Match Details
| Springboks |
VS |
Qantas Wallabies |
|
53 |
Kick off times:
3:05pm
(Local) Sat 30 Aug
11:00pm
(AEST) Sat 30 Aug
|
8 |
|
|
Head to Head:
Played 68 : South Africa 41, Australia 26, Drawn 1
Last Time:
30/8/08 : South Africa 53 - Australia 8 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|
The Qantas Wallabies were overcome by a charged up Springboks 53 - 8 in Johannesburg on Saturday night (AEST) and now must re-group quickly before playing off for the Tri-Nations title against the All Blacks in Brisbane in two weeks time.
The Boks scored 8 tries to 1 with winger Jongi Nokwe racking up a quartet as the Wallabies fell to their biggest ever Test loss.
It had all started very promisingly. A beautiful sunny day on the highveldt greeted the Wallabies as they strived for their first win in Johannesburg – and second consecutive win in South Africa - in 45 years.
Regardless of the result the Wallabies, thanks to their historic victory over the Springboks in Durban last Saturday, had already set up a Tri-Nations “Grand Final” against the All Blacks in Brisbane on September 13th.
The Men of Gold could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal but all week the talk had been from Head Coach Robbie Deans and the senior players of finishing what they had started and making it two in a row in the Republic.
And the Wallabies looked like they were in with just a few minutes gone when sloppy work at the lineout by South Africa just metres out from their own line saw lock James Horwill stopped inches short.
The chance went begging but the Wallabies were 3-nil up after 5 minutes when Springbok flyhalf Butch James was caught offside at a ruck and Matt Giteau slotted a penalty from close range.
But suddenly the Boks were in front. After some helter skelter Rugby, a high ball from Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes bounced luckily off Wallabies fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper and into the hands of the South Africans.
From the next ruck the ball came wide to lock Andries Bekker, who although he had to reach back to take a short pass from Jantjes, still had enough pace to sprint through a yawning gap in the scrambling Wallabies defence and plunge over for the opening try of the game.
James converted to put the Boks up 7-3 after eight minutes.
Things got worse for the Wallabies just minutes later after a quick 22 re-start from Giteau went wrong and the Boks again took the ball into the Australian quarter.
South Africa were then given a free kick at a breakdown and the ball was swung wide quickly to Nokwe who darted over in the corner for his first, and the Springbok's second, try. James this time missed the conversion but the Wallabies were down 12 - 2 after just ten minutes and the crowd were building to a frenzy.
But in an incredibly open, fast moving game it seemed if the Wallabies could keep their composure and hold the ball the chances would come.
From a long range counter attack soon after, initiated by a turnover by new centre Timana Tahu and taken on by Giteau and winger Peter Hynes, it seemed the Wallabies would strike back but the last pass to Lote Tuqiri went to ground.
The Wallabies were putting together some enterprising attacks but whereas last week these ended in tries today the ball seemed to go to ground at the final moment.
South Africa were also committing more players with greater intensity at the breakdown, another facet that the Wallabies had dominated in Durban.
A mistake at the line out by the Wallabies looked like another scoring opportunity for the Springboks but a try saving tackle from Tuqiri and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau just stopped South African No.8 Pierre Spies from scoring out wide.
But from the scrum the Boks snared a tight-head and the ball came wide again. There was a possible knock on from outside centre Adrian Jacobs but play went on and Nokwe again found himself free at the end of the line to go over for his second try. James again missing the conversion but South Africa were ahead 17 – 3 after 25 minutes.
A penalty to James when scrumhalf Sam Cordingley drifted offside at a scrum put the Boks up 20-3 with half an hour gone.
South Africa’s kicking game was far more intelligent this week and their kick chase was putting considerable pressure on the Wallabies.
Al “The Fuse” Baxter came on for Matt Dunning in the front row and immediately squared up to Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira.
But another mistake at the lineout once again saw the Boks pressing the Wallabies try line and quick ball movement saw Nokwe go in for his hat trick before half time. James converted and the Boks were well clear at 27 – 3.
Deans faced his biggest Test as Wallabies coach as the Men of Gold headed to the dressing rooms.
The Wallabies looked to turn it around early in the second half with some good possession close to the ruck but once again South Africa forced a turnover.
Centre Jean de Villiers made a half break and slipped a flick pass to Jacobs who completely wrong footed Hynes before going in for the Boks fifth try. James again converted and South Africa were wreaking their revenge at 34 – 3.
Deans went to the bench straight after bringing on George Smith for Phil Waugh and Stephen Moore for Polota-Nau but the Wallabies line out woes continued.
From the Wallabies sixth crooked line out throw the Boks again had a scrum in a good position.
South Africa swung it wide where Jantjes kicked ahead cleverly. The ball was re-gathered by winger Odwa Ndungane who fed inside for Nokwe to go over for an incredible fourth try. James missed the conversion but it was 39-3 to the Springboks.
The act was Nokwe’s last as he went off injured and Robbie Deans grabbed the chance to empty his bench with Ryan Cross on for Tahu, Drew Mitchell on for Hynes and Brett Sheehan for Cordingley.
Giteau looked liked he was away for the Wallabies first try shortly after with a well taken intercept but he was called back for offside. Minutes later however the Men of Gold were over.
First Smith made a break and was stopped just short. Then the ball came wide with Giteau slipping away a ball to Mitchell who dove over for the Wallabies first try. Giteau missed the conversion leaving the score at 39 – 8.
The Wallabies were starting to win more possession but problems at the line out continued and the Boks seemed to be taking a leaf from the Robbie Deans coaching book and attacking the ball much more aggressively at the breakdown.
It seemed the Wallabies would score next but from a Bok line out in Australia’s 22, replacement flyhalf Ruan Pienaar stepped through the Men of Gold’s defence to score close to the posts. Replacement Percy Montgomery converted and with ten minutes to go the Boks were up 46 -8.
But the Wallabies stuck to their guns and looked set to score, as Dean Mumm came on for Hugh McMeniman, but Sheehan was well turned at the tackle by Spies.
The Wallabies persevered trying to build some momentum heading towards Brisbane but it was the Boks who scored again as full time approached with replacement lock Danie Rossouw making a break close to the Wallabies line and popping a pass up to Ndungane to go over under the posts.
Montgomery landed the extras and the Boks had completed a half-century rout of the Men of Gold.
The Wallabies now return to Australia were they will begin to prepare for the Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks.
Tri-Nations
Full Time Score
Springboks 53 (Jongi Nokwe 4, Andries Bekker, Adrian Jacobs, Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar tries; Butch James 3 convs, 1 pen; Percy Montgomery 2 convs) defeated Qantas Wallabies 3 (Drew Mitchell try; Matt Giteau penalty) at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg.
Check out the Wallaby Shop for all your Official Qantas Wallabies merchandise including Wallabies Jerseys, Scarves and Beanies.
