Boks batter Japan to slay demons in World Cup warm-up
Makazole Mapimpi grabbed a hat-trick as South Africa smashed World Cup hosts Japan 41-7 Friday, avenging the most humiliating loss in Springbok history two weeks before the serious business begins.
The last time the teams met, hitherto tournament no-hopers Japan stunned the Springboks 34-32 on the English south coast in their opening game of the 2015 World Cup -- an upset of such epic proportions it spawned a recent movie.
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But two-time world champions South Africa, who face New Zealand in a titanic Pool B opener on September 21, overpowered the Brave Blossoms this time out to win a one-sided World Cup warm-up played in brutal humidity in Kumagaya, north of Tokyo.
The visitors took just seven minutes to open the scoring after a bulldozing scrum, Cheslin Kolbe diving into the corner before fellow winger Mapimpi ran in two more tries as South Africa went into halftime leading 22-0.
Constantly cajoled by talismanic captain Siya Kolisi, the Springboks continued to produce monster hits and dominate the set-piece and they extended their advantage when Mapimpi burst clear to complete his hat-trick on 52 minutes.
Kotaro Matsushima pounced on an error to pull a try back on the hour mark, but with Francois Louw yellow-carded Kolbe and Herschel Jantjies added late tries for South Africa to round out the scoring.
Japan kick off the first Rugby World Cup in Asia against Russia in Tokyo on September 20.