Tri-Nation Rugby, Springboks beat Wallabies
We have all been mesmerized by the serene beaches and the amazing sceneries of Cape Town. However, on 28th August, something else in Cape Town stunned the crowd. Winning remarkably in Pretoria, The South African Rugby Union team, also known as the Springbok, won against Australia 44-31. The match that took place at Loftus Verslfield was where the South African team made a good comeback and won their first win of this year’s Tri-nations.
They were show stoppers in the first ten minutes of the game when they dazzled the fans with three tries and had secured a satisfactory 21-7 lead. Will Genia’s struggle was progressed by James O’Connor’s marvelous brace. During a delirious opening, Juan Smirth also scored for the Springboks.
The Australian team tried their best to make the score somewhat acceptable and went up to 28-24. However, they could not keep up their comeback in the second half. Francois Steyn’s attempt in the 49th minute actually pioneered putting Springboks in front. While Australia was taking care of the penalty by Matt Giteau in the second period, they struggled to beat the Wallabies. Fate, however, had other plans. In a matter of just a minute, a minute before time finished, the victory was South Africa’s when JP Pietersen crossed for South Africa’s fifth try.
New Zealand already seized the Tri-nations title last week and the most that both the teams could earn was a second place in the games that were left. In the opening, due to the applause worthy efforts of Drew Mitchell, the Wallabies would have been ahead. What looked like a possible score made on the left corner was denied by the television official hence they weren’t ahead in the game in the opening two minutes. However, they didn’t give up then. As Genia was held up at the base of a ruck and also traded a dummy to somewhat juggle Van Der Merwe and Victor Matfield prior to them crossing. After he struck, their score advantage in the play was incremented by more points after an amazing drive by Kurtley Beale in his half. He then discovered Elsom and picked out O’Connor for the fifth test try.
After another Giteau conversion, the home team started doing well nine minutes later due to Francois Hougaard’s switching pass that allowed Smith to run in under the posts. Also, Morne Steyn helped in the game and Bryan Habana provided some benefit to his team by taking the ball back where the crowd was-the winger of the stomper’s team made a chaos when he was attempting to take a high ball from the kick off and in the mean time letting O’Connor in. It was Giteua, who completed three out of three and took the score to a good 21-7.
A 50-yard penalty from number 10 of the Springboks stretched the score even more apart than what it already was. However, Beale attempted the same action but didn’t end up being successful. Everyone rooting for the Springboks began to get even more excited. Mitchell’s kick from the left caused Habana to be under stress for the second time and the developing tap-and-go penalty caused Waratah to make sure he does what he wants. After this lucky shot and nine minutes before the break, Hougard bolted onto a pop pass, made through a gap and then gave the ball to Spies, who went over in the corner. The Springboks team showed their brilliant coordination and agility.
Steyn decreased the defalcation to four and also completed an odd 52-point half in international rugby. When the game restarted, penalties were exchanged between the bull’s fly-half and Giteau. Also, Francois Steyn, who now was playing after June, provided the very first lead for the Springboks when he dived in and carried the play established by the forwards. Morne Steyne completed a difficult conversion and also ended up giving the team a three point lead. Having two chances to advance they were kept back due to the excellent defense offered by the Wallabies. However, the last-ditch tackle from Hougard on Eslom was indeed successful and caused the team to advance ahead. Closing the game Steyn, Pitereson and Butch James showed amazing agility and finally paved the way for the Springbok’s victory.
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