• 
• 

Fullback Percy Montgomery racked up 29 points, and speedster Bryan Habana scored four tries as South Africa recovered from a difficult first half to beat Samoa 59-7 in a match played in Paris.

 Samoa gave as good as it got in an entertaining first half that featured hard hitting and physical commitment from both sides. When back Gavin Williams scored a try following a lineout in the 17th minute, the favoured Springboks led by only 9-7.

 But the 24-year-old Habana, who can run 100 metres in less than 11 seconds, slalomed through the Samoan defence to score his first try in the 34th minute. Montgomery touched down just before halftime to break the Samoan spirit.

 The second half belonged to the Springboks, who benefited from their greater speed and better handling and the Samoans' weakness in the lineout. Habana scored a second-half hat trick, and Montgomery added his second try while Jacque Fourie and JP Pietersen also scored.

 In addition to his two tries, Man of the Match Montgomery also converted five times and kicked three penalties.

 After the game Habana downplayed his individual contribution.

 "As a team we played unbelievably well. There is not one individual who can be singled out," he said. "My role in the team is to score tries, and I like scoring tries. If I make a contribution to what is a great team effort, then I'm happy."

   In the second half, 35-year-old centre Brian Lima was inserted in the Samoan lineup and became the first player in history to participate in five Rugby World Cups.

 South Africa showed enough form and strength to be be considered one of the favourites for the title and now lead Pool A ahead of England, who on Friday beat the United States without impressing.

 In Sunday's final game, Ireland looked unconvincing in beating Namibia 32-17 in a Pool D match in Bordeaux.

 Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll scored a magnificent solo try in the fourth minute, which was converted by Rona O'Gara, but the rest of the match was a tough slog for the Greens.

 Centre Andrew Trimble scored in the 18th minute after a diagonal kick by O'Gara, and Simon Easterby finished off a scrum surge 12 minutes later, but O'Gara failed to convert either try.

 Ireland were fortunate to be awarded a penalty try in the 48th minute, but the Namibians were rewarded for their courage and brashness when Jacques Nieuwenhuis bulled over the touch line in the 59th minute after an Irish kicking error.

 Four minutes later, centre Piet van Zyl scored brilliantly after lobbing Irish fullback Girvan Dempsey with a kick. Emile Wessels converted, and the Africans were trailing only 27-17.

 Jerry Flannery's try five minutes from time made the score more respectable for the Irish but did nothing to dispel the impression that they may not have the quality to measure up to France and Argentina and move on to the quarterfinals.

 In a Pool B match earlier Sunday in Nantes, Wales survived an early scare as they overcame a 12-9 first-half deficit against Canada before winning 42-17.

 Wales had the better start, and three penalties by fly half James Hook gave them a 9-0 lead, but tries by Jamie Cudmore and Craig Culpan and a conversion by James Pritchard gave Canada the halftime lead.

 The North Americans added a third try through Morgan Williams shortly after the restart for a 17-9 lead, but the more fancied Welsh then came back strongly and ran in five tries for - in the end - a convincing victory.

 Shane Williams scored two tries for the winners, while Alun-Wyn Jones, Sonny Parker and Colin Charvis scored the others. Stephen Jones weighed in with four conversions.

 In a Pool C game in Saint Etienne, Scotland scored four second- half tries in beating World Cup rookies Portugal 56-10.

 Dan Parks top scored for the Scottish with five conversions and a try for a personal tally of 15 points, while Rory Lamont managed two tries for Scotland.

 The next scheduled match is Tuesday's Pool D encounter between Argentina and Georgia.

DPA