TRI-NATIONS Australia 21 South Africa 6:SATISFIED AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans praised the patience and tenacity shown by his players after their impressive 21-6 win over South Africa in Brisbane, and also prevent the Springboks from clinching the Tri-Nations competition.
The hosts crossed the line three times only to be correctly denied on each occasion by the man upstairs, before Adam Ashley-Cooper finally crossed in the 63rd minute to seal his side’s first win in five Tri-Nations appearances this season.
“They had to work hard for it, we had three (tries) disallowed, I guess, but the guys kept coming, that was the most pleasing thing,” Deans, who celebrated his 50th birthday on Friday, said.
“They didn’t drop their heads, the body language was good, they kept coming and so they got what they deserved.”
After a frustrating run of near misses against the Springboks and New Zealand this season, a cautious Deans is hopeful the morale-boosting victory is a sign of things to come for his youthful line-up.
“I think you could see the spirit lift in the second half,” he said. “They were a bit frustrated at not closing it out but then they could just feel it coming and in the end it came and I think the fillip that that will be to the group will be significant.
“We’ve got one more hit-out now and we’ll really look forward to getting to Wellington and hopefully pushing on from here.”
Springboks coach Peter De Villiers blamed his side’s inability to take their opportunities for the loss.
“I think our decision making wasn’t that good but then again they didn’t allow us to make brilliant decisions by shutting down our spaces,” he explained.
The loss leaves the world champions needing to secure at least one bonus point from their final clash against the All Blacks in Hamilton next Saturday to wrap up the Tri-Nations series.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry admits moving Mils Muliaina from fullback to centre might be a serious option for the meeting with the Springboks.
With Luke McAlister and Conrad Smith injured during last month’s victory against Australia and Richard Kahui (shoulder) and Tamati Ellison (calf) also ruled out, Henry has been left with a selection headache heading into Saturday’s showdown with the world champions.
The coach must decide whether shifting Daniel Carter to inside centre and Ma’a Nonu out to 13 or bringing Muliaina up from full-back and keeping Nonu at 12 is the best way to go.
South Africa’s Brisbane defeat means the series remains alive with the world champions needing a point from the game at Waikato Stadium to stand a chance of returning home with their first Tri-Nations trophy since 2004.
If they win the trophy is theirs. If they only claim a bonus point from Saturday’s match, New Zealand must win it with a bonus point and repeat that feat the following weekend against the Wallabies in Wellington to force the series to be decided on points differential.
The Springboks sit well clear at the top of the table on 17 points ahead of the Kiwis on eight, with the Wallabies a further point back with one match remaining against New Zealand in Wellington.
Teenage fullback James O’Connor also scored a late second-half try to seal the win for the Wallabies.
Outhalf Matt Giteau chipped in with two penalties, a conversion and a drop goal, while South Africas points all came from the boot of outhalf Morne Steyn, who landed a drop goal and a penalty in the first half.
AUSTRALIA:J O'Connor; LTurner, A Ashley-Cooper, B Barnes, D Mitchell; M Giteau, W Genia; B Robinson, T Polota-Nau, B Alexander, J Horwill, M Chisholm, R Elsom, D Pocock, G Smith (capt). Replacements:P Hynes for Turner (31 mins), S Moore for Polota-Nau (33 mins), Q Cooper for Barnes, P Cowan for Alexander (both 75 mins)
SOUTH AFRICA:R Pienaar; O Ndungane, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana; M Steyn, F du Preez; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J Smit (capt), B Botha, V Matfield, H Brüssow, J Smith, P Spies. Replacements:A Jacobs for Habana (37 mins), D Rossouw for Botha, PS Burger for Spies (both 58 mins), F Steyn for Pienaar (68 mins)
Referee:W Barnes (England)
