Improvement is measured in the detail of a result, which is safe to say the Baby Boks took some good strides after their lacklustre victory against Italy in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship on Tuesday last week.
Samoa were a far sterner test on Saturday but coach Dawie Theron's side came through unscathed, setting up a mouth-watering pool-deciding clash against Australia on Wednesday night in Calvisano.
Saturday's bonus point 40-8 victory against Samoa put the Baby Boks in the pound seat from a points difference perspective, but they will have to win before entertaining thoughts of a semifinal.
Their breakdown accuracy also improved as Samoa had little turnover ball to work with, which stifled their red-hot back three.
They remained competitive for the best part of the game but the relentlessness of the South African pack wore them down brutally.
Theron was happy with how the forwards turned up and found immediate cohesion but feels they have not quite found their stride.
"We know that we have a strong pack of forwards this year and they showed what they can do tonight. We are working very hard on our lineouts and our driving mauls and got the reward," Theron said.
