South Africa have busted their Australian east-coast hoodoo in style by hammering the outmuscled Wallabies with a record 38-12 Rugby Championship victory at Suncorp Stadium.
The Wallabies slumped to their fourth straight Test loss – their worst streak in four years – in a bitterly disappointing display in front of 43,715 stunned fans on Saturday night.
Never before had Australia lost to the Springboks in seven meetings at the old Lang Park but that unbeaten record was dead in the water with 20 minutes to play.
The Boks dominated the scrum, the collisions and the breakdown throughout to lay the platform for a four-tries-to-nil drubbing that gave the visitors their biggest win against the Wallabies on Australian soil.
It more than doubled the margin of their previous best – 18-6 at the SCG in 1971 – and also gave the South Africans their first win on the east coast in 14 matches since the code went professional in 1996.
The Wallabies had aimed to run the big Boks pack into the ground but were badly beaten at the breakdown and consistently under pressure at scrum time.
Instead it was the South African backs who lit the game up with a three-try blitz in eight minutes to blow the home side away midway through the second half.
Although they were unable to go close to scoring in the first hour, Australia were still in the contest at 19-12 before Boks skipper Jean de Villiers started and finished a brilliant blind-side raid.
There was more specials skills from Ruan Pienaar and Willie Le Roux to put Zane Kirchner over four minutes later, and then Le Roux rubbed salt into Wallaby wounds by punishing a Quade Cooper turnover.
It wasn’t a great night for Cooper in his long-awaited return to the No.10 jersey as he struggled to spark Australia’s under-pressure attack.
He also gave away the penalty that led to the Springboks storming to an early lead with reserve prop Coenie Oosthuizen barging past him to score in the sixth minute.
Israel Folau’s move to fullback failed to reap the rewards expected as the game-breaker was often ignored out wide, while the Boks impressive loose-forwards also forced a first-half penalty goal by trapping him after a kick-return.
But largely it was a painful experience for the Wallabies’ greenhorn pack who sorely missed captain James Horwill (hamstring) as well as other sidelined enforcers.
Australia failed to get any attacking rhythm or momentum with the visitors’ defence holding firm, and their forwards forcing a string of penalties and turnovers at the breakdown – the area the Wallabies traditionally dominate.
The Springboks also slowed down the game effectively, and were helped by extra big-screen replays that referee George Clancy regularly demanded.
Christian Lealiifano scored Australia’s only points through four three-pointers as they failed to capitalise on some first-half attacking chances and the early sin-binning of flanker Willem Alberts.
Michael Hooper was also yellow-carded in the second half when he pulled off a tip tackle on Bryan Habana, but the Boks wreaked their havoc when he returned to the fray.
allan
Guest
AB'S goin to be to good for the poor boks.Cant see them scoring 4tries against AB's.
Mike
Guest
That's not what I said Soapit. I don't see any rational reason to think that McKenzie will do better than Deans. And what has occurred so far hasn't given me cause to rethink that judgment, if anything the reverse. That doesn't mean McKenzie's a bad coach. It just means that the coach was never the primary issue with the Wallabies.
rugbynut
Guest
I never had a problem with Robbie's game plan although it was rather dull. In hindsight it was far more effective then given credit for. My biggest problem was with his team selection. Why was he picking a load of underperforming Waratahs that had hardly played over the inform Brumbies and Reds? It was unforgiveable seeing McCabe, Denis, Horne, Barnes and a few others picked over so many other better options. Also JOC is the most selfish, head up his backside, albeit extremely talented player I have ever seen pull on a wallabies shirt. He should never have been played at flyhalf. And if Link does get the spear it will almost certainly be Jake White who has next shot at the Wallaby helm
rugbynut
Guest
In my opinion there has been fairly poor analysis of the weekend’s result. No doubt we were ‘outplayed’ and ‘outmuscled’... and soundly beaten but I don't know about 'out thought' or that the Wallabies are a lost cause. Test match rugby is a peculiar thing and you only need to look at the Pumas turn around against the boks as an example. A lot of people here bang on about 'test match rugby' but I'm not sure many realise what it actually represents. Test match rugby is supposed to be the 'best group of payers' a country can muster playing in an ultimate showdown as the finest example of the sport on offer… yet the reality is far more complex than that. A super rugby team in many ways plays a superior skills based and exciting brand of rugby as the team plays week in week out and the players know each other inside out. The Lions vs Reds game was a great example of this. On paper the reds had no right to even have half a chance yet in the first 20 minutes they had the lions absolutely bricking it... it was easily the most exciting game of the tournament. The challenge for any international coach is to take the player base they have, developed a strategy that optimises their strengths and mitigates their weaknesses. It also needs to be one they can learn and achieve in a short pace of time with limited preparation. They don't have loads of preseason games and a long season to hone complex attack patterns and defensive structures. The game plan has to be relatively simple and the more team continuity is maintained the more developed it can become. I think Link has just realised this all to well... though Jake White was well aware of this some time ago. A good flogging does not necessarily do a team a lot of harm. The Wallabies need to realise they are not all that, adopt a 'knuckle down', 'work hard', 'play as a team' attitude and find what works for them. The Super Rugby season’s results suggest their player pool is as good as either NZ or SA… it’s the application that’s the problem. Lastly I have no time for individuals like Beale, JOC or what QC used to be. For all the skill and talent they possess, unless they play an unselfish, team orientated brand of rugby I would never let them near my side. Matt Toomua, Folau, Cummins, Mowen, Simmons and QC (to name a few) have grown into the right kind of player and I am certain they have a bright future with the wallabies. I look forward to the Wallaby showdown in SA in a few weeks... I'm sure a lot of lessons will have been learnt. Time will tell… and make me either a fool or a prophet.
soapit
Guest
why would you expect these people to admit they were wallies for thinking mckenzie would do better when you claim that you havent yet formed an opinion yourself and that you think they could easily turn out to be right?
Mike
Guest
There is no double standard Soapit, and I for one am not suggesting McKenzie's tenure should finish early, for the same reason that I saw no point in ending Deans' tenure early. Without significant and far-reaching change, I think Deans and McKenzie are producing about as much as they can from the material available to them (that assumes that Ewen scores some wins so that his record looks half-decent, but since his first three games have been against the No 1 and No 2 in the world, I see no reason to doubt that he will get some wins soon).
Mike
Guest
You won't get any argument from me on that. I agree its too early to judge McKenzie's reign, hence the issue as to how Deans should be judged is not closed either.
soapit
Guest
all fair enough chivas. happy for him to be judged, i think a little more time and a variety of opposition would be prudent before judging though . especially seeing this guys been arguing for some time we cant judge if deans was any good until mckenzie eventually finishes. was just amused by the double standard. really mckenzie's going to see out his 2 years unless something really extraordinary happens and then he'll be judged good and proper by the people that matter (same as deans was earlier this year)
soapit
Guest
you expect these people to now agree with you admit that things wont get better as a result of deans going. to do that you and they would both have to judge mckenzies performance. try and follow your own points at least.
IvanN
Guest
I almost thought i heard you congraulate the boks.... I did say to you this week that maybe its time for Alberts to give us a big performance, what did you think of Alberts, Louw and Vermeulens game ? and bear in mind that its easy to say Aus were poor, but another way to look at it is that maybe the Boks were good and they made the aussies look poor ?
IvanN
Guest
he also hurt his back in the process.
IvanN
Guest
I think that was Jean de Villiers...
IvanN
Guest
Fact is, it was only the wins against SA that have been keeping Aus in the Top3 for a few years now. Some notable losses to other top 10 teams could easily have left Aus in the 5-10th range.
IvanN
Guest
a year ago the whole of SA were calling for Morne steyn to be dropped, and he was. His time off rejuvenated his game to the point that he has become more than just a kicking flyhalf. Being dropped will be good for Genia, but unfortunately for your team, McKenzie does not see it that way.
Jerry
Guest
Although NZ would probably need to get two more bonus points - SA has a pretty big edge in for and against, so NZ would need to finish on more points.
IvanN
Guest
i wouldnt say mccaw is as much a cheat as what he is good at bending rules. did you notice how many times Hooper and sometimes the other loosies would fall over the ball in the tackle and roll towards the boks side, instead of their own way. thats a tactic that nz has been using for some time now. It impedes the opposition from coming in with momentum and buys a split second to get over the ball, its those small margins that make mccaw so good, he wins inches for his team, inch for inch. i respect the man as a player and captain, coming from a bok fan, you have to respect the man that has captained the best team for so many years and been consistently good in his position.
IvanN
Guest
Dont forget Cooper being tossed like a teddy bear by etzebeth... that made me laugh
Jerry
Guest
"if they lose its pretty much RC to the boks who would then only need a win against Aus in SA thanks to their bonus point in brisbane." Nah, it'd still be open. If NZ got a losing bonus point for instance or win with 4 tries in Argentina. They'd have to win in SA but it's still possible.
IvanN
Guest
A common trait of Springbok rugby that is so often overlooked, is that they dont allow the opposition to trade blows and then come out on top, They play a high pressure game and force mistakes. What this invariably does it cause teams that are beaten by the boks to feel like they played really badly, to look back to the drawing board, to feel like they let themselves down... I thought Aus played particularly well against NZ in Australia. They played well, but were still outplayed by NZ, whereas the Boks dont allow you to play well, they pressure you into mistakes and score off that. So often, and it has irritated me heavily, when the boks win in europe, the opposition (wales, england, ireland, and even scotland) have all said after the game that they should have won, if it wasnt for this call, that bounce, etc etc etc... Fact is, the Boks have done this for so many years, winning from behind, winning narrowly, doing just enough to get ahead on the scoreboard. What HM has added, is hunger for the kill. I dont recall the Boks hammering many teams by large scores, not like the kiwis or even aussies have done. We just lacked that killer instinct and were never really able to get up against opposition we expect to beat. So i think its rather premature of Aussies to bash the wallabies now, they came up against the Lions who are a very strong team, then twice against the world champions, and now against a much improved SA... Had McKenzie started his tenure on the EOYT and taken 5/5 in europe - he would have been called the saviour. He has come in at a really bad time, and inherited a team filled with players lacking passion. I commented elsewhere that post match interviews i felt annoyed for the wallabies supporters seeing genia slouch over in his chair, with his elbows on the table. He just seems to have the wrong attitude, the wallabies seem to be more concerned with six packs, tattoos and social media than rugby. I think the Boks can beat the Kiwi pack, and they would have to if they are going to have any chance, as seen with Quades game, even Mr. Carter would have a tough game behind a pack thats taking a beating. NZs backline is simply the best out there, we can ill afford to let them into the match. All Blacks will be under more pressure than the Boks being a home game, if they lose its pretty much RC to the boks who would then only need a win against Aus in SA thanks to their bonus point in brisbane. NZs defense is by far stronger than Aus though, so it could come down to the boot of Steyn for the Boks to pull off a piece of History. NZ have not been challenged like what is coming for them this weekend, this is going to be a royal rumble...
Did you not watch the game? If not, go look at the breakdowns,