Hat-trick: Bryan Habana
Related links
Teams
Also see
South Africa bounced back from consecutive defeats on the road with a comprehensive 31-8 Rugby Championship victory over Australia at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Springboks led 14-3 at the interval but the Wallabies were lucky not to be much further behind. Two tight calls from the TMO meant the home side did not have the four-try bonus point by half-time, but Heyneke Meyer's men secured a full house of points after the break as Bryan Habana bagged a hat-trick to add to earlier scores from Zane Kirchner and Francois Louw.
Mike Harris touched down in the last quarter for the Wallabies, but the horse had already bolted. Once Kirchner had scored the first try, the visitors never looked like getting back into the contest.
While Bok fans will certainly sleep better after their side showed the most attacking prowess of the Meyer era so far, their enthusiasm should be held in check by the fact that this was not Australia's strongest team by any stretch of the imagination (and Robbie Deans' squad looks to have been even further depleted by injuries as they head to Argentina after Adam Ashley-Cooper was taken from the field on a stretcher).
The first quarter ended scoreless after Berrick Barnes missed an early chance to open the scoring before his opposite number Johan Goosen also failed with his only two shots at goal.
But the Boks showed their positive intentions by turning down another penalty - won thanks to an impressive rolling maul - in the 21st minute, opting rather for an attacking line-out. The decision paid off as, after a few phases of pressure, Zirchner did well to twist and turn his way over for the first try.
Ruan Pienaar took over the kicking duties and provided the extra two points from the tee but Goosen showed why he was chosen at ten with a scintillating line-break that took him to within inches of the line. The TMO confirmed that he was short of his first Test try, but Bok fans would have nevertheless been chuffed to see their fly-half attacking with ball in hand.
A well-taken try from short range from Habana and another conversion from Pienaar doubled the lead as the Wallabies struggled to contain their hosts.
The Wallabies got on the scoreboard as the half drew to a close when Kurtley Beale split the uprights but the visitors where lucky not to go further behind when Kirchner bolted into the same corner as his earlier score. The full-back's heal clipped the touchline though thanks to a try-saving tackle from Ashley-Cooper which left the Wallaby centre out cold.
Australia's woes, especially at the breakdown, continued after the break and the visitors were reduced to fourteen men in the 53rd minute when James Slipper was sent to the bin for his transgressions on the deck.
His absence proved to be extremely costly for the tourists with the Boks adding two more tries while he watched from the sidelines.
Louw, who was excellent once again, was rewarded for his efforts as he scored from the back of a rolling maul.
Six minutes later Habana added his second after some quick thinking from the speedster, who took a quick throw-in to hooker Adriaan Strauss, who also had clarity of mind when he pulled in the defenders and offloaded to the flyer.
Harris scored in the right hand corner as the Wallabies refused to go down quietly but Habana had the last say when he raced home for his third touchdown after Louw took a gap and sent the winger on his way to his 46th Test try in the 79th minute.
Man of the Match: There were handful of candidates in green with the home loose trio doing very well, but you can't look further than the hat-trick hero Bryan Habana, who seems to have found his mojo again and had the fans at his former home ground out of their seats.
Moment of the match: It might not have come from a classic bolt down the touchline, but Habana's first try was the product of the Boks' willingness to keep the ball moving (and the veteran wings knack for finding gap). It put the hosts 14-0 up and the Wallabies looked beaten for all money.
Villian of the match: No nasty stuff to report
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: Kirchner, Habana 3, Louw
Con: Pienaar 3
For Australia:
Try: Harris
Pens: Beale
Yellow card: Slipper (53rd min - ruck infringements)
The teams:
South African: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.
Australia: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 Dominic Shipperley, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Radike Samo, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Mike Harris 22 Anthony Fainga'a.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Greg Garner (England)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
By Ross Hastie at Loftus Versfeld
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
Blaming Deans rather than injury problems is just really thick headed.
I think Samoa should join the RC to make it a bit more of a physical a test.
Shame Lions can't start their tour in a few weeks.
Posted 09:46 30th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
hmmm, am curios why PR has not mentioned that OZ played last 8-10 minutes with 14, becoz TPN was hurt and OZ had used 7 subs. There was some conversation that was heard on telly between the ref and OZ man where the ref says "i am refusing him entry on medical advice" or something like that.
Maybe someone who had better info can enlighten plz. :)
Posted 09:14 30th September 2012
Ramage says...
I have posted before that Meyer had to leave his Blue Bulls to help out the ailing Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. We all knew who should have been the fly half and we told him week after week. I didn't think Meyer had it in him to break that boring game his team was playing. However in came Goosen to the team. Better still he changed his boring tactics and the Boks looked far better. So congratulations Mr Meyer praise for bowing to the inevitable. You have started on the path to a wider and more expansive game and as you can see the players have adapted. Blue Bulls players dropped and they and their families must have boycotted the game which would explain all those empty stadium seats.
So the serious injuries go on for the Wallabies and the sideline farce over replacement says the guys controlling that side of the game must have been Queenlanders just as they spell beer xxxx so they have trouble counting to seven. Amazing but oh well you reap what you sow and Australian rugby is in deep trouble. As usual the simple Australian believes the easiest option is to sack the coach instead of looking deeper at their problem. If they didnt have a problem why did they go looking for Robbie Deans as their coach. Never mind sack Deans employ the former sacked coach of Stade Francais and let him try to solve the deeper problems than the shallow views represented on here. The myopic repetitive sack Deans, Sharpe is useless as repeated on here every week by the georgesmiths of this world really show how shallow and simplistic some Oz fans are. The problem is deeper than the suggestions on here and time is needed to change along with leadership from the ARU. One would have thought that would have been given following Cooper's amazing attack. For once the loquacious John O'Neill is suddenly very quiet and he needs to move aside for someone dedicated to the job. C'mon next week.
Posted 08:52 30th September 2012
TheOracle says...
This is how it should be, Boks should not be beaten at home by any team. Aus some how punch above their weight with clever tactics, good talent management but in reality should never be in All Black or Bok Class if one looks at the talent pools.
Posted 07:36 30th September 2012
Trader2 says...
Actually Wannabie supporters should be proud of their team, they never gave up, showed some real ticker that not many other teams in their position would have, Good to see the Bokke change a few things around, they sure looked a better side for it, however looking at next weeks game and if both the AB's and Bokke bring the same to the table as the bought this weekend then it will still be the AB's in a canter. I suspect that Hansen will not tinker with the team too much, that will come later in October in the practice match against the Wannabies.
Posted 07:28 30th September 2012
Trader2 says...
Quote from Bokrocker
"Sprinkboks taught the world running Rugby" wtf, when what era give me a break this guy has obviously never been outside the kraal.
For mine running rugby goes back to the 60's and 70's and those Lions and Baa Baa teams who showed the world what total rugby could be like, it's a shame their descendents forgot the lessons, but the Bok's teaching the word, sorry but that one just doesn't waggle the whistle. Would be interested in other readers views on the running rugby theory though.
Posted 07:16 30th September 2012
KiwiLad says...
Sad really that a number od Aussie scribes here love to blame the Kiwi coach, when he was the pride of the Nation upon selection, Remember the fuss about Dingo Deans??
Your depth sucks, your players are unfit, have a look at the structures within your own backyard, also not a lot of mention for the Kiwi who scored your only try!!!!
Posted 07:11 30th September 2012
rossco74 says...
I just don't accept that Australia doesn't have the depth. We have hundreds of professional Rugby League players to lure across and hundreds of young players coming out of school looking to play every year. The problem is they don't get picked or recruited.
The game is just not run properly in Australia. John O'Neill gets paid millions to do an administration job and spends nothing on developing the game.
As for Deans.... whatever..... every year there is another excuse, every year we are building, every year there is another f up, every year there is promise, every year there is another embarrassing defeat or 3. I am starting to think he just got lucky at the Crusaders with a one in a generation nucleus of players
Posted 06:57 30th September 2012
jonesy2 says...
pretty amazing that a 5th string side that ended up with no fit players towards the end only got beaten by 20 with the huge helping hand of the referee. bit embarrassing for the springboks to be honest.
Posted 05:49 30th September 2012
new_j4a says...
@ArmchairGeneral, Are you still prattling on about 14 ugly sisters?
@all, we have a slim chance against the ABs next week IF we play F.Steyn at 15 (yes Zane had a cracker, but he won't have 2 in a row and we need goal kickers on the field), Lambie on the bench as late replacement 10 or backup 15....and then pretty much the same as yesterday....especially running the ball and going for touch and 7 points.
On the Goosen non-try. Tough call to miss the try, but a penalty??? I will reserve judgment until after discussion on the ref forum, but as far as I am aware, the Laws do not mention "double movement" and it has been my opinion that the phrase pertains to League not Union.....but Rolland did use the phrase, so I will check and update my understanding. From the TV viewers PoV, it did not appear that he did anything other than slide up to the point where the ball touched the line, but I will NOT question AR on the question of fact: he was right there, doing his job. On the question of law, I want to know whether a 5 meter scrum was the correct application of the law and whether the phrase "double movement" is now part of the law (and how was the ZK try and many others different?)
Posted 05:39 30th September 2012
new_j4a says...
@trinats, all OZ, Hard luck! All factors combined to made this a tough day, not the least of which was the bug that went round in the prep week. Cooper didn't help (I hope he stays in Union. He has flashes of brilliance but a complete absence of maturity....). We need Union to prospers in Oz so that the 3 great SH nations continue to show the world what rugby can be. On RD, IMO this whinging is the other side of "blame the ref" coin....too easy. RD is a great coach and has taken Oz to #2 in the world....the spot we Saffas dream of....and with a massive injury problem and the lack of depth created by Oz's preoccupation with the other code. In your heart of hearts you must know this?
Posted 05:39 30th September 2012
TheRoof says...
@trinats
Which coach won tri nations last year????
Which coach has won more super titles than you have had hot dinners???
Clue - he ain't an Aussie
Posted 05:34 30th September 2012
scrumpoacher says...
Cant believe I have shelled out a couple of hundred to see Oz v Eng in november. Its going to be a one sided affair against all comers looking at the wounded list. Qantas will have to paint a red cross on its bird for the medevac flight home...
Posted 05:30 30th September 2012
three6three6 says...
This was the best performance from the BOKKE for at least two years. The backline fired properly and the forwards turned over ball and won lineout ball on the opposition throw in. This should set up a great contest in Soweto next week against the All Blacks.
The Wallabies were out of their depth in many areas. One area where they were good was in contesting the contact area.... but the real weakness was at no. 10. Australia is finally being be found out in terms of their domestic competitions and their inability to deveop the game of rugby union to a wider audience in their own country. Their Super Rugby teams were pretty dire this year and are certainly not producing the quality players necessary for success in the Rugby Championship this year. Based upon Super Rugby form we would have expected to see Australia propping up the bottom of the Rugby Championship table.... with still another week to go is it possible for the Wallabies to take their injury ravaged team to Argentina and win? This will be the real test of character!
Which all brings us around to next weekend and the final round of matches. Can the BOKKE stop the AB juggernaut? Will the Wallabies become the Wobberlies by surrendering to PUMAS away from home? Next weekend should provide a suitable climax to the Rugby Championship.
Posted 05:21 30th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
OZ fans, plz blame the Super 15 for this catstrophe and it is for a great RU nation which is ranked No 2 (still !!!).
Pocok, Palu, Horwill, H'botham...all very good world class forwards. Too much TV rugby has left many of these guys burnt out before the International matches.
Pity for rugby fans, has no impact on maoneymakers.
Posted 04:43 30th September 2012
Ripzy007 says...
Please stop playing this blaming game about 2nd string Wannabies, the coach etc.. They are playing for their country..grow up and own up ur poor at the moment
Posted 04:38 30th September 2012
costa says...
Will this impact on the world rankings?
Considering the Number Twos have been a poor second in recent games v NZ and SA, how long can they hold on to that place in the rankings?
This season their average scoreline has been a 17-21 (loss). 55% wins five out of nine. A loss next week will be a nice even 50%. Hardly what is expected of what is the nominal second best team in the world.
Before someone asks, by comparison NZ have 100% win, average score 34-10. SA 50% win (and 2 draws), average scoreline 22-17, Argentina 25% win (1 draw), average scoreline 16-29.
Posted 03:33 30th September 2012
Bokrocker says...
The old rivalry between the Boks and the All Blacks is dead, been so for a number of years, we are more concerned with beating the Aussies these days and if we beat the All Blacks, well that is a bonus. Politics and poor coaching seriously hurt our rugby over the years and nothing more humiliating for us than being beaten by the Aussies so perhaps some Kiwis and Bok fans are still holding on to the idea that its the Boks and the ABs but those days are gone. Time to move on.
Posted 03:17 30th September 2012
JayStarr says...
Hard luck Australia. We all know you would've been far better if Moore, Horwill, Pocock, Palu, Genia and O'Connor were there... It was not nice to see you struggle with injuries like that, but it was admirable to see how you persevered. I think Kurtley Beale did very well under the circumstances.
@ Trinats: You're an idiot for trying to lay this loss at Deans's feet. Your beloved Ewan McKenzie wasn't exaclty setting the world alight this year either... Be careful what you wish for - you might just get it.
Well done Boks, keep it up! JdV might say you changed nothing, but I beg to differ. You changed a fly-half.
Now for Lambie at 15 and the new and improved Springboks will be on their way after a bumpy start.
Would've liked to see Juan de Jongh and Elton Jantjies get more than 5 minutes game time... Jeez HM - they stood on the sideline for a good 7 minutes!
Next week is bound to be a cracker if Goosen remains at 10. Boo at Loftus though for having so many empty seats - let's hope the people from Jo'burg and Soweto fill the Soccer World Cup final stadium! Give away free tickets if you must.
@ UBA05: Paul Jordaan is one of my favourite young players... But he has literally JUST joined top class 15 rugby from 7's (where he was really good as well). He was electric for the Sharks this season - and still is in Currie Cup atm. If he keeps this up next season I think you'll start hearing his name when we talk about the Springboks. Personally I would love to see a player like him play outside Francois Steyn and exploit the gaps he creates - because I don't think JdV is doing that.
@ malaprade: As daibok said: what the bloody hell are you on? Please - what on earth are you talking about? Jy's 'n mal aap.
Posted 03:05 30th September 2012
Trader2 says...
You gotta laugh at Trinats for two years he has been blaming injuries for every loss the Wannabies (Reds) have and now when they really have some injuries he blames the coach.
Posted 02:56 30th September 2012