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.
Fernando Marzano
Guest
Hi Suzy I appreciate your words and good wishes, after the Argentina WBs are my favorite team my first opcion, I have followed every game since 1999, and wish you a good tournament in the next world cup. I'm sorry that one of my favorite players Benn R been injured, but Australia also has no less than 3 players in each position, and Kepu Sepoke surprised me in this last game, I saw him play really well. To have a good kickers has to do with the definitions in recent years, when games were decided by less than 10 points, WBS won the final of 1999 with a drop of Larkham, the same year South Africa send back England with a Jannie De Beer perfect day, who scored all the points including a record of 5 drops in that game. In 2003, the definition came from the foot of Johnny Wilkinson, in 2007 Montgomery was crucial in all games. That´s why I think Steyn will fit into the 15 list. Fortunately you people now have a solid kicker in JOC. I understand was the Achilles heel of Australia in the past, because they lost some games that deserved to win. Matt Gitteau is a good kicker, but under pressure failed so many easy and importants kicks, and their replacements did not have much luck either, except the final kick of KB against ABs last year. Finally the importance of this W Cup will be entering in the first 4 places, and then there are many factors that will decide who wins the trophy, only God knows. Beware of Ireland in Argentina we have the chance to see them during the 6 nations, and they have very strong players in all lines, and probably the best team in the last 15 years, what they lack is quality substitutes, anyway if WBs are well focused should not have problems. Good luck in this Tri-Nation, surely I will be supporting and enjoying myself to see play the WBS. Best Regards Fernando - Córdoba - Argentina
Suzy Poison
Guest
Fernando, I wish Argentina well this World Cup, so exciting that they came came third and proved what a stong rugby nation they are in 2007. Let's see how they go this time, unfornately they have a tough draw. Pool D has England and Scotland, if they beat Scotland, they might face All Blacks in quarters, very tough draw. You are probably right about Steyn too, the Boks will take his poor running game, because they need his foot, when it comes to penalties. Looking to the future, it will be great to see Argentian play in the Four Nations in 2012. Cheers Suzy P.
fernando
Guest
Hello Suzy, good point of view yours and time will tell who is right, as I said did´n know that Bekker was injured. I'm pretty sure that although Morne Steyn is not a great player, his effectiveness as a kicker is going to deserve a place in the 15, he has the world's highest percentage, 84% no other one better than him. If you remember Montgomery (very poor defense, in my country we call them chickens) was out of the Boks for over 4 years and Jake White got it back because his team needed for a player to score points with his foot. Another similar example is Ronan O'Gara. In addition I ask what South African player was highlighted in Super Rugby, not even superstars like Habanna, or Matfield. Finally I´m pretty sure than Spies and Kieran Reid are the two best number 8 in the world, without question, who else, and myself with my 1.85 meters and 92 kilos I´m able to beat Jannie DP in the scrum, jejejeje. You're right about Willem Albert is a great player, although he plays more as a flanker , but can also handle #8 T.shirt. In a month and a half we'll be knowing more about these intresting things. To me is getting so exciting at this time, and Argentina with this coach we have now is a great mystery, and hopefully a full recovery Hernandez as it is very important to us Warm regards Fernando - Córdoba - Argentina
Suzy Poison
Guest
Fernando. Bakkies Botha will play in Bekker's place in your team. Also Butch James will play the 10. I doubt even Morne will play on the bench, he has fallen out of favour, after a poor Super 15, and Saturday's game confirmed he stands too deep, and doesn't challenge the line. As soon as Lambie came on, the Boks looked better (may have co-insided with the Wallaby subs too) Also word is Juan Smith won't recover in time for the cup. Also Williem Alberts is favoured over Pierre Spies. Sadly it seems the Boks have learnt nothing from the famous Argentinan scrum (Bajada...it that how you say it). Saw an interview where he said, the Wallabies and Bok scrumming was even, whereas everyone who watched the game saw it as a clear Wallaby victory. Jannie Du Plessis is favoured as well it seems.
Fernando Marzano
Guest
Hi Cizzy. I didn´t know Bekker out of the WC, and Gurthto can play both 1 or 3, he already did it. In the final game of the Vodacom Cup in SA three months ago, was involved Pampas 15 from Argentina (they were the campion) defeating Blue Bulls in the final game. Peter De Villiers told to the Argentine commentator that the Pampas had been given a lesson to the South African Rugby about the importance of the scrum, which had surpassed all rivals in the tournament, and also mentioned that the Boks need to improve that aspect of the game. If you see last Saturday's WBS easily beat the Boks in Scrum, and that happend to this team in the last two years, they don´t have anymore Os du Randt. For this reason I am convinced that Jannie du Plessis will not be into the 15 (O Franks and Benn Robinson, beat him every time they met), Bismarck du Plessis will be the # 2 (far away the best hooker in the world), and the only two players that can give solidity to the scrum as number 3, are Gurthro S or CJ Van der Linde, that it. The old man John Smit and Jannie can come from the bench in the second half, that's all. Anyway, every opinion is valid. Cheers from Argentina - Fernando
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
Bekker is out of the World Cup and Steenkamp is a loose head, not tight.
fernando
Guest
Hello guys, I like to congratulate the WBS for the great victory against the Boks, I believe it is good for the coach to have most of the players available. A few comments than I like to do: Boks team for the World Cup will be: 15. Francois Steyn 14. JP Pietersen 13. Jaque Fourie 12. Jean de Villiers 10. Morne Steyn (they need his 84%) 11. Bryan Habana 9. Fourie du Preez 8. Pierre Spies 7. Brusow or Schalk Burger 6. Juan Smith 5. Victor Matfield (C) 4. Andries Bekker 3. Gurthro Steempkam 2. Bismarck Du Plessis 1. Tendai Mtawarira Reserves: John Smit (can play 1,2 or 3) Chilliboy Rallepelle CJ Van der Linde Willem Albert Francois Louw Dannie Rossouw (can play 4,6,7 or 8) Francois Hougaard Butch James Gio Applon Juan De Jong IThey will be bigger than now, and like Graham Henry said an year ago, they will play old school. Remember the year before last WC, they wheren´t playing well and they are always hiding. To me only one of them will be into the initial fifteen (MS), a month and a half before the WC they do not care to much about the Tri-Nation. One detail that the WBS should note, is that the next World Cup will be more physical than ever before. Look at the AB in the midfield Have Sonny BW 103, R Fruean 105kg each, Conrad Smit 95, Ma N'onu 100, England Tate and Tindall 102 kg each, The Boks J de Villiers 103, 102 J Fourie, France, Argentina, Wales, Samoa and Scotland over 95 per piece. Best regards from Argentina - Fernando
Fizz
Guest
Boks had there B team. And they were terrible! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Johnny-boy, I like the rest of the Boks fans are worried, didn't you read the first part of my post. The Wallabies are playing brilliantly. I am not denigrating the Wallabies at all. Also mate, you are not comparing apples with apples. In the Samoa game, the Wallabies, were playing at home against the tenth ranked team in the World, with five first choice players, not in the 22. They finnished the game, with ten players who played against the Boks. By comparison, the Boks, were playing away from home, against the then ranked third team in the World, now second, with 22 players missing. There are only two or three players in this team that will make the 22, come the World Cup. That's a big difference. The equavalent is if the Wallabies sent a team to play on the highveld, that consisted of none of the 22, that played on Saturday. That would mean players like, Al Baxter, Dean Mumm, Radiki Samo, Matt Giteau, Ryan Cross, Rod Davies etc, all players that are not in the current 22. If they lost by 19points, would you consider it a train smash? There is no comparison, between the games. But like someone said Samoa played better than the Boks, I am worried.
Handles O'Love
Guest
Yep, hard to disagree. The ABs (and even first choice Boks) will be unlikely to open up as often as a hotel elevator, either. Quade's runs to set up the first and third tries were great, but merely picked the weakness in some schoolboy defence. He didn't see many holes that big in the whole S15 season.
Handles O'Love
Guest
bugger. there goes another 100. I thought of Ioane when I made that call. He is the designated Quade in defence, and in the last 5 minutes had one passage where he made four tackles in about 30 seconds, but I still thought Pocock would have made more.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Bok team for Durban and World Cup will be: 15. Frans Steyn 14. JP Pietersen 13. Jaque Fourie 12. Jean de Villiers 10. Butch James 11. Bryan Habana 9. Fourie du Preez 8. Willem Alberts 7. Schalk Burger 6. Heinrich Brussouw 5. Victor Matfield 4. Bakkies Botha 3. Jannie du Plessis 2. John Smit (c) 1. Tendai Mtawarira Reserves: BJ Botha Bismarck du Plessis Francois Louw Danie Rossouw Francois Hougaard Juan De Jong Patrick Lambie I don't think they will take Aplon, as Lambie can cover Flyhalf and fullhalf and inside centre, Whereas Hougaard plays Scrumhalf and Wing, but you right, he was probably teh only player apart from Lambie when he replaced Morne who looked okay.
Tissot Time
Guest
John Ashworth propped up Canterbury and All Black scrums without the full compliment of knee ligaments.
johnny-boy
Guest
Fair points Suzy but it's telling that when the Wallabies lose with a second string team the sky is falling in for the Wallabies but when a second string Saffa team loses it's no big deal. We must really have the Saffas and Kiwis worried for them to be so quick to denigrate the Wallabies. Scared of getting our tails up I'd say. Boing !
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
Yeah, you keep believing that. I really think it is a very dangerous decision not to have the surgery and one that could affect him negatively for the rest of his life.
Bayboy
Guest
Where do you find these statistics Emric? You can not pay to watch individual games in New Zealand so your quote is quite simply nothing short of a desperate attempt to provoke. In New Zealand you either pay for a general sky sports package or you subscribe also to the rugby channel, you CANNOT pay to watch individual games, so like I said above how do you come up with your 4%
Bayboy
Guest
Still says a lot Davo, Australia had close to their best team ion the park in comparison to South Africa maybe having a sprinkling of match day 22 players in their squa. It was a rubbish team they fielded and you all know it. I agree with many other posters here it pays not to get too carried away with the win especially when you actually sit back and take a look at who was actually missing form the Springboks Squad. The Wallabies are going to be in for a rude awakening when they hit the shores of Africa and face the real Springboks
Goldenbull
Guest
I agree Samo or Higgs should get the start with one of them commiing on from the bench. Sharp for mine was week and slow, not sure if he deserves to be in the 22, why not have Samo or Higgs start with Mcalman on the bench as cover for 8 and second row?
Goldenbull
Guest
What cooper does to games is plays them in such a way that he produces time and space for himself and the game as a whole, any team that would be regarding as having a very structered game tends to be more open and almost frantic as the game progresses, they tend to be drawn into the same style as cooper loves to play. Notice the little kicks he will put in on the second phase or counter attack, it happened all season with the reds, and this style of rugby is perfect for the wallabies, truely incredible! I think the backline as it is, is very strong however I would love to see Mitchel in there too!
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Bull ----t Simmons played well and no one would have stopped that try - too low to the ground - Horwill or even a big Bok Sorry PeterK - you are way off beam on Simmons Cheers