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South Africa's Juan de Jongh steps through a tackle by Australia's James O'Connor during their Tri-Nations match at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Saturday, July 23, 2011. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins).
Robbie Deans supplied the most significant moment in the Wallabies exciting 39-20 win over the Springboks at ANZ Stadium last night.
Not one to let his emotions show, his concentration so intense, the Wallaby coach broke into a beaming smile. It took 57 minutes, but it was well worth the wait.
And he had plenty to smile about. Last week’s nightmare 32-24 loss to Samoa was erased inside the first 12 minutes when Ben Alexander and Digby Ioane finished off superb breaks by Quade Cooper, and Will Genia, for 12-nil.
That was more like it. Gone was the hesitancy of the Samoan game, the real Wallabies stood up to strut their stuff, spinning the ball wide, stretching the Bok defence.
The Fox commentators were disappointed the Wallabies only led 15-6 at the break. But when you look at the first half stats, 15-6 was a pretty good return, especially giving away a penalty on the hooter.
The Boks enjoyed 58 per cent possession, 59 per cent territory, and spent 2 minutes 26 in the Wallaby quarter to 1 minute 41.
But the Wallabies did far more with their possession and territory than the Boks. It was rock solid Wallaby defence to thwart the Boks who never looked like scoring a try. Every Wallaby played his part with some devastating tackles from David Pocock, Sekope Kepu, Digby Ioane, Pat McCabe, and James O’Connor.
Who said O’Connor’s defence was suspect?
Three second half Wallaby tries wrapped up the result. Taking the foot off the pedal allowed two Bok five-pointers when the international was done-and-dusted.
There can never be a perfect game of rugby, but the Wallabies must limit those sleepy moments that have cost them dearly in the past. Rugby World Cups are won by teams who rarely make a mistake when they haven’t got the ball.
The highlights:
* The Wallaby scum was solid – Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, and Ben Alexander, made it so.
* Lineout throws were mainly spot on, giving James Horwill, Rob Simmons, and Rocky Elsom their best chance, and they took it in both hands.
* The return of Pocock was massive, the Wallabies RWC chances depend heavily on him staying on the paddock.
* In only his third game of the season, Elsom cemented his place with a powerhouse display, and deserves to keep the captaincy.
* Champion half-back Will Genia had a blinder, winning Foxtel’s man-of-the-match. Watching him in action is a rugby showpiece, he has the vision, the pace, the power, the precision, and the uncanny ability to sight the smallest of holes, and he’s gone.
* Quade Cooper was sick on Friday with a stomach bug. By the end of last night the Boks were sick of him dancing through their defence as if they weren’t there. He set up two of the five tries through his feet, there are times when you’d swear he’s going two ways at once.
* The centre combination of newcomer Pat McCabe, and old-stager Adam Ashley-Cooper, is here to stay. They both play similar rugby, both run hard and straight, invariably reaching the advantage line or beyond – and both tackle as if there’s no tomorrow.
* Wingers O’Connor, and Ioane, do incredible things on the rugby field. O’Connor calmly scooped up a half-volley pass from Cooper, yet still managed to score. Great hands, great speed, and ever keen to be involved, they will never suffer pneumonia out there.
* And full-back Kurtley Beale, a genuine International Player-of-the-Year contender last season, is even better this season. Beale has the magic touch with the ball in his hand, a game-breaker.
Even though the Boks have 23 of their number at home, they competed for 80 minutes. There’s never been, nor ever will be, a Bok side that will turn it up, waving a white flag.
But the Wallabies were really slick last night, and if the forwards can win 50% clean possession in the games to come, the men-in-gold boast a backline that will have spectators constantly standing on their feet in salute.
The five magicians – Will Genia, Quade Cooper, James O’Connor, Digby Ioane, and Kurtley Beale – are capable of doing anything, and generally do.
And the steadying influence mid-field with Pat McCabe, and Adam Ashley-Cooper – nothing flash, but always positive, and dependable.
No wonder Robbie Deans was smiling so broadly. At the media conference afterwards, there was even a hint of a smile as well from the coach.
The comparison:
Champion cyclist Cadel Evans is rarely caught smiling on camera, but he was early this morning, mixed with tears of joy, when he became the first Australian to win the coveted Tour de France – an achievement of unbelievable proportions.
So let’s have some more of the same Robbie at Eden Park in a fortnight, right through to Eden Park on October 23 – the Rugby World Cup final.