Australia 23 South Africa 17
Australia played with energy, substance and style to defeat South Africa 23-17 in Brisbane, a performance which snapped a six-Test losing streak, left the Mandela Plate in the ARU’s trophy cabinet and went some way to easing pressure on Michael Cheika’s beleaguered team.
With a defensive tenet that gave the Springboks little space, and attack which was equal parts guile, variety and strong running lines – and all largely orchestrated by a resurgent Quade Cooper – the Wallabies were deserved winners.
There was no better example of Cooper’s brilliance than a behind-the-back flick pass that set Samu Kerevi free in the 35th minute. The five-eighth enjoyed one of his best Test matches and appeared settled, poised and confident in the gold No10.
Brisbane endured two hours of thunderstorms prior to kick-off and early conditions were described as “greasy”. Yet Suncorp Stadium is Australia’s premier rectangular stadium and the Queensland capital knows a downpour. And for the most part the Wallabies played like it was a hot track at Eagle Farm.
The Wallabies dominated the Springboks in possession, territory, penalty count and what is euphemistically described as “playing rugby”. The home side did the vast majority of the attacking while the visitors, for the most part, sweated on mistakes, kicked high and counter-attacked.
Early on it worked. South Africa opened the scoring after a Wallabies turn over begat a fine piece of play which saw Eben Etzebeth – the 24-year-old in his 50th Test, the youngest Springbok to achieve the mark – rip off a goose-step and storm down the right flank.
There followed an interchange of passing before Will Genia made a try-saver on flanker Teboho Mohoje. The ball swung to the middle then back to the right before halfback Faf de Klerk threw a short ball for No8 Warren Whiteley to crash over. It was fine rugby from giant, free-running Boks. Elton Jantjies converted.
The Wallabies attacked, Cooper prominent with hand and foot. Winger Reece Hodge, in his first run-on Test, ran with alacrity across the field. Pressure begat a scrum penalty and Bernard Foley landed a tidy goal, eight metres from touch. Seven points to three, 10 minutes in.
The Wallabies ran moves. From lineout and scrum, intricate manoeuvres. The teams traded kicks. The raking boot of Boks fullback Johan Goosen was a factor. Yet Israel Folau was imperious in the air and there was nothing to be gained bombing the man. The Springboks seemed determined to test the theory.
South Africa scored their second try after Cooper ran free down the left, the ball swung to the middle where Foley, with a charging herd of Wallabies out wide, threw a pass that was plucked from the air by Boks captain Adriaan Strauss. Strauss found the fleet-footed Jantjies who grubbered smartly for the charging Goosen who won the race from team-mate Francois Hougaard and leapt under the posts. Opportunistic, brilliant counter-attack. Fine try.
But the Wallabies came again. Cooper had declared pre-match that the Wallabies won’t ever promise they’ll win. But they do try to do everything they can to achieve it. If nothing else, these Wallabies will have a crack. They are to be admired for it.
South Africa conceded penalties, made big tackles. Referee Nigel Owens warned Strauss he was “prepared to give more than penalties” if there were continued infringements. He had a yellow card in his pocket and he was not afraid to use it. Australia kicked for the line, drew applause form the 30,327 crowd. Won the lineout – more cheers! – then turned over the ball when South Africa clung onto ruck ball.
But territory, momentum and pressure told. Genia floated a pass to an unlikely wing man – 204 centimetre lock Adam Coleman, who plunged over for his first Test try. Foley landed a brilliant conversion from the paint. Half an hour gone, Boks by four.
Owens’ threat was tested and found to be empty when South Africa conceded a penalty. Foley’s goal got his team within a point. From the kick-off the Wallabies spun it wide to Folau, fine attacking rugby. South Africa were offside. Owens’ yellow card remain holstered. Folau’s shoulder dropped Goosen. And the card stayed there still.
Jantjies missed the penalty goal and at half-time Australia – who’d enjoyed dominant numbers in territory, possession, penalty count and “playing rugby” – trailed South Africa, who sweated on mistakes that had, invariably, come.
Yet South Africa made their own mistakes early in the second half when they continued to kick high ball to Folau. The fullback owned the air and the Wallabies took possession and ran with it, a very fine exchange of passing resulting in another ruck penalty. And this time Owens’ yellow card saw the bright lights of Brisbane town, and off went Etzebeth for 10. Foley kicked the goal and the Wallabies led for the first time. They would never be headed.
In the 61st minute Foley crashed over after the sustained pressure of 18 phases. The No12 – who apart from his intercept pass was tidy in attack and played, in Kiwi parlance, like “a second-five-eighth” – converted.
Australia by nine. There followed much spirited attack and defence from both teams. South Africa finally won some possession and threw the ball around. Neither team’s fans could quibble with the effort, though South Africa’s might wonder if bombing Folau and kicking long and not “playing rugby” until time’s nearly up was their best bet. For ultimately the team that played the most rugby won. And rugby was the winner.
(Guardian service)
