An 80th minute, 49m penalty goal from Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale has given Australia an amazing 41-39 victory over the Springboks, their first at altitude in South Africa in 47 years.
In perhaps one of the greatest Test matches ever played, which the Wallabies led by a huge margin for the second straight week, Beale turned from villain to hero after two glaring errors had almost cost his side victory.
The Wallabies led 31-6 after 25 minutes and 31-13 after a stellar first half before threatening to implode again in a poor second half.
When Beale threw a pass over the head of five-eighth Quade Cooper near his own goal line and it went dead, the Boks scored off the ensuing scrum to make it 31-30 after 54 minutes.
And when Morne Steyn banged over two 48m penalty goals to make it 36-31, it looked like deja vu for the Australians after last week’s capitulation in Pretoria.
But, with Saia Faingaa in the sin bin for a dangerous tackle, a Drew Mitchell try in the 72nd minute gave the Wallabies hope leading 38-36.
Another Steyn penalty goal in the 77th minute, after Beale had slipped and headbutted a pass from Cooper, made it 39-38 to the Boks.
Australian hopes looked dead until Beale stepped up in the final minute with the most difficult of kicks, 49m out and just 10m in from touch.
He nailed it, the crowd of 38,523 went silent and the Australians berserk as they celebrated one of the greatest victories in their history.
Australia last won on the South African highveld in 1963 in Johannesburg and had not one in Bloemfontein since 1933.
It was just their second win in the Republic in a decade and they retain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate, while consigning the Boks to last place in the Tri-Nations.
Australia scored five tries to three, with Steyn booting six penalty goals in all.
The start mightn’t have been as spectacular as last week’s with Matt Giteau knocking over a penalty goal in the second minute and Steyn replying four minutes later.
But it was about to get a whole more interesting.
First a Cooper cut-out put Adam Ashley-Cooper into space and Beale finished a classy backline movement of more than 50m.
It was 17-3 after 14 minutes when Cooper picked up the scraps of a Boks defensive lineout gone wrong and sent James O’Connor over.
Obviously still confident, South Africa opted to narrow it to 17-6 with an 18th minute penalty goal and they missed a golden opportunity a minute later when Juan Smith dropped a ball cold in great attacking position.
Australia went out to a 24-6 lead when Stephen Moore burrowed over and, when an electrifying O’Connor run sent Rocky Elsom on a 20m run to the line, the Bloemfontein crowd were left shaking their heads.
It took a remarkable effort from champion lock Victor Matfield on the stroke of halftime to give the home side some hope to cling to, the big man chipping and regathering on the full before sending Jaque Fourie over with a brilliant pass.
The Boks narrowed it to 31-20 six minutes after the break when prop Gurthro Steenkamp crashed over and was awarded a try by TMO Johann Meuwesen.
Australia were under the pump for a second straight week and their errors were mounting.
After de Villiers’ try, the Boks took the lead for the first time in the match with Steyn’s 61st minute penalty goal.
The best, though, was still to come.
Bob Mcgregor
Guest
SMI, Gordon has definitely experienced better seasons, a bit like myself with health problems over past 10 months, but I'm hopeful we will both come good again. Gordon's problems started with late 2009 season financial troubles which in turn caused them - reluctantly - to let their Coaching Director go. Gordon loss - East's gain. Sad that it always comes down to funds available. Usually prompts players to 'walk' to what is perceived as better 'opportunities'. Gordon Colts/Juniors continue to shine which in some small way makes up for the First XV's frustrating season. Thereabouts, BUT unable to be consistent. Lack of funds has been the ARU achilles heel as well. Amazing how supposed business people at the ARU let the 2003 RWC war-chest be 'wasted'. The fall out on OZ Rugby has been profound. Hopefully, more positive results can flow now that our team is 'getting' thereabouts and the coffers can accumulate funds yet again. But only after the deficit is wiped out. Sometimes I think the best way to help Rugby is to get onto Club, State and ARU boards and demand financial accountability - especially when one reads of the blatant mismanagement at times over the past 23 years. Then again one has to have the time, which unfortunately only occurs in one's latter years. Likewise, I'm looking forward to a great game next Saturday evening. Hopefully the Rugby Gods will shine on us yet again and we experience another classic like 1999 & 2001 Bledisloe World record crowds and spectacles. We can but hope.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Bob, good to hear from you again (Gordon ended up down the ladder this season) Can't understand how we can afford a high performance manager, who's job description defies understanding, but we can' t afford a defence coach. If it was up to me I would get Les Kiss, at least he understands the needs of attacking rugby and a solid defence. Still it is one step at a time, it seems we have only just learnt how to run and pass at speed and score tries. Can't wait till next Saturday, win lose or draw.
Damo
Guest
The team from New Zealand is the best in the world. They should win.......unless the Wallaby forwards turn up and the defensive line holds and we continue to attack. Both sides have 80 minutes. Agreed Moaman it will be fascinating to watch tactics...especially from the coaches.....Henry holds the cards and bragging rights hitherto BUT Robbie has a team on a high and lifting. Fatigue will count but if the Wallabies forget they won and treat it as another 80 minutes of the same game they might have the emotional momentum to cross the line. That twisted feeling at end of BOK game may actually assist Wallabies. It did not actually feel quite like winning. Boks beat us big in the 2nd half. Wallabies may be still stinging from that mistake-ridden reality. Wallabies are not world-beaters but they 'wanna be'. How much they wanna be will decide things in Sydney. Captaincy will affect game as well. If Rocky can match Richie in that department we may get another lift in momentum. NZ should win for any number of reasons stated by others but 80 minutes is given to both sides and Wallabies MAY choose to use them. It will be a completely different game though. Australia by 10.
GregE
Guest
History appears to be repeating itself, the wallabies generally have a poor season the year before a World Cup, as if their minds are thinking ahead. Added to this, they have been rebuilding the side for some time. The World Cup year brings out the best in the Wallabies and I believe that Robbie Deans is creating a young side ( mixed with experience) which will excel. One advantage the Wallabies have over their All Blacks and the Springboks is they can think and act quicker when they play the fast game. When the game is slowed their physically strong and experienced opponents take control. This squad has the components to win the WRC, wait and see.
Eagle
Guest
The intriguing thing for me is that the featured platforms of attack of both the Wallabies and All Blacks against the Boks have been running back kicks after catching or after a quick throw in. If balls are kicked-out well enough to ensure that a line-out is played, or chased well enough, then what? Also in the last 3 matches the Boks seemed to do well enough when they went on the attack. They were able to retain the ball through many phases unlike when on tour without Juan Smith. There were 7 point turnarounds in Soweto and at Bloemfontein against the Boks as a result of refereeing errors, and then the Boks contributed a lot to their own downfall with poor decision making at the end of both these matches. The subbing of Smith and Spies with Ralepele and Kanko made no sense in Bloemfontein - these players made no impact and replaced players who where doing a good job at the time. I enjoyed the entertainment that all the teams gave in the tri nations this year. And NZ have reason the cellebrate and Australia to be relieved at the end of it. But the South African should blame their coaching staff more than the players.
Derm
Roar Guru
One contribution that has gone largely unremarked on in yesterday's match, probably because people just assumed it would happen. Morne Steyn's flawless 9 from 9 was one of the best kicking displays I've seen in a long time in a high-pressure match. The Boks would have been at least 20 points the poorer and out of the game but for him. For a relatively young guy, he's up there with the top pressure kickers - Wilkinson, Carter, O'Gara, etc and will likely surpass them all by the time he finishes his career I suspect. Top drawer stuff.
ralph
Guest
Do you understand the meaning of the word aberration? same could be said regarding Australia's win? The coaches of both these teams need to be seriously concerned - periods of brilliance and then complete disintegration. Does not bode well for the future.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The Wallabies' second half wasn't as bad as the South African's first half. If people feel that the Wallabies played a great first half and a lousy second then I think they should acknowledge how South Africa's play shaped the game. It took them a long time to figure out what to do with the ball in hand, but once Matfield scored it was inevitable that the South African attack would improve. For all the talk about the second half, the score was 31-30 in Australia's favour with 26 minutes to go. I'm sure there were plenty of Aussies beside themselves at that point but as a neutral my feeling was that they were basically back to nil-all with quarter of the match remaining. There was enough time for the result to go either way and Australia had built up so many points in the first half that SA could only get five ahead. Anyway, it didn't seem so bad to me. It wasn't really what I'd call a collapse. I enjoyed both Tests on the highveld. They were marked by poor defending and both teams were unorganised at times, but better that than the usual Test matches between these two countries. Can anyone remember a more entertaining pair of back-to-back Tests between South Africa and Australia? It was perhaps the best series between the two countries since '93.
jameswm
Guest
OJ - I don't agree with your assertion that the Walolabies weren't that bad in the 2nd half. They were dire, with mistake after mistake compounding mistake. I wish I had the time this weekend to go through and list them. They did have a couple of big plays that got them back on track, like that monster torp by Mitchell.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Funny you should say that, stillmissit. I've been pretty underwhelmed with Robinson this 3N. I think he's going to need to sharpen up his fitness if he's going to thrive under the new law interpretations.
jiggles
Guest
I guess we will have to disagree on this one OJ. I thought he played a very controlled and intelligent game. for lack of a better word to describe it was very 'mature'. look at the first try australia scored. 25m left to right pin point pass. the final drew mitchell try, about 3 boks where focused on him, and he was aware that all he had to do was put in on barnes' chest. Cooper last year would of tried to score that last try himself using that ridiculous hop step he has. P.s. I do agree that carter against the lions in 05 was something else, was really in awe of how he dictated those games
Pothale
Guest
Meaningless because they keep losing to even worse sides than Australia? :)
Stash
Guest
OJ Thanks for that... I reckon that will be a pretty good game. Though I would have to admit I know nothing of the teams.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
My point is that he hasn't been brilliant or sublime. Brilliant or sublime is what Carter was against the Lions in 2005. Cooper has been dependable but he's hardly playing out of his skin.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Apologies Bob I've been watching the tape again. I'm amazed that Beale's kick is just as sweet the second time. A second viewing really hammers home just how close that win was. On Muggleton - I was not aware that a funding shortage was the reason for JM to be shown the door. Initially I read that Robbie wanted to handle the defence himself. I presumed he had a different philosophy that fitted with the playing style he envisaged for the Wallabies but as time went on it was obvious that our defence was no longer one of our strengths and years on we still have gaping gaps that you could drive a truck through. I still maintain that we can play attractive 'crowd pulling' Rugby with better defence. Might as well toss in better scrum, better restarts, better set pieces.........it's all part of Rugby and if it's done well the fans will embrace it as what makes Rugby different to the other footy codes.
jiggles
Guest
OJ have to disagree with you this time. Cooper has been playing the classic 5-8 role the last couple of matches. he hasn't had that 'one flashy moment' but his passing and kicking game has been sublime. How often do we see Carter destroy a defender with a massive step? never really, but he knows how to set up a play to inch perfect perfection and thats why he is currently the best. Cooper was showing some of that last night. and I would rather see that for years to come then flashy play.
jiggles
Guest
Sheek, on a flight back from melbourne this afternoon (to Brisbane) I got offered a choice of papers and I grabbed the Sydney one because I was sick to death of reading about a shove in a back on a bloke wearing a stripy singlet. anyway i read Adam Friers "Mr. Rugby Grumpy" Comment and it made me laugh and think about a couple of the blokes on the roar!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Stash -- according to the IRB. the Women's final will be streamed live at http://www.rwcwomens.com/video/index.html
Bob Mcgregor
Guest
SMI/Blinky, Your call for Muggleton to be recalled as defensive coach - laudable as it may be - was caused by lack of available funds at that time, if I remember correctly. Also, I 'think' he wanted more for the same role but ARU had been depleted so much it wasn't considered. But I could be wrong. On a different course, perhaps Deans' strategy is to play a faster, wider attacking game and prepared to 'sacrifice' tries against the play, provided OZ scores more in the balance sheet of the game. Given JON's brief to Deans was for OZ to play a more attractive style to recapture 'lost' fans, less concentration on defense may have been the sacrificial lamb on the high alter? Is it a trade off in this moment of time?
Mac31
Guest
Yeah...too much space around the rucks for both sides. For Matfield to pick up one handed and stroll straight through the centre of a ruck that close to half time was appalling. The Wallabies never really recovered from that scrum penalty against Slipper just prior to the Fourie try, it was one way traffic for the next twenty minutes and a massive worry that the Wallabies seemed unable to grab back the initiative...still, they hung in there and Kurtley made ammends. Poor Robbie...these boys will be the death of him! Wonderful game of rugby even if every defensive coach around the world was rolling around on the floor laughing...Next week will be interesting.