It was poetic justice when Springbok goal-kicker Elton Jantjies missed his only attempt with three minutes to go at Bloemfontein last night.
That cost the Boks a win they didn’t deserve to end up a 27-all draw with the hard-working Wallabies.
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Moments earlier the Boks were on the attack when a blatant forward pass was missed by the Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe, and his two touchies Jerome Garces, and Shuhei Kubo.
It was the second blatant forward pass when Boks centre Jan Serfontein scored earlier in the second half that gave the home side the lead.
World Rugby officials will no doubt dismiss the two major mistakes as human error, when in fact it’s bordering on total incompetence.
To give Wallaby coach Michael Cheika his due credit, he didn’t make a song and dance about the two match-deciding mistakes.
He just smiled.
There was a lot to like about the Wallabies’ gutsy 80-minute effort at altitude.
To those who haven’t been in the rarified air, let me tell you it’s damn hard to breathe, your lungs are screaming for mercy, and you become very light-headed.
The Wallabies were really hurting, yet they stuck to their game plan, and kept running the ball.
Where they found the energy and the ability to breathe says volumes for their courage, and they were the only side to deserve victory.
They led 13-10 at the break despite only 34 per cent possession, and 36 per cent territory.
Then came the Serfontein try that wasn’t, but each time the Boks hit the front, the Wallabies retaliated to regain the lead.
It was very different from the last time the two teams met in Perth three weeks ago when the Wallabies led 20-10 with 33 minutes to go, but let themselves down to draw 23-all.
They didn’t, and they claimed a draw against the odds – and that took guts.
Kurtley Beale won another man of the match award, he’ll have to turn into an octopus to be able to wear his mounting Rolex watch awards.
Right at home in the 12 jumper now Cheika has recognised his talent, he was again brilliant, always dangerous.
He made one searching run of 60 metres from inside his quarter that cut the Bok defence to ribbons, but nobody came with him, and a try went begging.
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Why didn’t he chip?
“We’re limiting our kicking.” was his reply with a grin.
But Beale wasn’t the only standout.
Bernard Foley was just as effective, making one searching run that set up Marika Koroibete’s first international try, and a perfect 25 metre pass to Koroibete on the other side of the field gave the Fijian flyer his second five-pointer on his debut in the starting line-up.
For the icing on the cake, Foley finished the game with his 17th successive goal. and the Wallabies fire when Foley keeps landing goals from all over the park.
Israel Folau scored his inevitable try in the first half that took this year’s international tally to 11, and a new Wallaby record.
Yet again when Beale. Foley, and Folau click, magic rugby isn’t far away.
The wonderful Wallaby backline would never be able to click if it wasn’t for halfback Will Genia’s swift and accurate service. That was again the case last night.
Up front, it was encouraging to see two new locks in Izack Rodda, and Lukhan Tui strut their powerful stuff. Both are big units with a fair bit of mongrel in them which no doubt fits snugly in Cheika’s plans for the future.
Since the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, Cheika has introduced 25 new Wallabies, with 20 of them still in the squad.
And with Rodda and Tui joining giant Adam Coleman, who keeps getting better and better with intent, along with the vastly experienced Rob Simmons, the lock spots are nicely covered.
At last the Wallabies are starting to overcome their problem areas.
The lineouts and scrums were better against a far bigger pack, and even though the Wallabies missed 27 tackles, that’s not bad when just about all they did in the first half was tackle, and a fair bit in the second as well.
But this morning was all about courage in a tough environment.
There’s no joy in a draw. but it’s better than losing a game the Wallabies deserved to win.
kels
Guest
Yeah like they were robbed in Dunedin? ppfft go away
DavSA
Guest
It will be good for world rugby ...including NZ .
Colin Fenwick
Guest
Peter, the thing I would add is that you only need to compare the ball and the passers goal line to goal line velocities. If it's larger for the ball, it's forward. Otherwise, it went backwards.
Stanley
Guest
I do feel Jantjies could improve a lot on his passing plays. The receivers always seem a bit on the back foot, and there is not enough running onto the ball, off Jantjies' passing.
Stanley
Guest
As for the first Wallaby try, it would’ve been a brilliant try, if it wasn’t for the (clear) forward pass that the referee, from his position, didn’t see. Check the replay again. That try got the Wallabies off to a great start (that they didn’t deserve), and was their first stroke of good fortune on the evening. Then there was the hair grabbing incident, that should’ve resulted in a red card, or yellow card at least. A fair decision would’ve swung the game heavily in the Bok’s favor again. The Wallaby coach’s laughable defensive comments afterwards was more prove of how terrible the incident really was. That was the second stroke of good fortune for the Wallabies on the night. Jantjies missed what was a very kickable penalty in the dying minutes of the game.The third and most decisive stroke of good fortune for the Wallabies on the night. The Wallabies we’re extremely lucky to come away with the draw on the night. The Boks should’ve won the game, but they didn’t. I agree it was a very exciting game to watch.
stagman
Guest
Dave, hence the name Drongo
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Trick of the advertising paint. https://youtu.be/ye6sQqB-Zf8?t=17m10s The advertising is printed so that it looks square to the camera. If you use the 22 as a frame of reference, you can see that the yellow print is 30 degress to the line. The pass is pretty flat but forward would be a tough call from that camera angle.
Country Boy
Guest
David - that's quite pathetic and blinkered. The ref made mistakes both ways but he didn't rob anybody of a victory. Both sides had their opportunities and failed to take them.
ADP
Guest
Respect your elders Armand. I mean David is really, really old, so he knows a few things. Like what is and what is not "fact".
Cuw
Guest
it wasnt incompetence to pick up the pass, BUT it was naive not to use the TMO. this is a problem with BOK style of reffing. he lets play go far to often and likes to use TMO as a last resort . happens all the time in Miter 10. also, not impressed with the ARs in general. if they are not picking up the forward passes, the scrum errors, the crooked lineouts , the off sides ., etc. then the new title has no logic. in addition , i am still not clear about the TMO protocols. i have seen at times the TMO get in the ear of the ref regarding foul play or errors when trys are scored. on the other hand i have also seen TMOs keeping silent when there are clear issues with the play. so how exactly does it work??
Fionn
Guest
Yeah, mate, I thought Alcock was class this year and I think it is a joke that he wasn't included in the Wallabies squad. He was so good for the Brumbies. My ideal back-row next year will be one of RHP/Higgers/Timani/Valetini/Fardy (oh how I wish!) at 6, Pocock at 7 and Naisarani at 8. Hoops can provide impact off of the bench. I don't think it will happen though.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
It might have been the sleep deprivation but I didn't see much of Hoops. Sure, the usual large number of tackles around the ruck and a good support runner for Ginea in one of the breakouts (I recognize the value of a designated decoy, even if it isn't used). But it was marred by watching him being bounced out of contact. I had your "other" Man Alcock as best 7 this year. George is always good but like Moore his time has past. Poey back next season won't help because we all know he will replace MacMahon and get injured after 2 or 3 Wallaby games, doing a ball carrying high impact role that he isn't really suited to. He should be hanging on the side of the scrum and terrorizing the breakdown while a guy like Higgers or Niasarani cut holes in the defense. Butler, Smiler, Alcock and Fards did good work in the back row this year. Isi can play 6 or 8. Is there any word on who will fill the other 2 spots? Hardwick, Stunder and RHP will all be looking for work and there are some young guys playing for the Spirit that have earned the right to be in a squad somewhere (Koteka and Havili).
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
A large portion of Wallaby tries are scored on the wings. So a winger scoring lots of tries is not particularly noteworthy, contrary to Fox Fake Media's constant drawl. Koribete, Speight and Niavalu have all clocked up wing credits but they aren't getting paid $2 Million to show up. That said, Folau's angled run from center was an awesome move and showed what he is good at. His woeful Tackle attempt(s) and backfield cover showed what he is not good at.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Blah Blah Blah, Stats Stats Stats. Hodge made hard tackles when and where they needed to be made. His Kolisi hold off was textbook. He trusted Beale to make the tackle (Which he didn't) and was ready to intercept the hand off or tackle the next player. Man of the Match Beale is the one with the case to answer, not Hodge.
Fionn
Guest
'They both could have won the match' I think that is the crux of it, BB. The referee made some questionable calls each way, but in my mind it all evened out and ended up being a very fair match. These are two evenly matched teams, and neither was able to win it at the death. Great Test match to have seen though, in my opinion.
soapit
Guest
not sure exactly what all these people are expecting to get out of kissing their sister to compare it with the let down after a draw.
soapit
Guest
theres a fair bit of room between missing half your tackles and being excellent where a fair few more international 10's likely fall
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree, to be over ruled it has to be clear and obvious which this wasn't, worse ones have been reviewed and not over turned.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Hell yeah! All those forward passes by the South Africans judging by the scribes on here the Boks should have got a yellow card 'holus bolus'' ~ can't be having the opposition throwing forward passes all day and getting away with it like that!
PeterK
Roar Guru
how can you say more reliable when even in this game where he was very good he missed 2 penalty kicks for touch, kicked out on the full, missed 3 tackles i.e 50% of them he still makes far too many simple errors