They might be missing Joost Van der Westhuizen?s skills on the field and Francois Pienaar?s presence off it, but this year?s South African team are equally determined to lift the World Rugby Classic crystal come next Saturday.

And they made the best possible start to their title defence, crashing in 33 points against the hapless Canadians without even coming close to their best.

Had their final passes been more accurate at least another three of four more of their devastating breaks from deep could have landed them scores with last year?s Mr. Length of the Field Try, Jan Harm van Wyk, failing to even score one leaving Jacques Jonker, Charl Marais, Dawie Theron, Rassie Erasmus and Mark Wood to do the damage.

Once again employing stars who have only just finished playing Currie Cup rugby, the Springboks dominated the tournament opener on a warm day at the National Sports Centre?s North Field with a dazzling display from their backs.

The Canadians, like all of last year?s opponents, were simply unable to find a way of stopping the rampant wide men, although some questionable last-ditch tackling did little to aid their cause.

It took coach Ian McIntosh?s men just 214 seconds to open their account, Andries Fourie ? comfortably their man of the match for his penetrating running and flawless distribution ? making the decisive break before handing off to Jonker to stroll home.

Marais was next over, after 15 minutes, the hooker finishing off a brilliant move down the right wing where the Springboks indulged in a spot of pinball before piling home straight through the North American?s defence.

The Canadians opted for the battering ram through the middle route rather than tossing it around and despite the best effort of chief batterer Gerald Steenkamp, the opportunities just weren?t coming.

Instead the South Africans soaked up the pressure, often for prolonged spells, before unleashing their pace merchants, Fourie again making the break in the 17th minute with Theron ? playing in borrowed boots due to the non-arrival of his luggage ? coming up in support for the easy job of finishing off for a 19-0 lead.

The Canadians, often the weakest link in the Classic, toiled hard after the break but after 15 minutes they were exposed at the back again when Naka Drotske ? with 26 caps at hooker for his country ? sent through a grubber kick that Erasmus was only too happy to scoop up for the game?s fourth try.

The final score came four minutes later, this time Cornelius Korf made the vital breakthrough and with the now-tired Canadians scrambling, Wood, not exactly the fastest runner on display, just about had the legs to finish off the score, before adding the final points himself to create the 33-0 scoreline that flattered the Canadians and gave the Lions something to think about for the next two days until their Wednesday night clash.

?We play with a special passion when we wear these shirts,? said Dale Santon, a behemoth of a forward, summing up why it is South Africa are looking so good in the unofficial Over 35s World Cup.

?We might be retired from the top-class game but we don?t forget how to win and what this shirt means.

?It brings out the animal instinct in us, it brings out a passion and a bravery and a competitive spirit that it is difficult to put into words.

?Don?t get me wrong, we have a few dark ?n? stormys while we?re here, but we party hard and then we always play hard. We are a team of winners and we want to win this again.?

Tonight sees the French and the Argentinians go head to head at 7 p.m. in what should be a physical battle before the All Blacks ? who managed to have a player arrested on Saturday night after a heavy night of drinking saw him end up at the wrong house ? take on the Australians in the final game at 8.30 p.m.