| MONTPELLIER,
France (AP)
Bryan
Habana and Jaque Fourie scored two tries apiece Sunday, and South
Africa beat United States 64-15 in the final group game at the
Rugby World Cup.
The Springboks scored three tries in the first half and six after
the break to finish atop Group D with 19 points. The Eagles ended
up last with one point.
South
Africa will next play Fiji in the quarterfinals in Marseille on
Oct. 7.
Schalk
Burger, returning after a two-match ban for hitting Samoa scrumhalf
Junior Polu high in South Africa's 59-7 win on Sept. 9, scored
in the ninth minute with a one-handed pick up on a pass from flyhalf
Butch James.
Fullback
Percy Montgomery and flyhalf Mike Hercus traded penalties for
South Africa to lead 10-3 in the 19th.
Springboks
center Francois Steyn scored in the 28th with two big right-footed
steps in a 20-meter run.
Habana
scored in the 35th after being set up by Montgomery as the Springboks
extended their lead to 24-3.
In
the 39th, South Africa scrumhalf Fourie du Preez threw a pass
which Todd Clever intercepted. The openside flanker passed to
lock Alec Parker, who fed Hercus, who threw a 20-meter cutout
to Takudzwa Ngwenya and the winger beat Habana on the outside
to finish a 90-meter move with a scintillating try for a halftime
24-10 score.
Habana
scored his sixth try of the tournament in the 42nd after good
lead-up work by Burger and James.
Six
minutes later, prop C.J. van der Linde scored after a smart pass
from openside flanker Juan Smith. But the Eagles hit back with
a try to fullback Chris Wyles in the 51st on another assist from
Hercus for a 36-15 scoreline.
Three
minutes later, after his forwards had laid a platform, Du Preez
dummied to score under the posts.
In
the 61st, Fourie scored to push South Africa's lead out to 50-15.
From a lineout, James passed inside to release winger J.P. Pietersen
and he found Steyn, whose quick hands allowed Fourie to touch
down.
Fourie
scored his second try in the 73rd, while Smith crossed four minutes
later to finish the scoring.
Rugby
World Cup at a glance
QUARTERFINALS
Saturday, Oct. 6
Quarterfinal
1 At Marseille
Australia vs. England. Sunday, Oct. 7 Quarterfinal 2 At Cardiff,
Wales
New
Zealand vs. France. Quarterfinal 3 At Marseille
South
Africa vs. Fiji. Quarterfinal 4 At Saint-Denis
Argentina
vs. Scotland.
SEMIFINALS
Saturday,
Oct. 13
At
Saint-Denis Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF2.
Sunday,
Oct. 14
Winner
QF3 vs. Winner QF4. FOR THIRD
Friday,
Oct. 19
At
Paris Semifinals losers. FINAL
Saturday,
Oct. 20
At
Saint-Denis
Semifinals
winners.
Note:
Saint-Denis
is Stade de France, Paris is Parc des Princes
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