Morne Steyn placed the Wallabies on red alert with a record pointscoring haul in South Africa’s 31-19 Tri Nations victory over New Zealand in Durban on Saturday.
The sharp-shooting Steyn contributed all 31 points from a try, conversion and eight penalty goals as the unbeaten Springboks claimed their second win in as many weeks over the All Blacks to go outright top of the ladder in the southern hemisphere championship.
In a deadly display, Steyn’s only miss from 10 attempts came in the final minute, the flyhalf’s tally surpassing All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens’s Tri Nations record of 29 points notched against Australia in Auckland in 1999.
The Wallabies take on South Africa in Cape Town next Saturday and assistant coach Jim Williams – in charge until Robbie Deans arrives on Wednesday night following his father’s funeral in New Zealand – said discipline loomed as a major factor at Newlands.
“We certainly can’t afford to make any mistakes in our own half. That was one of the biggest thing we learnt,” Williams told AAP after watching the Springboks victory with the Australia squad at their Cape Town hotel.
“Obviously some of those penalties are up to interpretation, but the Springboks still put themselves in that position to get those penalties.
“Anywhere near the halfway line, you’ve got to be a little bit worried.
“So it’s just a matter of trusting your own defensive systems and certainly making sure that you’re in a good body position at the breakdown.”
The Wallabies were thoroughly impressed by the world champions’ clinical performance and departed for dinner under no illusions about the challenge they face at Newlands, where Australia haven’t won since 1992.
“I don’t know whether the Boks got that much advantage over the All Blacks, but what they did well was claim position and territory and put pressure on the All Blacks really well,” Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock said.
“The Boks are also extremely comfortable with the way they’re playing. They all know exactly what they are trying to achieve and they’re doing it really, really well and efficiently.
“So, for us, that really solid performance just reinforces our mindset of what we need to do.
“We need to build pressure, be disciplined in how we do things and be consistent at the breakdown.”
The All Blacks led the Springboks 10-3 early at the ABSA Stadium thanks to a try to lock Isaac Ross and the conversion and a penalty to flyhalf Stephen Donald.
But the Boks struck back with a succession of penalties plus their only try of the game close to halftime, when Steyn evaded Donald and All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan to cross, to lead 22-13 at the break.
As the two sides traded further penalties in the second half, the nine-point margin remained until 10 minutes before fulltime when Steyn fittingly had the final say to ensure the Springboks defeated the All Blacks on consecutive weekends for the first time in 33 years.
Yikes
Guest
Irrelevant. It does not matter if the ball is out if Ross was not onside. Just because the ball is out does not mean an offside player may play it.
big Kev
Guest
based on what? Geez you are taking some good drugs man! A team that can only score 1 try against an opposition who never even bothered to turn up doesn't impress me.
Rusty
Guest
The solution is more the other way - increase penalty goals to 4. Teams will transgress less as at the moment its "cheaper" to concede two penalties rather than a try. To level off the scoring DG's should be reduced to 2
Grandpabhaile
Guest
Ok - so that would make the score Boks 23-15 NZ. Feel better now? Or make them one point. Then it would be 15 - 11 - and the ABs get their bonus point. Or you could make Bok tries only worth 3 points and AB tries worth 9 points. 13-15 - The All Blacks win!
Benny
Guest
Simply make penalty goals worth 2...an easy solution
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
The ball is out of the ruck in that picture.
Chris
Guest
Like the two five meter scrums that ended in Springbok penalties and Rodney in 40min coming in from an offside position to play the ball when SA had a 7 on one?
Yikes
Guest
http://forum.planet-rugby.com/index.php?t=getfile&id=14048&private=0 The image clearly shows that Ross was not "behind the 22m line the whole time". The IRB have ruled a ruck exists even once it fails to meet the definition of a ruck. The offside line for NZ is a good half metre behind the 22m line. Ross is one step in front of the 22m line.
Jerry G
Guest
He's saying that the penalties were not conceded when the AB's were on the rack, ie that most of them were "unforced errors" so to speak.
Chris
Guest
I don't understand your reply. Do you mean that tries cannot be scored by retaining and creating quick ball at the ruck?
cookee
Guest
ONSIDE, jon has little hope;maybe chance of a few broncos fans but afl might grab them first.
Hemjay
Guest
A bit over the top good on ya Jerry, What I find in here is many blokes beat around the bush and write ridiculous spiels to get there point across. I guess some people have an issue with my abruptness but I couldn't really give a flying.... Do tell me how I am disrespecting the Boks? Because I'm not kissing their asses screamjing from the rooftops that they are the best team to grace the planet what a bloody joke. Seriously I wonder where some people get off, by insinuating rubbish that I have never said and now accussing me of being disrespectful. Go back through these threads and I think you'll find the only people being disrespectful are firmnly the Bok fans like Photon, Temba, Greg Smith / Trophey Master shall I go on? Ben you and your mates are going on and on about how much the All Blacks are an embarrassment and are useless and shite I do think Gradpahaile stated. How the hell is that showing respect son to the nost Dominant and consistant team in History? So don't come at me demanding I give the Boks respect when you and your ilk have not afforded the same to the ABs. Actually do show me where I have been disespectful because as far as I can see highlighting that the Boks only put 12 pts on a All Black team that probably delivered the worst performance I have ever seen is just an observation hardly disrespectful. The Springboks won but it was not a convincing win far from it but hey a wins a win and if you had been following the threads you will see I congratulated the Boks on their win. But as this is a opinion site where one can voice their views and break the game down you will have to accept the fact that I don't believe this Bok team is great for the reason stated above. Disrespectful my ass!
Jerry G
Guest
Well, they probably can't beat them 10 times in a row! I'm happy to give the Boks respect, they've got a tough centre and they play to their strengths. Don't worry about Hemjay, he's a bit over the top from time to time, but he's hardly the Kiwi Greg Smith.
Ben J
Guest
Hemjay, this Springbok team can beat the AB's 10 games in a row and they will still be crap in your eyes. What's your issue with the Boks that you hate them so much? Give them respect old boy, it's the least you can do.
Ben J
Guest
Yikes, the only one that is cynical and whimsical here is you. Go and watch league or AFL.
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
Not many considering few of the All Blacks penalties were ruck situations.
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
A few more days.
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
Ross was behind the 22 metre line the whole time. He only crossed it when the ball came out of the ruck. The South African hooker cannot play the ball on the ground without binding to the ruck and that South African forward is loitering offside. When Ross is standing there with a foot over the 22 metre line, the ball is out of the ruck and Ross is trying to confirm with the ref whether it's out. The only mistake he made was doing the right thing despite the ref not listening to him. Every ref who's looked at this had said Owens made a mistake. It was a make-up call and a shocker.
onside
Guest
John O'Neill has got a real challenge ahead of him.Three trinations games,a measly seven tries and an abundance of (thirty ) penalties.So where's the challenge. Look, if dyed in the wool rugby tragics are dissatisfied with the game, what hope does JON have in attracting new supporters to the code.
mick h
Guest
OJ, Am I allowed to say "God, get over it" yet or should I wait a few more days?