BIRMINGHAM, England -- Right winger JP Pietersen led the way with a hat trick of tries as South Africa bounced back from its humiliating Rugby World Cup loss to Japan with a commanding 46-6 win against Samoa on Saturday.

The Springboks' 34-32 defeat last weekend was the biggest upset in World Cup history, and led to scathing criticism back home.

The players had a massive point to prove, and weathering some early pressure, they did just that with six tries -- five in the second half -- to crush a Samoa team that was confident of handling the anticipated backlash.

Pietersen scored with a sharp interception try in the first half, and neat bit of handling early in the second.

Flanker Schalk Burger barged through two tackles for the third try, and Schalk Brits, who replaced him, peeled off the back of the scrum for South Africa's fourth try and a welcome bonus point.

After Pietersen stayed just inside the line to grab his third late on, awarded after a video replay, there was just enough time for Bryan Habana's 60th international try as he showed his destructive pace to collect the ball near the halfway line and streak into the left corner.

Captain Jean de Villiers and fellow veterans Victor Matfield and Burger got rousing ovations from their relieved fans when they came off in the closing stages.

Last weekend, they were sat in stunned silence inside their dressing room, towels draped over their heads in shame, after their shock defeat.

This time it was sheer jubilation at Villa Park, so much so that one beer-bellied Springbok fan showed some pace of his own to sprint onto the field just before the end.

He was met by a heavy Samoan tackle, however, and some loud jeers from his own fans.

But apart from that, it was all cheers as South Africa's World Cup campaign got emphatically back on track.

The fans did their best to help them avoid further embarrassment with brilliant support, and there was a massive roar after a raucous rendition of their national anthem.

Flyhalf Handre Pollard got them off to a perfect start with a penalty inside the first minute, but opposite number Mike Stanley nailed his first two -- the second one from nearly 50 metres -- to make it 6-3.

The Samoans, who opened their campaign with a 25-16 win against the United States, gained in confidence, with fullback Tim Nanai-Williams making ground with one typically electric run. But Stanley's sloppy pass from midfield led to South Africa's first try as Pietersen -- one of eight changes to the side -- snatched it and ran in from 45 metres.

Pollard's conversion attempt went just wide, but he made amends with a penalty from the right to make it 11-6.

Given how brutal the match was when they played at the last World Cup, it was always going to be feisty.

South Africa prop Jannie Du Plessis needed some treatment midway through the first half, while Samoa right winger Ken Pisi felt the full force of South Africa behemoth Eben Etzebeth, who stands at 2.04 metres.

Pietersen even had to act as peacemaker at one stage, pulling Burger away as he invited Samoa hooker Motu Matu'u to continue an argument in private.

After Pollard slotted over in front of the posts, De Villiers punched the air in delight when he dived over for what he thought he was the second try. Referee Wayne Barnes disallowed it because Le Roux's feet were in touch when he made the pass.

South Africa attacked straight from the restart, Pietersen catching a quick feed from De Villiers and finishing one-handed in the right corner before patting his chest with pride. Pollard's extras made it 24-7.

Samoa's hopes drifted as the wind picked up, and Stanley's 50th-minute kick looked like it was going to land at Twickenham, where England played Wales late Saturday in Pool A.

As South Africa rampaged in the last 25 minutes, Habana reminded Pietersen not to hog the limelight with an electric finish.