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After being told to show more “mongrel”, the Wallabies bared their teeth in more ways than one at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. They’re just lucky to have got them back.
Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe rushed to the dentist immediately after the 30-13 Tri-Nations triumph following a stray boot from Springbok centre Jaque Fourie.
Attempting to chase down the free-running Fourie as South Africa attempted their second half comeback, Sharpe copped the back of a heel to his jaw.
A tooth went flying into the turf and the 81-Test forward had to play with a gap in his mouth.
A team of six ground staff members were deployed after fulltime to comb the field for the molar but the emu parade struggled for quite some time to uncover the missing tooth.
Once found, Sharpe made his way into a nearby dentist’s chair expecting it could be reinserted.
It was a heartening post-script on an encouraging night for the under-pressure Wallabies who showed much more in attack, defence and at the set-piece than their four June Tests when their intensity and willingness were questioned.
While their backs ran amok, Australia’s highly committed forwards enjoyed their night against the massive Springbok pack.
Coach Robbie Deans singled out scrum anchor Salesi Ma’afu and said he’d “arrived” as tighthead prop just a month after the disaster of Perth when demolished by the English front-row.
Wallabies ball scavenger David Pocock officially filled retired great George Smith’s big boots with a man-of-the-match display which Boks skipper John Smit praised as the most pivotal on the night.
Pocock showed the value of having a specialist “fetcher” by winning the breakdown battle for the home side, who have now won their past seven against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium.
The frustrated Springboks correctly identified Pocock’s try-saving on Bryan Habana and then follow-up ruck penalty on his line as a massive turning point in the match.
“David Pocock was all over the breakdown,” Smit said.
“He was massive there and we just didn’t match him.
“It’s just such a big part of the modern-day game.”
While the Wallabies cleared their crucial first Tri-Nations hurdle, they must improve when the challenge becomes significantly greater in seven days time in Melbourne.
The high-flying All Blacks stand in wait and coach Robbie Deans indicated they could not afford to let New Zealand off the hook like they did the Boks several times in attack.
Skipper Rocky Elsom also stressed his side couldn’t afford to be off in any aspect of the game.
“It’s going to be totally different next week,” he said.
“I’d love to say that (tonight) helps us a hell of a lot going into next week but we don’t know that for sure.
“We just have to expect NZ will be at their best and it’s going to require our best to stop them.”
UPDATE: Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper and South African centre Jaque Fourie have been cited for dangerous tackles following Australia’s 30-13 win over the Springboks their Tri-Nations rugby Test in Brisbane.
Citing Commissioner Steve Hinds of New Zealand charged Cooper and Fourie under Law 10.4(e), over separate incidents which led to sin bin stints for the pair during the clash at Suncorp Stadium, the Australian Rugby Union said in a statement early on Sunday morning.
Springbok Fourie was yellow-carded in the second minute of the Test and Australian playmaker Cooper suffered the same fate in the 54th minute.
The two cases will be heard by Judicial Officer Bruce Squire of New Zealand on Sunday morning in Brisbane.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.