South Africa ran in twelve tries and shut-out Namibia in a thoroughly dominant display over their African neighbours at North Harbour Stadium on Thursday night.
It was a one-sided contest almost from first minute to last, and although the minnows showed plenty of spirit and fight they never seriously looked like breaching the Springboks line; whilst the defending champions' winger, Bryan Habana, scored a record-breaking 39th Test try for his country.
Despite Namibia displaying endeavour aplenty in the opening exchanges it was South Africa who took the lead in the 3rd minute, when a penalty at scrum-time provided fly-half Morne Steyn an easy chance to convert for 3-0.
From that moment on the Boks never really looked back, and even though it was a comparatively low-scoring first period for the holders due to some abrasive and tenacious work in attack and defence from the Welwitschias, blame could also be apportioned to Peter de Villiers' team who squandered a host of chances through needless fumbles and schoolboy mistakes.
The first try was scored after 7th minute by World Cup debutant Gio Aplon who made the most of turnover ball on halfway provided by the slick hands of scrum half, Francois Hougaard, to race away for the opening touchdown; Steyn having no problems with the conversion.
Hougaard thought he was in himself soon after, but was brought back by referee George Clancy for a crooked line-out.
South Africa were illustrating complete control over the scrum and were making their significant 8-man weight advantage count, and after Habana had dotted down for his record score, the pack exercised their might by taking their Namibian opposition apart up front - resulting in Clancy marching under the uprights to award a penalty try.
Namibia were doing their best to cling on to the Springboks' coat-tails, and a couple of marauding runs from blindside Tinus du Plessis increased the volume of the crowd as well as encouraged team mates who were desperate for signs of leadership and a stroke of luck to get off the mark.
But the bonus point was wrapped up for South Africa 2 minutes from the interval by mercurial centre Jaque Fourie. From a first-phase line-out the ball was played through the hands, and fellow centre Frans Steyn did well to draw in defenders to create space outside and offload to the on-rushing Fourie for a simple run-in.
The successful extras made it 31-0 at half-time and although Namibia had displayed commendable effort their inferior skill, organisation and fitness had told, and everyone was aware of how big a task they faced going into the next 40 minutes.
The second period started encouragingly enough, with Namibia competing well at the breakdown and in the line-out, but their defences were exposed for a fifth time in the 49th minute, with Frans Steyn - one of a four-man overlap - the lucky recipient of the ball to jog over the line.
With Namibia visibly running out of steam and desire for the contest, on the hour mark the floodgates really opened.
First Morne Steyn provided the simple finish to a well-worked from a powerful set of forwards and the evasive Hougaard, with the successful conversion the fly-half's last act of the game as de Villiers looked to ring the changes.
Three minutes later, replacement Juan de Jongh cantered in unopposed after great work on the wing from Pierre Spies, and moments after that Aplon was in for his second of the night.
Hougaard - now on the wing - scored a first and richly-deserved try in the 68th minute, reward for all his sniping, pilfering and strong running throughout the encounter, as he came short off replacement scrum half Fourie du Preez to bust a tackle and dive over the whitewash.
With the score now reading 66-0, the final whistle couldn't come quickly enough for a tired Namibian XV who had run out of puff and any ideas with which to counter the Springbok juggernaut.
But champions are rarely in the business of sympathy and mercy, and proceeded to run in a further three tries before the end; the first of which through de Jongh who completed his double with a powerful run off Ruan Pienaar who provided the deft pass to unlock a wearisome defence.
With 2 minutes left the slaughter seemed to have subsided as Mr. Dependable Danie Rossouw crashed over from short range after a good burst and pop-pass from captain John Smit, but there was still time for Hougaard to grab a brace for himself, as he picked and went from a ruck, handed off referee Clancy and dashed away downfield, stepping full-back Chrysander Botha with ease and completing the rout.
Auckland with doubtful hold many kind memories for the brave Namibians after tonight, but for South Africa this is another step in creating the platform to launch an assault at the world's best come knock-out time.
