Australia: Dig deep to beat Boks
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Australia bagged their first win in the Rugby Championship after seeing off South Africa 26-19 at Perth's Patersons Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides desperately needed a win to have any chance of catching the All Blacks in the race for the trophy, and were under pressure to deliver.
With the scores locked at 19-19, the Wallabies showed more composure and celebrated a Ben Alexander try in the 70th minute that ultimately secured a much-needed victory for the hosts.
As for the Springboks, who led 13-6 at half-time, it's back to the drawing board as they face an even tougher assignment against the All Blacks next weekend.
It was Australia's fifth straight win over the South Africans and moves the Wallabies off the bottom of the Rugby Championship standings and above newcomers Argentina. South Africa didn't leave Perth empty-handed though after securing a losing bonus point.
Victory for the home side may have come at a cost, however, as they suffered extensive injuries - most notably to that of captain Will Genia who was forced from the field in some distress.
The visitors started the match with a roar and hiss, putting several eight-plus phases together before pivot Morne Steyn made up for an early missed drop-goal attempt with a well-struck penalty to open the scoring in the third minute.
Berrick Barnes leveled proceedings with a three-pointer of his own, but the Boks hit back with a try after flyer Bryan Habana crashed over from close range and South Africa were well on top at 13-3 following Steyn's converson and a 55m penalty shot from his namesake Frans.
Barnes closed the gap slightly with his second successful penalty attempt, and the Boks did well to keep Australia scoreless for 10 minutes when prop Beast Mtawarira was sin-binned for foul play.
The Wallabies were a different kettle of fish after the break and continued to bank three-pointers whenever they ventured into South Africa's half. The alarm bells started ringing in the Springbok camp ain the 56th minute after Wallabies super-sub Scott Higginbotham burst through for a try just two minutes after coming onto the field.
Barnes slotted over the conversion to give his team the lead for the first time in the match (16-13).
Long-range penalty specialist Frans Steyn launched another penalty kick from near the halfway line to put South Africa level (16-16), before Barnes' reliable boot once again put Australia in front.
Morne Steyn gave Bok supporters a glimmer of hope after tying the scores yet again (19-19) in the 60th minute. But South Africa had no answer for Alexander, who made a 15m charge down the blindside to touch down in the left-hand corner - confirmed by the TMO.
Barnes converted from the sideline, It was to the be the last score of the game, a late surge for an equalising try by the Springboks ending with a penalty to Australia in the dying seconds.
Man of the match: Lock Sitaleki Timani was named the official man of the match, but we felt the unerring accuracy of Berrick Barnes - who was six-from-six with the boot - takes the cake.
Moment of the match: Ben Alexander's inspirational late try not only lifted Australia to a crucial victory, but also easeed pressure on coach Robbie Deans.
Villain of the match: The Boks can thank their lucky stars they didn't concede a single point after Beast Mtawarira's yellow card after he ran into Kurtley Beale off the ball.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Higginbotham, Alexander
Cons: Barnes 2
Pens: Barnes 4
For South Africa:
Try: Habana
Con: M Steyn
Pens: M Steyn 2, F Steyn 2
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Dominic Shipperley, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Radike Samo, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Scott Higginbotham, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Nick Phipps, 21 Mike Harris, 22 Anthony Fainga'a.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Francois Hougaard 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Francois Louw, 20 Johan Goosen, 21 Pat Lambie, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Comments
Carpelone says...
Wallaroo
I have been following your exchange of opinions with somebody from NZ,
initially with some amusement, since I could not believe that my posts
(often written in few seconds with my BB while doing other things) undergo
to such deep grammar scrutiny.
However, that exchange highlights the amount of prejudice you and the other guy hold towards Afrikaneers and how many stereotypes you have for them, which is utterly sad.
Such comments are inadequate and unexpected from a gentleman like you.
Let's keep this forum for discussing rugby only.
Btw, I am a roineck.
Posted 01:00 12th September 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
The Boks were pants on Saturday. the cracks on display in rounds 1 & 2 opened into chasms. I know they don't travel brilliantly but this non effort was way below par. Morne Steyn has to be dropped for starters. Thing is NZ have sprinted into the lead and left everyone for dead. The result is in the bag.
There are three things that'll keep the rugby championship from being a dead rubber.
1, Can Argentina beat Australia? I think they've got a good chance.
2, Can NZ win a Rugy Championship grand slam? that would be an achievement worthy of world wide recognition.
3, if they do win all their remaining games they'll have won 16 matches in a row. the world record stands at 17 matches. They play Australia in brisbane for match 17 and scotland for the world beating 18th encounter AND ITALY, Wales and England AFTER THAT! They could smash the world record!
Posted 14:05 11th September 2012
Ferdie says...
trinats - when will ioane be in a team going forward? now you blame the team and the tired old 'injuries' for his own inability to score. Australia's eight tries in seven tests for this year -Sharpe! yay!, you're right about a drought, who will ever forget the nil and the 105 minutes without a single point? however it would be pointless to go on about it, you'll get zero more responses from me on the topic.
Posted 00:24 11th September 2012
kiwilad says...
AVP1
firstly they would have to be good players, rather than just mediocre.
I with Wallaroo, Carling yes, Catt a definate no.
Posted 23:41 10th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
Wallaroo:
Read my post again, I said "how good he is" while pointing out why he is not top of his game this year also said "he'll be back to his best"
Savea? is he the one that played against the half decent Irish team they nearly lost to and got dropped next game? I'd say Shipperly or Havabanana, even Cummins or Jane ahead of him.
Centre/Captain. Sterling Mortlock !
Posted 21:29 10th September 2012
Wallaroo says...
@APV1 All NH captains are mediocre which is pretty good considering they captain down right poor teams. Okay I'll concede but only on this occasion, Carling, possibly; Catt, no.
Posted 15:27 10th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ kiwilad & Wallaroo - would you add Will Carling and / or Mike Catt to that list?
Posted 14:22 10th September 2012
Wallaroo says...
@Carpelone, mate I have to say that I am really impressed. Taking responsibility is the mark of a man. My criticism of you on the "All Blacks see off brave Pumas" post was unfair, for this I apologise.
@Trinats2, mate I wish you were correct but you wrong, Savea is way ahead of Ioane. Take a leaf out of Carpelone book, sadly a Saffa has set the tone for manning up. Read Ferdie's post again he did not answer his own question, he said good not great which is distinctly different from confirming your point about Ioane being the worlds best 11.
Posted 13:31 10th September 2012
Wallaroo says...
@kiwilad, great question. The only good captains who played in the centre I recall are Umanga and Little, other than that can't say I recall any. The Irish may disagree but IMO BoD is a good player but not a good captain. As I have always said opinion is personal and only validated by consensus yet not always vindicated.
Posted 13:14 10th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
Ferdie:
You answered you own question, because you know how good he is !!!
Granted he has had a dry patch, but that may be because of the teams he has been playing in (Reds full of injuries this year, Wallabies full of injuries this year)
He is wasted on the wing in the Wallabies with too may Tahs inside him. Put Ioane into a team going forward and he'll be back to his best.
Posted 12:01 10th September 2012
Ramage says...
@APV1 don't worry georgesmith is quite myopic about Nathan Sharpe as you no doubt would have seen from his posts and also believes Robbie Deans is no coach despite keeping the Wallabies at number two in the world. He also backed the Boks to thrash the Wallabies because of his hatred of Sharpe and Deans. So he does get a few things a bit topsy turvy. Someone even suggested that he blamed nathan Sharpe for the lights going out in Wellington. Now he believes the Boks will be last and that Nathan Sharpe should have been cited and for what reason "being a clown" so far I havent found that offence listed under foul play. Its amazing that when hatred blinds you how logic goes out the window. Im sure that Meyer the Bok coach didnt think the incident was accidental the way he was screaming down that walkie talkie he loves to bellow into.
Posted 11:56 10th September 2012
Ramage says...
@ philipjfry I take your point and agree but if you read my comments a bit more closely they are directed at carpelone and his first post. I do accept the saffas know quite a bit about rugby and can see that Meyer is in fact a worse International coach than PDV. Having said that I know sport can be very vicious at times and I can be cut down next week were the Boks to beat the All Blacks.
By the way Carpelone I'm pleased you have clarified your first post so just sack you back room staff as they do you no favours, lol.
Posted 11:25 10th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ georgesmith - you don't think that Mtawarira's shoulder-charge was intentional..?! What game were you watching? It was blatant to all. Even those die-hard, dyed-in-the-wool Bok fans know it was. Astounding that you would think otherwise, unless it was more of your nonsense, which you think is amusing.
Bizarre.
@ isthatrightref - I was also a little tipsy watching the match and I think I remember QC maiking a couple of tackles too... Surely not, eh?
I enjoyed the match. There were howlers from both teams, but also some great play. The rematch should be close. Who'd call that one?
Genia's injury is a real shame, as he's a world-class player and will be sorely missed.
Posted 10:43 10th September 2012
Carpelone says...
Oldschool
It was my fault. Did not re-read what I was going to post thru my BB, I was so furious for the attitude of SA's players in the second half.
Posted 10:20 10th September 2012
MacTavish says...
Not Sure, have the Wallabies actually got better, or were the Springboks really that bad. Flip a coin and take your pick.
Posted 05:53 10th September 2012
kiwilad says...
Walaroo, how many goog captains have played in the centres???
Posted 04:36 10th September 2012
oldschool says...
Carpelone
Sorry mate - I probably should impose a 1 hour cooling off period on myself before posting so I can be sure that I'm not being swayed by emotion.
In reality, our two teams are almost perfectly matched at the moment. The re-match in Sth Africa should be a cracker.
Posted 04:13 10th September 2012
Ferdie says...
trinats2 - the world's best 11? who would that be?
digby ioane didn't make the top 20 try scorers in the Super season, in fact failed to make any of the top 20 lists this year, he last scored in a test in Sep 2011 v Italy, an 11 test drought since then.
'Good' I accept, but far from 'best'.
Posted 00:13 10th September 2012
isthatrightref says...
Wobblies looked OK when playing footy i.e. QC moving onto the ball (I may have been slightly drunk but I swear I saw Quade take the ball into contact & only throw BB a coupla hospital passes), AAC straightening the attack & giving his outsides some room to move... not so much when they tried the short kicking game (although to be fair to BB it was kick or go out on one occasion, kick or get smashed on another) & pretty awful on the 2 or 3 occasions they got sucked into playing forceback.
Great result for rugby: plenty of saffa fans obviously know there's more to the game than pick-and-go/ kick-and-charge, surely it's only a matter of time until the coaches & the blokes who appoint them work it out too?
Sad to see another of the few world-class oz players go down but that's partly due to their lack of depth: leading players are expected to front every week in S15 & tend to play almost the full 80 then the same again come the internationals.
Posted 21:14 09th September 2012
carpelone says...
Oldschool
I was furious with my players and management staff.
What I wanted to say is that even though there were in my opinion couple of dubious blows, the Boks should have won this anyway and Owens was not a factor..
I should not have written with the help of the ref.
The Boks lack commitment, heart and passion and they should look the way Australia behaved as a team. Fully deserved win, in full Australian "die-hard" spirit.
Posted 17:48 09th September 2012