9 October 2011
Report by David van der Merwe
Peter de Villiers' Springbok side took on Australia in a do or die game for the coach. Australia came in to this game confident that they could beat the Springboks as they have done so already twice this year. The Springboks though had the confidence that their experience would carry them through.
South Africa looked good from the word go putting Australia under pressure on the attack. It was James Horwill however that scored the first try after 12 minutes. It was against the run of play but put is team in front. James O'Connor missed the conversion but slotted a penalty 5 minutes later to take the lead to 8-0. The Springboks never relented and wave after wave of attack was absorbed by the Wallabies. The Springboks came to within cm's of scoring but the Wallabies turned the ball over. The referee missed a vital one there as it was hands in the ruck and should have been a penalty and probably a card for a professional foul. Morne Steyn missed a difficult penalty from halfway against the wind. It was only in the 39 minute that Steyn got a penalty converted to make it 8-3 at the break.
The Springboks came out in the second half looking even better on attack. Forward passes ruled by the referee put pay to two tries. The first one to Patrick Lambie from Jean de Villiers was forward, but the second one is still out for discussion. Morne Steyn did kick another penalty and added a drop goal to make it 9-8 to the Springboks with 15 minutes to go. Patrick Lambie's drop attempt from just inside the Wallabies half of the field went just wide. In the 72nd minute Australia received a rare penalty inside Springbok territory and James O'Connor converted it. 11-9 to the Wallabies. The Springboks attacked till the end but the Australian defence held fast. The final score 11-9 Australia.
Australia might not have been the best team on the field, but they used their chances when they got them. The Springboks will look at the game and wonder when the rules at the breakdown changed and why they weren't informed. The referee sure didn't have a clue as to what was happening in the rucks.
Scorers:
South Africa - Penalties: Morne Steyn (2). Drop goal: Steyn.
Australia - Try: James Horwill. Penalties: James O` Connor (2).
South Africa looked good from the word go putting Australia under pressure on the attack. It was James Horwill however that scored the first try after 12 minutes. It was against the run of play but put is team in front. James O'Connor missed the conversion but slotted a penalty 5 minutes later to take the lead to 8-0. The Springboks never relented and wave after wave of attack was absorbed by the Wallabies. The Springboks came to within cm's of scoring but the Wallabies turned the ball over. The referee missed a vital one there as it was hands in the ruck and should have been a penalty and probably a card for a professional foul. Morne Steyn missed a difficult penalty from halfway against the wind. It was only in the 39 minute that Steyn got a penalty converted to make it 8-3 at the break.
The Springboks came out in the second half looking even better on attack. Forward passes ruled by the referee put pay to two tries. The first one to Patrick Lambie from Jean de Villiers was forward, but the second one is still out for discussion. Morne Steyn did kick another penalty and added a drop goal to make it 9-8 to the Springboks with 15 minutes to go. Patrick Lambie's drop attempt from just inside the Wallabies half of the field went just wide. In the 72nd minute Australia received a rare penalty inside Springbok territory and James O'Connor converted it. 11-9 to the Wallabies. The Springboks attacked till the end but the Australian defence held fast. The final score 11-9 Australia.
Australia might not have been the best team on the field, but they used their chances when they got them. The Springboks will look at the game and wonder when the rules at the breakdown changed and why they weren't informed. The referee sure didn't have a clue as to what was happening in the rucks.
Scorers:
South Africa - Penalties: Morne Steyn (2). Drop goal: Steyn.
Australia - Try: James Horwill. Penalties: James O` Connor (2).
