Bryan Habana ties Jonah Lomu career record as South Africa thrash USA to claim top spot

South Africa's wing Bryan Habana scores his third and his team's seventh against USA. Photo / Getty Images

South Africa 64 USA 0
It's Australia or Wales for South Africa after the Springboks secured top spot in Pool B at the Rugby World Cup today.

Bryan Habana equaled Jonah Lomu's career record of 15 Rugby World Cup tries when he crossed for a hat trick to help South Africa to a 64-0 win over the United States.

The South Africans scored 10 tries in an emphatic conclusion to the pool stage for the two-time champions that started with a shocking loss to Japan.

Jonah Lomu dives to score a try during the first round Rugby World Cup match between England and New Zealand in 1999. Photo / Getty Images

The Springboks needed a four-try bonus-point win to top the pool, and were halfway there with two tries and a 14-0 lead at the break.

Habana swooped on a perfectly placed grubber kick from skipper Fourie du Preez 62 seconds after the interval, and added two more, untouched, in the 59th and 61st minutes to take his career tally to 15 and equal the tournament record mark set by Lomu, the All Blacks great.Blindside flanker Francois Louw scored twice, Bismarck du Plessis burrowed over from close range and Jesse Kriel and Lwazi Mvovo also scored in the second half.

The South Africans were intent on attacking and spreading the ball wide in the first half, and put down a series of opportunities against a gritty defensive effort from a U.S. lineup missing some key front-line players who were being saved for the last pool game against Japan. In the second half, it completely opened up for the Springboks.

Scotland, which plays Samoa in its last game, and Japan are vying for second spot in the pool.

South Africa 64 (Bryan Habana 3, Francois Louw 2, Damian de Allende, Bismarck du Plessis, Jesse Kriel, Lwazi Mvovo tries; penalty try; Handre Pollard 4 conversions, Morne Steyn 3 conversions), United States 0. HT: 14-0

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