Mapimpi hat-trick powers South Africa to 7-41 win over Japan

Japan 7 - 41 South Africa, Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
Scorecard

Makazole Mapimpi scored a hat-trick as South Africa trounced Japan 7-41 in their final warm-up game before the World Cup at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Saturday.

Japan suffered a setback when they had Kenki Fukuoka replaced early in the fifth minute and the Springboks were quick to get off the block with Cheslin Kolbe scored the opening try in the eighth minute and Handre Pollard kicked the conversion to make it 0-7.

Rassie Erasmus' men stepped up gears in the 22nd minute when Mapimpi scored the first of his two tries following an offload from Willie le Roux. By the 31st minute, Mapimpi scored his second after a combination of le Roux and Pollard sent him over the line.

Pollard missed the conversion but kicked a penalty goal as South Africa finished the first half with a 0-22 scoreline.

Japan's aggressive start in the second half was put off by firm defence from South Africa and they stretched their lead to 27 points with Mapimpi's third try in the 53rd minute following a pass from Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Japan finally managed to open their account with a 60th minute try from Kotaro Matsushima but despite a sin-bin to Francois Louw in the 71st minute, South Africa scored two more tries through Kolbe and Herschel Jantjies to complete a 34 point win.