A clueless Australia has slumped to a record 32-25 Tri-Nations loss to South Africa on home soil to virtually hand the Springboks the 2009 Tri-Nations title.
The Wallabies were blown away from the opening whistle at Subiaco Oval as they suffered a fourth straight loss this series, and a sixth successive Tri-Nations defeat dating back to last August.
The rampant world champions ran in four tries for a bonus point which puts them nine points clear of New Zealand with two matches each to play.
Australia scored two consolation tries to Matt Giteau and Lachie Turner in the last five minutes to add some respectability to the scoreline but nothing could hide the fact they were completely outmuscled and outplayed.
The unbeaten Springboks shelved their effective kick-chase game to run the ball and dominate the first half with quick phase play and set up their fourth straight win with a 22-6 halftime lead.
South Africa were simply too quick, too strong, too smart and far more precise and clinical than the home team.
By contrast the Wallabies willing game was mistake-ridden, particularly at the key moments inside both 22s.
A solid scrummaging effort – reaping three penalties – was well and truly offset by more turmoil in the lineouts.
Three times Australia paid dearly for poor throws to the back within a five minute period early in the second half after a jinking Giteau try had put them back into the contest at 22-13 down.
Hooker Stephen Moore paid the price for two bad throws which eventually resulted in Bryan Habana crossing for his second try and the Springboks securing a four-try bonus point.
It gave them a 16-point advantage and sealed just their third win from 17 matches in Australia since the Tri-Nations kicked off in 1996.
Their 32 points was their biggest score away to the Wallabies, eclipsing the 28-9 win in 1921.
Rookie fullback James O’Connor stood up to the pressure of the challenge while Rocky Elsom and Benn Robinson were also strong for Australia and replacement five-eighth Quade Cooper added spark in the last 15 minutes.
Springboks halfback Fourie du Preeze, who opened the scoring by taking a quick tap and catching Luke Burgess napping, was a deserved man of the match.
No.8 Richard Brown set the tone for the Wallabies by dropping South Africa’s first kick over the touch line. From the lineout, centre Jean de Villiers broke the defensive line.
The Springboks shot to a 12-0 lead after just 10 minutes when Jaque Fourie crossed untouched after Giteau was terribly exposed in defence from a midfield scrum.
Making matters worse for the Australians, five-eighth Giteau also missed two penalty goal attempts before finally landing one in the 28th minute for a 15-3 deficit.
Giteau finished with a personal haul of 20 points but the Australian attack looked more dangerous when he moved to inside centre and the elusive Cooper was injected into the playmaking role.
South Africa need one more point on the competition table to ensure they win the Tri-Nations but it will take a gargantuan effort by the All Blacks to sneak to a fifth straight title.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans denied he was surprised by the Springboks’ effective change of tactics.
“They’ve always been a side that’s been capable of playing any which way they choose but their first priority is to win the Tri-Nations and they have done it and they have done it convincingly,” he said.
Deans defended some of his team’s basic errors due to the pressure brought onto to them by South Africa.
“Springboks don’t make it easy … and they punish you when you turn it over.”
Deans was particularly upset the Wallabies conceded two tries from scrums and blamed poor talk in defence.
“It shouldn’t happen.”
While Deans was disturbed at conceding the tries to Fourie and Habana’s second, both from Du Preeze passes after scooting off the scrum, the Springboks were baffled why they were often penalised at the set piece.
Captain John Smit described the treatment they received from referee Bryce Lawrence, who awarded Australia 15 to just four for the Spiringboks, as “bizarre”.
“It was a bit of a lottery out there to be honest and sadly the numbers weren’t coming up for us,” Smit said.
Ziggy
Guest
Hear, hear!
Derm
Roar Guru
Oh I see. We have a similar piece of family insight and wisdom - but it goes on a little longer: The revolving spinning wheel (traditional image for our country) keeps going round - until you put your hand on it. The hand symbolises the essential brake of society. That's tended to be the bedrock of our thinking and family values over the last few centuries - it goes straight to the heart of what we're about as a nation.
Derm
Roar Guru
Oh stuff and nonsense. There were plenty of penalties awarded in the game. The fact that tries had been scored earlier on made them less conspicuous. Better discipline and reduction in penalties = ref has to be less officious and can let the game get on. It's not that difficult to work out. The running rugby was due to a change of tactics by the Boks - I absolutely agree. Which is what I have been arguing was still there in the game - and had been earlier in the year in NH comps and in the Lions series. All the doom and gloom that rugby was all about the kick and chase game, blah, blah. Suddenly all that baloney has gone now that the Boks have scored tries.
Ray
Guest
QC - this is boring me now. Why is it that you so vehmently argue with my, and other Bok supporters' opinions? I am not demanding that the record books be re-written to proclaim the 2009 Springboks as the ultimate rugby union team! It is my opinion, I think that my current group of countrymen, who call themselves the Springboks, are a great team. One of the best we have produced. Who are you to tell me what I can and/or can't say? It is my opinion buddy, I don't force it on anybody. You seem to be an angry little man, not sure what your problem is. I will quite happily accept that the AB's have acheived far more in terms of the 3N and Super rugby over the years, I never denied this, but thanks for pointing the obvious out. I didn't say the other ANZAC teams were crap, I was merely suggesting that both AU and NZ need to focus more on their domestic competitions than worry about the 3N etc. Building solid, grassroots rugby structures is what wins world cups and provides a solid foundation - particularly where the Wallabies are concerned. At the end of the day, what matters more? Winning 3N and Super Rugby and other tests throughout the year or winning the Ellis?? Stop being so angry and rigid! People are entitled to their opinions, get over yourself.
Ben J
Guest
Westy, I am not having a go against you. Some Australians make me think of that spaceship in WALL-E where everybody is fat and spoiled and getting pleasure on demand.Time to get off the proverbial ass and do something.
Ben J
Guest
To be honest, getting a sport like rugby union into the top tier in Australia should have been a absolute breeze. The fact that the ARU have butchered the good faith of the 2003 tournament has contributed to the demise of popularity in Australia. However, there seem to be a massive air of entitlement around Australian sports fans, almost like they demand to be entertained otherwise they will cry like little fat bullies that do not get their wish. You asked for running rugby, ball in hand rah rah, tries aplenty. Just a pity that it were the Boks that did the entertainment. Now is not the time to abandon the Wallabies, sack the coach and turn off the plasmas. No, your sport needs YOU, the Australian rugby fan, to grow a pair and support your team. All this talk of the "product" and viewing figures make me sick. Stop being such a naff bunch and support your team. It's the least you can do.
Ben J
Guest
Australia's problem is not in "cattle" but between the ears. They are not agressive enough for some reason. You have to look what motivates the team. The Boks have a clear motive: global domination, being seen as leaders on and off the field, professionals who earn their keep by trying to be the best and go down in history. Simple. What are the Wallabies "mission statemeNT"? If they have one I havent heard it. Win the RWC 2011? Too far. Play attractive ball in hand exilirating rugby? Nope, failed there. Be the most disciplined team on the park? Hell no. They have to sit down and ask themselves what the hell am I doing here. Making up the numbers or biting the dust. Deans is a winner at S14 level, this must be a whole new feeling for him and if he is not going to take charge then JON will do it for him.
westy
Guest
I should put on the record I do not care about VRu and its relatively small number of rugby players . the bastards have been playing the game in the state for over 100 years and have basically done a shit job. Do not tell me they had to compete with AFL rugby in western sydney has always been up against rugby league. I have an area covering south western western and north western Sydney of close to 3 million people. Western sydney alone produces 60 % of Sydney grade players and have no super team to connect to. i am told we had to go to melbourne for the melbourne corporate dollar and then you find out its with sydney money. I have a committment of 10 million in cash and land by a bloody western sydney council for an AFL team and the ARU says there is no money in the area. You want a tribal team in super rugby play western sydney. We will even use our own players. We can create aquality of depth. You see my real concern is next time around they will bypass us again .
Daniel
Guest
yeah sheek...u tell him! and Gerrard be proud that you're still from the SH man! the worst team in the Tri-nations(the Wallabies) WILL beat the top team in the NH and thats pretty much it for the positives i think... so to the Wallaby supporters pls dont let any NH mate talk smack to you Green And Gold!!! (Springbok)
westy
Guest
It is important for South Africans not to confuse the reality of Australian rugby with some type of bitterness in South Africa winning. Australian rugby is well down the pecking order of sport in this country. The great rugby spectacle you report was watched by a paltry 311000 on Free to Air TV in the national mainland capitals in Australia outrated comprehensively by a harry Potter movie with 1230000. whatever South Africans have been told or understand rugby in Australia is at fourth in juniors to the other major contact codes. The people who are officials of Australian rugby represent a very narrow band of the Australian community. You may get away with this for your judiciary but it is deathknell for a mass based sport. The Australian cricket team and the Socceroos are more representative of the broader national community. The Australian cricket team is not necessarilty liked but it is more in tune with all of our our national character the good the bad and the ugly . They attack and play to win and they play with mongrel against white black or brown sometimes with mixed results. There redeeming feature they do the same against all. When you play the wallabies you play a very narrow representation of who and what we are. It does not please me to say this but it is the reality. I think the ARU has decidesd on a long term policy of Australian rugby being a top down game in Australia.They will get more TV money and they will use it for more super teams buying not necessarily producing the players they need. Alas such astrategy means it will never be the people's game in Australia. I say this with some pessimism and loss. . We had a chance in 2003 to build from the ground up and I fear we may not get another. Some within the officialdom of rugby in Australia I do not even think like the ordinary Australian punter and do not really care. They prefer the elite tag.
Jerry G
Guest
Yeah, there's a fair bit of interpretation obv. My pick for all time best team is the 87-90 AB's. They don't have a share of the 17 wins record, cause they drew a match with Aus in 88, but they didn't lose a test (or midweek match) for nearly 4 full seasons.
Ben J
Guest
Well I was pretty dissappointed with those last 2 tries, it took the gloss off what would have been a record hammering. Having said that the Boks did the business inside the first 50 min and went into "safe mode". This team seem to be all about "lets see how quickly we can hammer the opposition and close out the game" Giteau is a master at broken play 10 meters out no doubt about that but he is not a "general" and seem to focussed on his own game to the detrement of his outside backs. The Wallaby scrum were quite good but that was where it stopped, nothing seemed to work consistently and Deans must think what he must do to turn the ship around. I was quite worried that Deans will take this team and pull a Crusaders on the Boks but he seems to be human after all.
Darryl SA
Guest
QC: Well it certainly seemed aimed squarely at me, and I do so hate to be misunderstood and misinterpreted. I lie awake at night sobbing. Seriously though, I'm happy to agree. As a Saffer who has had to endure some miserable times in the last 9 years, it's been great to be on the winning side for once. I personally don't care to get embroiled in the greatness talks. Hindsight decides those things, and so be it, we're not there yet. Jerry G: Fair enough mate, but again, I think you need to understand what it was like being a Bok fan pre Jake White and post Jake White. He brought sanity back to what was total chaos, and we felt what it was like to win again, and not be the laughing stock of the world. So you'll have to forgive a Saffer fan for getting a little carried away every now and again.
QC
Guest
Daryl, My bad son, I was in actuality trying to highlight a point to others in here especially your fellow Springbok fans like Ray and Neil etc. I have no qualms in you clebrating your victories what I do have an issue with is the ridiculous claims of greatness coming from Bok fans. This team has done nothing that hasn't been done before is that so hard for people to understand. while it makes them a very good team due to the under achievements of teams before them does this automatically qualify them for greatness?? So before you start playing the poor me card i think it is you who may want to go back and read some posts before reacting. I have said from day one that this is a good South African team however I have questioned how good they are considering how badly the opposition has played (Lions aside) how hard is that for people to understand. Here at the roar there have been hundreds of posts this Tri-Nations about how poor the Wallabies and ABs have played a huge number of these were from the same people now claiming greatness. I used your post to show the other posters how inaccurate they were in their claims of greatness and highlighted how you cannot take 07's result ignore 2008 then pick up again in 09.
Jerry G
Guest
The reason people bring up 08 is that half the people claiming this Bok team is great bring up the 07 WC which they do for the simple reason that if you judge this Bok team on this season alone, they've not achieved enough to be called great. They're very good and may become great, but they're not yet. So people say "But they won a WC" to which a perfectly valid answer is "Yes, and followed it up with a wooden spoon". I take your points Darryl (though disagree with some - Steyn was not first choice in 07 and was only in due to an injury to JDV for instance) but there is a perfectly valid reason why 08 is relevant in discussing this team's greatness.
couchnorm
Guest
Bonza Do you really think there was a steady pogress with Foley. Yes there has been in the scrum, mainly because Connelly changed the focus towards it. We seem to forget some of the poor forward performances; what about the 07 World Cup?. Maybe Foley was only in charge of the scrum and not breakdown or general forward play.
Darryl SA
Guest
QC, Replying to my post because yours doesn't have a Reply link due to the comment depth limit. It sounds to me like you're grasping at straws, or missing the point, or both. I was simply pointing out that the poor performance in last years Tri Nations did have some extenuating circumstances which it seems some completely dismiss in what appears to be a desperate attempt to find any reason to discredit their success. Do you think the Aus cricket team that dominated the cricket world until recently was not great because they lost the 2005 Ashes? I'm not going to bother to respond to the other tangents you went off on but for the record mate, I have never once claimed this team is great. Feel free to show me a post I've made that proves otherwise. That said, is it such a bad thing to be proud of your own team. For Saffers it's been a helluva long time coming. You haven't had to suffer the scourge of the Viljoen/Straueli years. But hey, if *this* team goes on to retain the World Cup, then yes, I'll have no qualms calling them a great team. It's certainly a great period for SA rugby. And I for one will enjoy it while it lasts - as I have no doubt it won't last forever such is the nature of rugby. If others from my continent wish to call the current team great, I won't get in their way, but I haven't once staked that claim - not yet anyway. So please get your accusations accurate before you begin hurling the insults. These threads are at their best when they remain civil.
QC
Guest
See above
QC
Guest
Darryl SA So maybe when Springbok fans go on about how great this team is and go on about what they have and how good they are they need to remember that great teams don't hit such highs then fall to such lows. So quit the talks of greatness mate because if we believe your post this is a new team and the only thing they have done is win a Lions series 2-1 and will in all likeliness win a Tri-nations only there 3rd in 14 years. This to me does not make them a great team Darryl would you not agree. Your post like I said claims this to be a different team. This team didn't win the World Cup it was their Predecessors was it not? Yes some are still there but the actual team is not? Seems pretty clear to me SA fans are picking and choosing which results they want to acknowledging claiming greatness including things the current team did not win while also omitting games lost that a large majority of this current team were a part off. Once again a SA fan has contradicted his own countrymen, I find it rather ironic or should I say moronic
QC
Guest
What is clear here Ray ray is the simple fact I have thrown a curve ball at you and you can't do anything except start name calling. Your teams great because they beat very poor opposition now I've heard it all. these aren't my words Ray but that of your own and some of your countrymen. You bang on and on how great your team is but at the same time your going on about how poor the opposition is. To me that just contradicts your own very juvenile arguments. Get a grip sunshine not everyone and I most certainly do not believe your team is great. I do however think they may have laid the foundations for it which is something I have being saying for a while now, but oh no People like you Ray only look for parts of posts and like to twist and turn them to make your argument more sound. However it only opens up gaping holes. But you enjoy your time sunshine because I can't wait to see how you handle a loss which is inevitable. No doubt there will be cries of racism, screams of unjust treatment the world is picking on South Africa. Good team yes Great no not yet. Your boys have won one game away from home this year lets see how they go in the following two before you claim greatness. So if the Wallabies beat your team in Brisbane will this make them a great team?