Rugby Update: Wallabies piles misery on arch-rivals Springboks
Australia started the Tri-Nations series in best possible manner, as they defeated their arch-rivals South Africa with a convincing margin. Australia won the match with the score of 30-13 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Drew Mitchell and Will Genia were instrumental for Aussies, as they dominated South Africans in all departments. This victory also provided some relief to Australian sports fans after their cricket team lost a test match to Pakistan for the first time in 15 years. Resurgent Matt Giteau also showed his old form by contributing 15 points with the boot in a highly thrilling encounter. The Springboks showed another undisciplined performance, as they were penalized through yellow cards for Jacque Fourie and BJ Botha. However, they showed some resilience in the end with tries from Fourie and prop Gurthro Steenkamp.
It was not all rosy for Aussies as they lost fly-half Quade Cooper to a second-half sin-binning. However, they showed their nerves as they grinded a deserved victory against their scrum nemesis. They reason they won the match was their superior pace and relentless intensity. On the other hand, South Africa returns home empty-handed as they failed to gain a single point from their opening three Tri-Nations clashes.
South Africans were plagued with indiscipline from the beginning. Same indiscipline in the field was instrumental in their back-to-back defeats to All Blacks. Match started in worst possible for Springboks, as a tackle from Fourie on Richard Brown was spotted by the assistant referee. Resultantly, he was shown a yellow card by referee George Clancy with just two minutes from the start. Exploiting their mistake, the Wallabies stretched the South African defence but they lacked they killer blow to make their numerical advantage count. On the other hand, South Africans were contended with they way they matched their rivals' fast and expansive game.
Steyn started with an adventurous drop goal attempt for the visitors but it was Giteau, who seized the initiative with a long-range penalty. This was followed by combination play form Benn Robinson and wing James O'Connor, as they carried the button from an electric break created by Genia. However, an infringement at the breakdown allowed Steyn to equal things up with his first penalty of the game. This was the last time Springboks equalled things. As a mistake from winger, Bryan Habana allowed Wallabies great field position, which culminated into a penalty for Aussies. Penalty was easily converted by Giteau, who edged his side ahead once more.
A sustained spell of pressure eventually saw O'Connor denied in the corner by a great tackle from Habana but play was called back for an earlier penalty against the Boks that Giteau slotted to extend Wallabies lead on the scoreboard. A strong tackle from Wallabies centre Rob Horne on Fourie summarized the physical and brutal nature of the game but the Springboks were determined as Pierre Spies and fullback Zane Kirchne went almost close to scoring a try. Instead, it was the Wallabies, who kept the scoreboard ticking over with Giteau scoring his fourth penalty from four attempts.
The Springboks tried their best to raise the level of their but were deterred by solid Aussie defence. Countering the South African attack, the Wallabies scored just before the break. Elsom proved elusive in the Springboks' 22 before Giteau weaved some magic with the Boks' defence closing in and Mitchell juggled the ball before securing it and touching down for the try.
Second half was the same story as Giteau scored his fifth penalty. The dribble of O'Connor then started a move that saw Mitchell open his way across field as they won penalty for Wallabies. Giteau with his precision slotted the kick home. However, any hope of a dramatic ending was wasted by Genia, who darted over from close range to put the result beyond doubt. O'Connor kicked the conversion to cap a fine personal display and the Wallabies sealed the game to record a famous a more importantly a crucial win.
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