Rugby: Tri-Nations Match Report

Match report: Australia 25 – South Africa 32

South Africa completed a relatively untroubled win against Australia in Perth today, maintaining the status quo in the Tri-Nations tournament, with the Wallabies still winless, and the Springboks still unbeaten.

Although in the end there was only seven points in it, a margin less than the sum of Matt Giteau’s missed kicks, in truth the South Africans eased off in the final fifteen minutes, allowing the Wallabies to add a couple of late scores without seriously threatening the result. The Australians did show some of their potential throughout the game, frequently finding good field position, and surprising with their ability to match and even pressurise the vaunted South African pack up front. However, repetitive handling errors and a lack of precision meant that they were unable to turn pressure into points at key periods of the game, and the Springboks could be patient in defence, safe in the knowledge that the home side would turn the ball over to them eventually.

The first half was a one-sided affair, as Fourie Du Preez kick started an outstanding individual performance with a try after a tapped penalty, stepping past a couple of defenders, before using his momentum to bundle the last two over the line with him. A short while later, a well worked, but poorly defended move from first phase ball put Jacques Fourie under the post untouched, the try putting the centre third in the all-time South African try scoring charts. It is rare to see tries from set piece possession like that in modern rugby, a symptom of organised professional defences, but miscommunication in the Wallaby ranks and a slick move from the visitors sent Fourie away.

Meanwhile, the Australians were having real trouble hanging on to the ball, dropping four high kicks from the South Africans, and knocking on in key attacking phases, leaving their New Zealander coach, Robbie Deans looking frustrated. In addition, Matt Giteau’s failure to kick a couple of easy penalties left his side without any points until late in the half. The third South African try was symptomatic of the Australians’ problems, as a high ball was fumbled by Lachie Turner under pressure from Jean de Villiers, and Bryan Habana snapped up the loose ball and raced away to score.

The Wallabies came out stronger in the second half, despite the 16 point deficit, and began to put more pressure on the visiting side, and the reward was a well finished short range try for Giteau. The Australians kept the pressure on, taking control of the territory and possession, but mistakes continued to plague their game, and repeated turnovers let the world champions march downfield and put Habana under the posts for his second. The four-try bonus point was the first scored in the tournament, and reflected a more expansive South African game plan than in previous weeks. A Morne Steyn penalty shored up the lead, and from there it was too great a position for the Australians to overcome. Late tries from Giteau and Turner came in the knowledge that they were probably too late, and the South African intensity appeared to have dropped, with multiple substitutes then on the field.

In truth, there was plenty of encouragement for the Australian side. They were able to build up good periods of possession, and did manage to break through the South African defence. Moreover, the lack of precision, and the mistakes can be eradicated over time. However, this will be little consolation in the short term for a country and a team so used to winning, and for now, Deans will be concerned that his side were unable to seriously threaten a world champion side that never really got into top gear, despite a more expansive game plan. For the Springboks, the title will surely be theirs. The question will be whether they can cap another impressive year with a clean sweep of the tournament.