Stuttering Springboks claim crucial bonus point

CRUICIAL BONUS POINT: Andre Esterhuizen of South Africa. Mandatory Credit Pic: Sports/Steve Haag

Not the box-ticking exercise most expected late on a Sunday night but the world champions got the most important stuff done. A bonus-point win leaves them top of Pool B with all four games played. That’s one point clear of Ireland and five north of Scotland whose Parisian date next week will confirm the final standings.

The Springboks needed a 37-point victory and seven tries to give themselves an extra layer of comfort in the event that all three teams eventually finish on 15 points. They got the seven tries, the last arriving in injury-time, but fell just short of the first marker. Not ideal, but little short of a miracle will keep them from the last eight.