Gurthro Steenkamp (AFP)

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Wellington - South Africa made it two wins out of two in the defence of their Rugby World Cup crown with a comfortable 49-3 victory over a misfiring Fiji on Saturday.

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The Springboks showed a steely grit, and no little flair, in dispatching a Fijian side that started well but whose preferred ball-in-hand game crumbled badly the longer they were unable to break the tough-as-teak South African defence.

Led by their inspirational flanks Schalk Burger and Heinrich Brussow and lock Danie Rossouw, the Boks effectively wrapped up the game with 18 unopposed points in the final 20 minutes of the first half.

South Africa scored tries through outstanding centre Jaque Fourie, Gurthro Steenkamp, Frans Steyn, Morne Steyn, Tendai Mtawarira and Rossouw, allied with 14 points from Morne Steyn's boot and a Frans Steyn penalty.

Seremia Bai scored a sole penalty for Fiji, who had seen off Namibia 49-25 in their opening match.

Fiji enjoyed the lion's share of early possession, but despite a sustained period of pressure could not break the patient Bok defence that refused to overcommit numbers at the ruck and was quick to prevent the offload.

South Africa, 17-16 victors over Wales in their first match, opened the scoring against the run of play, centre Frans Steyn landing a belter of a 56-metre penalty in the 12th minute.

Bai levelled the score 10 minutes later after the Boks strayed offside as the Fijians camped out in their opponent's 22m area.

However, the high intensity of the opening quarter seemed to take it out of the Fijians, and they slacked off in defence on a couple of occasions, finally allowing prop Gurthro Steenkamp to bulldoze his way over the line for a fine individual try.

Morne Steyn was successful with the touchline conversion and nailed an easier penalty just minutes later to stretch the scoreline to 13-3 with a palpable swing in momentum to the South Africans.

A bullocking charge from prop Jannie du Plessis set up quick ruck ball that was whipped cleanly left to Fourie, the centre dotting down for a great try.

Morne Steyn missed the conversion and a penalty shortly after, but sent Fiji into half-time 21-3 down with his second successful penalty.

South Africa opened the second half in complete control, Fourie and Brussow at the heart of all their attacks.

And it was not long before Fiji wilted, Brussow showing great dexterity to chip the Fijian defence at full pace, the ball landing kindly for Frans Steyn to touch down for a try namesake Morne converted.

Morne Steyn was then on hand to collect a smart Burger offload to crash through Fiji centre Gaby Lovobalavu for a try to which he also added the extras.

There was more to come from an impressive looking Springbok side, Mtawarira grabbing his first Test try after Frans Steyn had broken the midfield defence and popped up the ball as he was tackled on the line.

Rossouw also crossed for a deserved try late in the game as the Fiji team unravelled.

Teams

South Africa:
15 Pat Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie Du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Danie Rossouw 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie Du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp

Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis 17 Tendai Mtawarira 18 Francois Louw 19 Willem Alberts 20 Fancois Hougaard 21 Ruan Pienaar 22 Juan de Jongh

Fiji:
15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Gaby Lovobalavu, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Waisea Sedre Luveniyali, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Dominiko Maiwiriwiri Waqaniburotu, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Deacon Manu (captain), 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma'afu

Substitutes: 16 Telemaitoga Dautu Tuapati, 17 Waisea Nailago, 18 Netani Edward Talei, 19 Sisa Koyamaibole, 20 Vitori Tomu Buatava, 21 Nicky Little, 22 Gaby Lovobalavu



Springbok Jaque Fourie  scores a try as he is tackled by Gaby Lovobalavu of Fiji during their 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool D match at the Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington. (AFP)