Mailbox: Wallabies thumped
The Wallabies were in a mess last weekend against the under-fire Springboks, going down by 45 points in a bid to end a 45-year winning drought on the Highveld.
The Wallabies were in a mess last weekend against the under-fire Springboks, going down by 45 points in a bid to end a 45-year winning drought on the Highveld.
They had headed to Ellis Park with the sincere belief that they would achieve this for the first time since 1963 – two successive Test victories on South African soil.
After the win in Durban seven days earlier, the Wallabies came back to earth in Johannesburg to suffer the humiliation of the country's biggest Test loss.
If Saturday's win gives Springbok supporters hope, then the Tri-Nations tournament should evoke an emotion of anger because it is one in which there were good enough players to win it.
This is what you had to say about it…
I'm completely and utterly unsurprised with the first half performance of the Wallabies, they still have the chinks in the armour and mental issues from last year. They weren't at all good last weekend so its no surprise they've been pasted this weekend. They need to actually learn from these thumpings they get following comfortable wins, not right them off as flukes. When everyone knows the opposition is likely to be more desperate and hungry and has more to lose the Wallabies assume that they won't have to improve either, and actually get worse. And there's no way Polota-Nau is the second best hooker in the country.
Hopefully they actually learn, but I won't hold out any hope.
– Pissed off Wallaby fan
It was woeful, absolutely woeful. But no matter what happened last Saturday, the fact remains that the World Champions have comprehensively come last in the Tri-Nations and lost the Mandella Cup to boot. They have only had two victories out of six games against the two super powers they didn't have to play to win the RWC. The truth is they have little to crow about and they are still saddled with an absolute fruit loop for a coach who thinks he is Jesus like. Long may PDV remain the Springbok coach.
Disappointing though Saturday was, the fact remains that the Wallabies are number two on the rankings, they have the Mandella Cup and are in with a shot of taking the Tri Nations Cup and the Bledisloe Cup as well. I think we can comfortably live with last Saturday's loss if they win next week. Not a bad outcome really for a team that is in it's first year of development. Even if they don't win next week at least they were still in the game until the end.
One more win and the only worthwhile silverware missing will be the Webb Ellis Cup (currently out on loan) and the Cook Cup. Everything else we can play for would be in the bag. Now that wouldn't be a bad season's work, would it, for a team that most of the blow hards don't rate?
– Mark
Well, anyone still worried about the letting the Argies play in the Tri-Nations after the Wallabies great effort on Saturday?
– Perry
Simply, the time had to come. Such a brilliant Boks performance. Why couldn't they play such rugby in the past few weeks. South Africa have the best set of forwards and today they combined well with their much talented backs. They did the basics well (breakdown, line-out, scrum) and their passes stuck together. From what I have seen today, South Africa still are the best team in the world. Way to play an expensive game with their much feared forward power. Lethal combination. I haven't seen the All Blacks play this well this year and neither has the Wallabies in any of their victories. But look at the irony, it would be either the ABs or Australia winning the Tri-Nations, not the team that has given us the best performance of the series. No matter what people say, this Boks performance was outstanding!!!
– Fijian in NZ
All I can say is that I have never been happier to have been proved so wrong in my life. It is late in the day but a record win was what us SA supporters needed as much as the Springbok team. Great game guys.
– Richard Milbank
Ricky Januarie has to be banished from rugby before that thug blinds someone. That gangster once again showed his total lack of class and breeding by gouging Stirling Mortlock in the eyes in a totally unprovoked situation.
He is a pig and an utter disgrace to the jersey he wears.
– Ashamed Bok supporter
The Boks reverted primarily to a game they know, and it worked. Peter de Villiers needs to take heed and not re-invent the game! Gone are the silly passes where kicks were appropriate and with it, form returned to Butch James. Tactical kicking from Butch and Conrad Jantjes were often magnificent, but then, so was the quick following-up.
It was a real pleasure seeing Victor Matfield return to form and to a large extent also Fourie du Preez and Juan Smith. It was Pierre Spies's best game this season, and what a pleasure to watch Schalk Burger hurling himself around and running effectively. Adrian Jacobs once again proved a real find and Brian Mujati exceeded my expectations. A super team effort.
– Rob Porter
Kick, kick, kick, kick, free kick, kick, free kick, kick, free kick… etc… etc…(for 80 minutes).
I don't think I have ever seen so much kicking. They have to change some of the ELVs, the amount of kicking is becoming a joke. Whenever someone has the ball in their own half, they kick.
Well done South Africa, you outplay Aussie in all aspects of the game (except at number ten). Just a pity that rugby has become such a kick-fest. Game of forceback anyone?
– Tony (lamenting the demise of modern rugby)
While I've never been a fan of the Springboks, if they had played with the intensity and honour for the whole Tri-Nations tournament that was shown or Saturday, the Aus v NZ match on Sept 13th would be a moot point.
They played like the World Champions they are. Just too little, too late. A few bad calls didn't derail them … as it should be for a World Champion.
Truly, kudos, and “Hail to South Africa!.” They shook off whatever fog invaded them after the World Cup, and finally played as they are capable.
– Reid Parker (Huntington Beach, CA)
As impressive as the Boks win was on Saturday – one cannot help to question whether this is how we wish South African rugby to be perceived as Peter de Villiers questionable reign continues. International rugby is not about week to week results – it is a culmination of team building and future planning. It is a concern that so many detractors have done an about turn after the Australia result following three previous weeks of abominations and disasters, and it is these inconsistencies that will eventually lead to De Villiers' total failure.
– Hilton (South Africa)
Well done Peter de Villiers. Past Bok sides were always criticized for their lack of offensive rugby. PDV should be praised for the direction he is taking South African rugby. Adding an offensive edge to the foundations laid