Going nowhere: Jaque Fourie is wrapped up
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South Africa slumped to their third consecutive Tri-Nations defeat in 2011, going down 14-9 to Australia at Kings Park in Durban.
The Wallabies scored all their points in the second half as they came back from being 6-0 down at half-time, scoring the only try of the game through centre Pat McCabe.
For many South African fans the 'real' Tri-Nations kicked off in Durban as the defending world champions brought back the bulk of the first-choice players and lined up the most experienced Springbok team in history.
But after a solid start, the hosts' big guns failed to fire in the second half and were outdone by an Australian side that coped better with the changing conditions.
The result means that South Africa can no longer win the Tri-Nations - the 2011 crown will be decided when the All Blacks visit Brisbane at the end of the month.
The Springboks were worth their six-point lead at the break and looked to have the upper hand but failed to carry that momentum into the second period as they struggled to maintain possession as the drizzle at half time turned to steady rain.
The Wallabies will be pleased with how their set piece responded after the break, especially at scrum time.
As the scoreline suggests, it was far from Australia's prettiest victory but Robbie Deans will be happy with the grit his side showed as they fronted up to the typically physical Boks playing typically direct rugby.
Full-back Francois Steyn opened the scoring with a trademark long-range penalty in the second minute after Australia skipper Rocky Elsom was penalised for a dangerous tackle.
Butch James doubled the Boks' lead with a 16th-minute penalty in what started off as a fast-paced encounter.
South Africa centre Jacques Fourie was denied a try by the TMO, who judged he had knocked on as he battled with Quade Cooper to bring a high kick under control and the scorers would not be troubled again until half time as both James O'Connor and Steyn were also off-target with with further penalty and drop-goal attempts respectively.
Australia got on the scoreboard soon after the break when O'Connor landed his first penalty.
And the Kings Park crowd were silenced completely when McCabe rounded off a slick passing move to score the first and only try of the match and put Australia 8-6 in front.
A James penalty gave the lead back to the Springboks but an infringement by Tendai Mtawarira at a ruck allowed O'Connor to strike again after 65 minutes.
O'Connor stretched the lead to five points with a 74th-minute penalty and, despite desperate attempts by South Africa to find a match-levelling try, the Wallabies held on.
South Africa host New Zealand in Port Elizabeth next Saturday.
Man of the match: The Wallaby pack stepped the intensity up a notch in the second half and hooker Stephen Moore was a tireless grafter all around the park.
Moment of the match: There could only be one choice here. With all the hard work done by the Wallaby forwards, the hosts were in trouble when Quade Cooper sent the ball out wide where there was a huge overlap. There was little Heinrich Brüssow or the injured Frans Steyn could do to prevent Pat McCabe's try
Villain of the match: No nasty stuff to report.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Pens: F. Steyn, James 2
For Australia:
Try: McCabe
Pens: O'Connor 3
South Africa: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Gio Aplon.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 James Horwill, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Salesi Ma'afu, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Anthony Faingaa.
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Comments
Ripzy007 says...
From that game alone, I doubt this is the same Boks team we will see at the WC...But if it is, then this is definitely going to be a very hard defence for the Boks...All three teams in their Pool (Wales, Fiji & Samoa) could have beaten the Boks team that took the field on Sat
Posted 02:16 17th August 2011
Ramage says...
@trinats I know how you feel when your team is beaten it happens to me on occasions but it is too easy to blame the referee. The fact is we too often blame the ref for for alleged mistakes. Often we hear uninformed commentators on TV making calls that are just dead wrong you know my opinions on Martin and Kearns as top of the list. Too often they show their ignorance of the laws but they dont stop. When Kafer makes a comment it is worth listening to. I cant accept your continuing attack on South African referees. Watson rose to the top despite not being the greatest performer but one thing he has acieved is his organisation and training of South African referees as they now have some of the best in the world and in my opinion there should be more of them at the RWC. Lawrence (Mark) should be there and whilst thinking of the four I rthink I would even prefer to see Jonker there before my own countryman Lawrence (Bryce). Never mind Trinats you may have the last laugh as one referee who now competent but in my opinion is condescending to the players and yellow card mad will be refereeing in Brisbane. So as he is not South African the Wallabies must then be odds on to win. As the ref is an Englishman by the name of Barnes less popular in NZ than Julia Gillard in Australia imagine the howls of horror coming from the pens of Kiwis. I just hope NZ does win as I dont want to hear the wails of referee bias incompetence and favouritism that are sure to follow. If so Im sorry but Im sure I will write more long boring posts. (Sorry bigspottedcat but never mind you dont read them even though you reply to them). My comment is referees make mistakes and these top referees will be found out if they cheat. I do not believe they do its is just some referees are better than others so viva la difference. Let the players rise above the adversity.
Posted 12:16 16th August 2011
dylster says...
aaaahhh looks like your a bit rattled bigpimplytw@t? about time - im sick of reading your negative comments
Posted 10:09 16th August 2011
7ton says...
bigspottedcat
And do you not think going on and on and on about the same thing over many articles and dishing out insults to whole countries fans, while boasting how great yours are (despite the empty seats in Durban) may be just a little uncalled for?
Posted 23:21 15th August 2011
MattLalor says...
LETSGOBOKS...I love reading some of this dribble sometimes... 'the Boks will get better with more game time'? Of course they will... Maybe they should have played the best team to start with AND... so will every other team! For the first time they have a bit of fire in them???? They gave away a first half lead in a dreary game in which thier scrum got smashed against the usual world laughing stock tight 5!!! Australians struggle with injuries? No injury concerns from playing one of the most physical teams in the world and why wouldn't other teams struggle as much? Have you noticed the Aussies have about 6 of thier key players returning from long term injuries very soon or have already this week, offering the team something they have often lacked; Depth? the players in the team like Faainga at 2 are playing well enough to keep man of the match Moore checking over his shoulder . All teams should be concerned about injury unless of course you have Brad Thorn in your team.
BIGSPOTTEDCAT... you are an idiot. Please, leave the race card out.
Posted 09:49 15th August 2011
Ramage says...
@bigspotted cat lol lol lol as others have said you are a pillock and it might pay you to check my name you cant even get that right. Durban has a population of 4.5 million which is slightly greater than the whole of NZ all based around the city. So I would expect that they could get a bigger turnout at Kings Park. Now I believe Kings Park can accommodate 55 000. Now tell me what was the official turn out for the game? It would probably been about 50 000-52 000 if that is so then the 52000+ at Auckland compares very favourably with your Durban crowd and its bank of enpty seats that we all saw. So I suggest you stop trying to score your cheap put downs of NZ and try and write something useful about rugby, No matter what you say we all saw those EMPTY seats.
@Trinats once again you avoid the qyestion I asked. I did not say he had a good game I asked you if there was any referee in the world who is capable in your mind of refereeing competently any game Australia plays. Seems you are like your discredited commentators all you can do is moan moan moan . geez man we all remember you attempts to discredit Joubert both before and after the test and all I ask is give it a break you really lose all credibility when you come up week after week with your attacks on referees. As I said sort out your own country's lack of able referees before denigrating others.
Posted 09:33 15th August 2011
letsgoboks says...
This bok team will get better with more game time. For the first time in ages you can see a bit of fire in them. Smit is a legend but he must step aside now.
Oz team have hit their limit - they will struggle with injuries. Good win for them though - their backs are magic.
Next game will be interesting without Dan Carter... and the Kiwi commentators will have nothing to talk about during the game without him around. Looking forward to it.
Posted 08:45 15th August 2011
KiwiLad says...
Tinyspottedpecker, why are you so fascinated by crowds, are you not allowed out?
Posted 20:13 14th August 2011
dolgun says...
@bigspottedcat
Who do you think you are?
What an arrogant pillock!!! It seems that you're not very well liked on this site - even your country men must cringe when they read your drivel.
Have a word with yourself you bumptious idiot.
Posted 19:38 14th August 2011
7ton says...
bigspottedcat
You're right about scapegoats which by your logic seems to be bagging other countries for having empty seats and calling them "farmboys". In reality it's just being a poor loser.
As for your handfull of empty seats there were a few blocks of them and they got bigger and bigger as the game went on.
Now that's up to the SA fans and I don't have a problem with that but it was a bit rich and hypocritical of you to lecture other countries about how many should attend games and that's the end of it.
Concentrate on the rugby.
Posted 19:02 14th August 2011
olepete says...
I agree about the SA commentators - they're terrible.
Posted 17:41 14th August 2011
Ramage says...
@grapple I do not believe the bok supporters would desert their team and would not expect them to as i know how much they blieve in the Boks even at this time under the muppet. . my comments were tongue in cheek to a person on here who has bagged NZ on many occasions over poor attendances even when 52 000+ turned up in Auckland . So dont worry I really appreciate the way in which most Bok supporters find a reasoned approach to their posts.
@startled wombat I tend to agree as I too thought some of the comments were bordering on the libelous and it is embarassing listening to these clowns. At least Rod Kafar does keep a more intelligent and knowledgeable approach.
Posted 16:01 14th August 2011
Ramage says...
@Trinats can you answer one question is there any referee in the world that you actually believe referees a game well. Every game both before and after the game all we hear is moan moan moan. As I said to you on many occasions until you get the refereeing situation sorted out in your own country and get some refs who actually are capable of refereeing at least super 15 games you need to stop bagging other countries' referees. Come on own up you run a snide inaccurate campaign of denigrating any referee who referees Australia, the Reds and any other OZ Super Ref unless they look after Reds. We all know of your failed attempts to assasinate the character of Craig Joubert over the years why dont you just wake up and accept that you just like to moan about referees. One can guarantee that every game there will be a post from you bagging the referee. I know what would happen should you ever be given the whistle to referee the u 5s Im sure you would be roasted for your own ineptitude . Please give it a rest you are boring.
Posted 15:40 14th August 2011
blametheref says...
BIG BIG result for Australia, I'd have put my house on South Africa wiining this one and I firmly thought they would. I don't think I'm speaking too soon but Australia are now 100% genuine WC contenders and are peaking at just the right time. At this level the game is about belief and Australia must be beginning to really believe!
Posted 14:31 14th August 2011
dolgun says...
What a horrible game of rugby with neither side having a game plan and both playing with very little structure. The only positive that Deans can take away from this is the Wallabies improvement in the scrum otherwise I thought it was an ordinary effort, you could see how relieved Dean's was after they ground out the ugly win. Can't see SA beating the ABs next week in fact I'd be surprised if the the men in black didn't come away with a bonus point. A quarter final between SA and the Wallabies is certainly a major possibility at the RWC as the boks will certainly be underdone and their coach is incapable of delivering a decent game plan and hasn't moved with the times. Wales beat England yesterday and came close last weekend(yes England were rubbish but still), a convincing win against Argentina and they'll be well up for the Boks first group game on sept 11. Unfortunately too many of the Boks have already played their best rugby and it's a travesty that Smit can even get on the park when Bismark is clearly the best hooker in the world. Lots of comments on here about The Boks will peak at the right time and momentum isn't that important heading into a RWC - we'll have to wait and see but I dont think PDV has done his side any favours with his team selections for their first three games of the tri nations and a spanking by an All Blacks bish team next week will certainly drive home how off the pace they are. You can't take many positives from losing four games on the trot, two of which are at home.
Please lets not kid ourselves - that was a poor game of rugby by both sides and I think they know it too.
Posted 13:54 14th August 2011
Bones7 says...
Smit had a decent innings at hooker, but Bismarck was something else when he came on. Beast was superb, as was Brussow. Danie has a shocker and whilst I'm a big fan of his he let himself down with his poor handling. The backs were a mixed back, especially the back three who were almost entirely absent.
The Aussies looked a different prospect with Sharpe and Higginbotham giving them a hard edge in the pack and Moore was a deserving call for MOTM. Elsom is still off the pace and Spies got past him far too easily off the back of the scrum. The backs were good as usual. O'Connor was shaky again but his fixing of two defenders to put McCabe in for a try was genuinely world class.
Posted 13:18 14th August 2011
Norbs says...
Some silly comments along the lines that because they made a lot of handling errors, Australia did not play well. That's a very poor analysis. Australia did not execute well in attack, that much is true. What they did do is create opportunities, and keep the defence guessing. There were a couple of unbelievable passes and guys running great lines. On 4 or 5 occasions a break had been made, a try was on, and then the last pass went to ground or a last-ditch tackle was made. The point is, those were all "nearly" moments: any or all of them couple easily have led to tries. Some days that will happen, some days it won't, but so long as you are creating the chances, you are doing well. A stark contrast to the predictable, one-dimensional rugby we saw being dished up by the Boks (and earlier in the day, by England). It did not click on the day for the Wallabies, yet they ground out the win, away from home and in challenging conditions. That is something previous Aus teams were not able to do.
Posted 12:16 14th August 2011
FTM89 says...
Man this was a great game, suck to lose, but it looked like we had a winning team...And then Smit went to prop....(sigh)
Posted 11:03 14th August 2011
KiwiLad says...
Practice matches, all of them in a year when only one tournament matters..
SA not that bad, but a more creative 10 would make the world of difference..
Surely now Lambie must be given the job..
And the John Smit at prop debacle surely must now end.. If not end his Bok career
Shame of all shames to see a Bok scrum sliding backwards at the hands of the Wobblies..
Once again the burglar showed his lack of moral fortitude by throwing hospital passes rather than take the tackle..
SH sides look to be building nicely looking foward, same can not be said of the Poms, who looked awful, have seen nothing of the Frogs game, Any good or the Irish poor?
Posted 11:00 14th August 2011
cantyboy says...
I thought that the boks half back,Fourie du Preez, let them down badly,instead of getting fast ball to his backs all he seemed to do was wave his arms in the air to the ref,trying for a penalty,bad form.
Posted 10:27 14th August 2011