 their highest points total and widest victory margin in the competition to add to their earlier victories against Wales and Fiji.

The Springboks, seeking to become the first team to successfully defend the Webb Ellis Cup, top Pool D on 14 points with just one game left against Samoa and on course for a likely quarter-final with Australia.

New Zealand recalled captain Richie McCaw after injury for Saturday’s clash with France, meaning the flanker will become the first All Blacks player to reach 100 Test caps.

The hosts also named fit-again fly-half Dan Carter and ditched 98-cap veteran fullback Mils Muliaina in favour of the up-and-coming Israel Dagg, in a move which followed much soul-searching by coach Graham Henry. “It was not easy, and it was a long discussion and obviously there’s a lot of emotion involved in these sort of selections,” said Henry, who also dismissed claims France had named a weak team to avoid topping Pool A.

AFP