By David Beniuk
August 24th 2008 @ 2:16am
Wallabies break hoodoo with Mortlock try
Skipper Stirling Mortlock did it again as the Wallabies broke their eight-year South African hoodoo and stayed on track for a first Tri-Nations series win since 2001 with a brave 27-15 victory over the Springboks in Durban today.
T for 12: Tahu wants Waratahs centre job
Forced to weather some brutal early defence from the desperate Boks, and scramble for their lives at times, the Wallabies played the more composed rugby, scoring three tries to two in front of a massive and noisy crowd , who booed their captain Victor Matfield and coach Peter de Villiers as they were interviewed after fulltime.
Fittingly, it was Mortlock who sealed the win at ABSA Stadium with a superb run to the line in the 68th minute after he had collected a Matt Giteau inside ball.
It was also Mortlock who had booted Australia home the last time they won on South African soil, in 2000.
Australia had led 20-10 before Mortlock’s try, with the Springboks threatening a comeback when centre Adrian Jacobs crossed in the 66th minute.
Jacobs got over again in the 71st for 27-15 but it was too little too late as Australia scored just their third win in the Republic in 16 years.
In a physical clash, the Wallabies had to soldier on without Berrick Barnes from the 20th minute after he had suffered what looked like an arm injury, and Dan Vickerman for the entire second half after he hurt his shoulder.
Wallabies reserve loose forward Hugh McMeniman had already been ruled out this morning with a stomach bug, with Dean Mumm his replacement on the bench.
Leading 10-0 at the break after a barge-over try from Benn Robinson, Boks five-eighth Butch James narrowed the gap to seven four minutes after the break.
Giteau missed a 48th minute penalty shot but booted a more difficult one from 32m out in the 51st to again make Australia’s lead 10.
Lote Tuqiri got close a minute later when he followed a Drew Mitchell grubber but the momentum then shifted the way of the world champions and the Wallabies were forced to hold their line.
But the Australians made the most of the territory they did earn and a precision Giteau cut-out ball sent Tuqiri rolling over the line in the 62nd minute after being ankle-tapped.
Australia’s win moved them to 13 points on the Tri-Nations table, a point behind New Zealand.
The Wallabies can go top of the table next week in Johannesburg but the Tri-Nations title will now be decided when the Wallabies host the All Blacks in Brisbane on September 13.
De Villiers is under enormous pressure after consecutive losses at home.
Like this article? Please spread the word about the Roar to your mates.
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
(33)
We were talking about the important things in life, mainly sport.
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | August 24th 2008 @ 7:22am | Report comment
It’s 7am and this morning I was as nervous as a poodle at a rottweiller convention as I warmed-up the Dell to check the scores. “Could the boys pull it off”? I was hoping so but fearing to jinx them with a prediction that they would win, and my prays were answered. A win for the boys!
Well done Wallabies and well done Coaches. I’m off to work now but I’m leaving with a real spring in my step and looking forward to watching the video tape when I get back home. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guy said | August 24th 2008 @ 7:48am | Report comment
Fan bloody tastic
stu said | August 24th 2008 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
Great result for the Wallabies - great to get an away trinations win- now sept 13th decider is going to be a cracker. There were some really encouraging things in the victory, but still alot to do. The boks were absolutely awful, and the scoreline flattered them. If they put on another display like that next week the wallabies will get 2 away win in a row.
mudskipper said | August 24th 2008 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
A landmark victory… Congratulations to the new Wallabies, Coach Deans, Williams and Foley… The Springboks were out played and the result margin could have easily been greater.
The Wallabies have won a South African beachhead, now go and win Johannesburg boys…with Adam Ashley Cooper back and hopefully Vickerman will pull up OK its very achievable…
It’s not going to get any easier for the Springboks as they now enter their 4 consecutive test match in as many weeks. This also marked the third consecutive loss for the Republicans during this Tri-Nations…Their media will rip them apart this week…marking it very hard for the team to focus on the next match improvements…
The fact that the Durban Boks supporters booed their Captain Matfield and Coach De Villiers after the match is just shameful behaviour and will only further damage team spirits…
Wallabies by 8 in Jo-Burg…
Yikes said | August 24th 2008 @ 6:07pm | Report comment
Hmmmm… Wallabies seemed to have the goods at the breakdown, winning several turnovers. Plus our defence was pretty good as usual.
However, I felt our attack was disorganised and lacked sting. We scored two tries off set piece, and one off a pick and drive. But we looked hopeless, a total hopeless rabble, off phase play. Was it Barnes leaving so early? I don’t know…
Great win though, doesn’t matter how it happens, a win in SA is a great achievement. Well done Wallabies!
Koala Bear said | August 24th 2008 @ 6:52pm | Report comment
Well done the Wallabies, Lote Tuqiri and Mortlock.
~~~~~~~
KB
Harry said | August 24th 2008 @ 7:04pm | Report comment
Yikes I thought our attack looked disjointed and predictable as well but lets not forget against a tough defence - and the Springboks still have that despite their woeful play elsewhere - our backs managed two well taken tries in the second half, and were probably a bit unlucky not to grab a bonus point.
Sure not a pretty win and against a poorly performed oppo but still a great effort. Further evidence - and its becoming pretty indisputable now - that the Wallabies are heading in the right direction under their new coach. Clear improvements from 1 to 15. Roll on what will now be the 3N decider in Brissy!
Harry said | August 24th 2008 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
Special congratulations to Gits who kicked superbly, long and short, and was a constant danger in attack. Also made many good hard tackles and had to shoulder the playmakers role on his own after Barnes went off. A top performance in a team where all played well.
Danny said | August 24th 2008 @ 7:50pm | Report comment
Congrats to the Wallabys and Robbie Deans for a superb effort last night.
Deans really gets SA, as does Henry IMO. You aim to win 2-3 in 5 and to some extent it doesn’t really matter what any specific win looks like. I liked the shear intensity of the Wallabys which was the foundation of their win. When this intensity was relaxed the Boks put in 2 trys - intensity for 80 mins in SA is THE crucial ingredient to winning.
Luckily for AB supporters the Wallabys didn’t turn up to the ground in a 4 try bp mood - I guess a win was always going to be a superb result. Pity, because 5 pts would have left next week as a potential 3N close-out game for the Wallabys. If the Wallabys could have taken 10 pts from SA then the ABs would have had to win with a 4 try bp in Brisbane, which on current evidence would be no easy feat. Still, Deans coached teams don’t typically remain that charitable!
For Bok, well PdV has well and truely stuffed the team, which played pathetically for the third 3N game in a row. I thought SA was always going to read too much of their own press this year - they might have won the knock-out tournament in 07 by beating England twice, Fiji and Argentina, but that in no way meant they were or are number one. They are playing like a group of guys who feel betrayed of wins that surely are rightfully theirs, after all they are the WC Champs, or is that Chumps?
Sluggy said | August 24th 2008 @ 8:16pm | Report comment
“However, I felt our attack was disorganised and lacked sting”
It was the Bok defense - generally solid and hard and on the advantage line, but it evetually failed when there was some fractured play and Oz backs got it on the front foot. Twice, anyway. Both during the last 20 minutes when the big bok forwards were buggered. Mind you, Mortlock ran through their two back row reserves to go under the sticks.
Worlds Biggest said | August 24th 2008 @ 8:55pm | Report comment
Great win indeed, Sam Cordingly’s service certainly makes a difference giving the backline more time and space. I thought a few weeks off would have done more harm then good for the Wallabies. Yarpies booing Matfield after the game was incredible. He is one of there finest ever forwards. Maybe a win in Joberg is realistic, last time we won there was 1963.
I was watching the game with a Yarpie and he said, ” we may have won the World Cup but we didn’t have to play the Wallabies or All Blacks so it doesn’t feel legitimate to me “. The Boks did have a very good draw which helped. They needed to really fire in this Tri Nations to back up there World Cup win.
Kenny said | August 24th 2008 @ 10:43pm | Report comment
Not much to gloat about. The Wallabies were very ordinary. Luckily for us the Springboks are being coached by a fool.
Cutter said | August 24th 2008 @ 11:12pm | Report comment
We won despite playing badly. That is probably the most insipid Springbok performance I have seen since the 49-0 drubbing in Brisbane a few years ago. Both Bok tries were soft. Our backline was woeful. I dont think Cordingley showed much and left clearing the ball from the ruck to forwards regularly. He has a long and accurate pass, but any extra space that gave the Wallabies was more than counteracted by the speed the Bok backs were in our faces.
jools-usa said | August 25th 2008 @ 1:05am | Report comment
To: World’s Biggest.
Can’t agree with lauding Cordingly. He did a workmanlike job but lacks the zip in passing &
penetrating of Burgess.
Even before Barnes injury Sam’s service was so-so.
Wallabies again showed team commitment. For such I’d give NZ a 90%, OZ 80% & SA a woeful 50%.
They have 5 or 6 individual horses, some quite brilliant. but little team cohesion.
Jools-USA
Martin Evans said | August 25th 2008 @ 1:40am | Report comment
Congrats to Robbie Deans and the Wallabies but what comes around goes around and yesterday was South Africa’s turn to suffer at the hands of the kiwi incompetant ref. He was useless when Wales went to Pretoria and yesterday the boot was on the other foot. I remain totally unconvinced by Dunning and believe that The Beast had him every which way. The Wallaby scrum improved when Baxter came on. If Australia have European refs this autumn they will take 5 minutes to work out Dunning just as the English pet ref Rolland did in Marseille.
James T said | August 25th 2008 @ 1:55am | Report comment
it used to be that the home team had the big advantage, but as Mudskipper points out, it now seems to be more heavily influenced by how many back-to-back games you have to play!
That notwithstanding - great win to the Wallabies!!!
Terry Kidd said | August 25th 2008 @ 7:42am | Report comment
Woohoo … I have my ticket for 13 Sep …. gee, that is going to be one hell of a match. Can’t wait.
Sharpe was missing for this game …. were the Wallabies tougher in the tight? I reckon we were. I also reckon that our line out was better.
Don’t know about Mortlock at 12 and Cross at 13 for next game. I think Tahu at 12 and Mortlock remaining at 13 is the best option.
Benjamin said | August 25th 2008 @ 7:59am | Report comment
I think Deans will go with Mortlock-Cross for that bigger defensive unit.
Justin said | August 25th 2008 @ 8:30am | Report comment
On the evidence so far I would have to agree Benjamin. Cross was first on the field when Barnes went off. Certainly not a great performance by AUS but much better than an ordinary Boks. Still there is plenty of improvement left in this side.
Anyone else think Elsom being cited as laughable? If thats a citing offense then maybe they need to look at Steyn on Mitchell too. He deserved what he got trying to “tunnel” Mitchell while he was in the air.
Benjamin said | August 25th 2008 @ 8:49am | Report comment
I think a lot of Australian fans are being a bit harsh on Australia. The Wallabies always looked like they had more in the tank, and they did what they had to do with a modicum of fuss. Very few teams will go to SA and put 27 points on SA. Regardless how poor this team is their defence is not that bad. It certainly bodes well for the future.
Justin, I don’t think anything will happen to Elsom. Bit of a bizarre call nonetheless. If VDL gets the lengthy ban he deserves then the promotion of Mujati should weaken the Bok scrum considerably.
Terry Kidd said | August 25th 2008 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Benjamin, Tahu is bigger than Cross and a better tackler so defence can not be the reason for a Mortlock-Cross combination rather than Tahu 12 and Mortlock 13. I believe that Tahu is the better ball handler and will ask more questions of a defence than would Cross. Tahu is also quicker than Cross. Still it will all come down to what Deans believes and us arm chair selectors can prognosticate all day long and probably still not get it right.
Justin said | August 25th 2008 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Terry, you sure about the sizes of Cross and Tahu? From the naked eye I would think Cross is much bigger than Tahu. Cross was the pick to go on when Barnes came off so going on that logic it would appear he may start although Deans had some very positive words about Tahu afterwards.
Benjamin said | August 25th 2008 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Terry, Tahu is 6′1 and Cross 6′3. Also when saying ‘bigger defensive unit’ I did not mean in terms of tackling ability. In any case how can you judge Tahu to be a better tackler than Cross? Also how do you know Tahu is quicker than Cross?
Terry Kidd said | August 25th 2008 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Yes, Cross is taller but Tahu weighs more ….. I watched both playing League over quite a few years and Tahu was always the better in defence and quicker across the ground. Obviously it is harder to judge them one on one now because they play against each other only once per year but in League it was twice per year.
Also League is a different game, but the basic skilss are similar to Rugby, however Tahu was preferred over Cross in selection for representative games.
I agree that from the naked eye Cross appears bigger but he is a rangier build. Tahu is slightly more compact. The size difference between them is not much and probably insignificant, my point is probably better made that Tahu has a better tackling technique, is quicker, slightly better on his feet and has better hands. Cross is more of a hole runner than a hole maker, while Tahu can do all of that but also create holes and off load in traffic.
Anyway, it is all my opinion only and you guys are certainly welcome to your opinions also …. and my other point is that Deans will make the final decision, not us.
Farmer said | August 25th 2008 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Robbie Deans has certainly made a difference to this team. Six out of seven wins, with 4 of those 7 games against SA and the AB’s.
The bonus point we gave to NZ may well come back to haunt us. Still cannot understand why we just didn’t kick it out instead of trying to score a try that was going to mean nothing.
Benjamin said | August 25th 2008 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Fair enough Terry.
From a NH perspective I like the look of Cross. I thought he has played well in all of his games so far. He provides a good target for Smith too.
I think that Deans will go for Mortlock and Cross. Those extra inches from Cross could be very useful against Jacobs - in terms of offloads out of the tackle. Also they could be useful in trying to hold up the attacker, something that was not necessary in league. Anyhow, it’s all academic.
Peter K said | August 25th 2008 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Cross has significantly more Rugby experience. His positional play is far better, he knows where he needs to be and when.
Mortlock is a far better 13 than 12, I would not move him.
To me who do I want at 12 Tahu or Cross. At 12 I would use Tahu.
Benjamin said | August 25th 2008 @ 10:36am | Report comment
I think it’s too big a risk. Australia have the chance to strike a huge psychological blow if they win this coming test. To have preferred Cross up to this point and then switch to Tahu would be very unlike Deans. The Veldt is no place for experimentation either. Australia won their last test by playing within certain boundaries so why change that now? Personally I would go Mortlock-Cross.
Terry Kidd said | August 25th 2008 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Cross has no experience at 12, Tahu does. Mortlock is a far better 13 and when did he last play at 12? Sorry Benjamin but I see either option as being experimental and thus believe that you must go with the option than involves less disruption of the backline and which puts players in their best positions and in my humble opinion that is Tahu 12 and Mortlock 13.
Benjamin said | August 25th 2008 @ 11:03am | Report comment
Mortlock goes to 12, where he has played at the Brumbies and international level, and Cross goes to 13. That also allows Mortlock to rekindle his previous playing relationship with Giteau. There is no justification for saying that Tahu has experience at 12, whereas Cross has 2 seasons of S14 and a start against the ABs plus his sub appearances. To play SA requires very little guile in the centres and Mortlock and Cross are 2 big target men that provide a platform for 2nd phase moves. Throwing Tahu into such a game would be unlike Deans, and I can’t see it happening. We’ll just have to wait and see Terry.
Sluggy said | August 25th 2008 @ 11:41am | Report comment
Deans thinking might be swayed by the lack of penetration in the backs, and generally, over the first 60 minutes - the Bok defence was smashing them on the advantage line, luckily though their forwards were slow to the breakdown. Tahu came on a couple of times stepped through the tackle and freed the arms, albeit late on when things had lossened up, if they can get people running off him they could make some inroads.
Also, the Jo-berg game mightn’t affect the ultimate result - except in the case of a draw in Brisvegas - giving away the bonus point in Auckland and not having one in Durban means that the Wallabies can’t win it all by grabbing 5 pts in Jo-berg. (Or even ensure a least a draw on the points table if the ABs get up in September.)
So Deans could start Tahu to see if he provides some penetration early when the defence is fresh. Not by pretty footwork but by sucking in two tacklers and releasing to a support runner. Old fashioned crash ball stuff.
What is more worrying is the lack of a back-up 5/8 - apart from Giteau they are all outside backs, with winger/fullbacks not 10/15s in the Paul Mclean/David Knox mould…Tuqiri Mortlock Tahu Cross Hynes Mitchell AAC Turner (is he over there?). I saw it suggested elsewhere that Hynes or AAC might move in to 5/8 if Giteau gets injured. If there was a back up 5/8 he might have got a start at 10 or 12. Lucas if fit would be on the bench instead of Sheehan, you would think.
But in the absence of an NZ style “second five” to come in for Barnes, whoever is there will be out of position. Perhaps Deans will surprise us all and bring AAC in at 12, as he has a better kicking game than Tahu or Cross.
ohtani's jacket said | August 25th 2008 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Deans will shift Mortlock to 12 and play Cross at 13. You could put your house on that.
mudskipper said | August 25th 2008 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Leave Mortlock at his best position at 13. The Springboks midfield is weak and disorganised at the moment. Tahu or Cross would do fine at inside centre…Tahu has had some excellent games at 12 with Australia A, and is ready to make a huge impact in international rugby, he just needs good game time… However Cross has a better understanding with his Western Force team mate and Wallabies play maker Matt Giteau…
Mortlock’s defence is excellent…playing him at 12 is be the safest option…however I’d like to see Tahu start at 12 and make changes later if required.