Brave Wallabies shut out Boks
9 Oct 2011
JON CARDINELLI watched the Wallabies hang on for what could be the unlikeliest yet most significant victory at this 2011 World Cup.
Did the better team win? It’s a question the Springboks will be asking themselves from now and until the next global tournament in 2015.
South Africa controlled the game for large periods but were repeatedly undone by the Wallabies’ heroic defence. David Pocock was talked about as a danger man in the build up, and after a breakdown performance highlighted by some momentum stalling and often try-saving turnovers, he was undoubtedly the game’s MVP.
Much will be said about referee Bryce Lawrence’s performance with the whistle. Lawrence adopted an ‘anything goes’ policy at the rucks, but it was the Wallabies that adapted to the official’s style early on. The Wallabies dominated the collisions in the first half, and with Heinrich Brussow crying off with a rib injury, the Boks battled to combat Pocock’s inhibiting presence at the breakdown.
The Boks enjoyed as much as 84% territory and 55% possession in the first half, and yet only garnered a three point return. Their poor ball security at ruck time led to turnovers, as did their tendency to spill the ball in contact.
They upped their game in both respects in the second stanza, and it was all the Aussie could do to hang on. The subdue and conquer style so prominent and effective in 2009 once again held sway, and the Wallabies forwards struggled to resist the Boks when they cleaned out would-be ball poachers. They also battled to deal with the high ball, which was well chased by South Africa’s belligerent backs.
Quade Cooper had a shocker. After a dropping a high ball first up, he was often caught in possession and failed to provide the expected impact with the boot. A number of Wallabies grew increasingly susceptible as the game wore on, but the Boks just lacked that killer blow.
There’s no denying that the Boks had their chances. Jean de Villiers made a scything break in the second stanza and put Pat Lambie away for a try, only to be called back for a forward pass. Fourie du Preez thought he was in for a five-pointer when some good Bok defence dislodged the ball centimetres from the Aussie line. Unfortunately, the ball was again knocked free as Du Preez reached for the line.
Every Bok surge into Wallabies territory was succeeded by a desperate display of defence. The turnover followed, and the Aussies’ inability to clear their lines with any great distance ensured the game remained in the Wallabies’ half. The Boks’ lineout dominance also contributed to their territorial ascendancy, but in the end they will lament their inconsistent showing at the breakdown, as well as their poor finishing when it was on out wide.
After a frustrating period on attack, Morne Steyn finally put the Boks ahead 9-8 with a well-taken drop-goal. With 20 minutes to play, the momentum was with the Boks and if they continued to play in Wallabies territory and control possession, they would advance to the semi-finals.
But the introduction of Berrick Barnes had the desired effect for the Wallabies, and after a series of tactical kicking misfires by his team-mates, he delivered a rolling kick deep into the Boks’ 22. The Wallabies remained in the Boks’ half and eventually won a penalty, which James O’Connor held his nerve to convert.
It was a massive moment for the youngster, who had missed a relatively easy attempt in the first half. If he had missed, the chances were the Boks would regain possession, resume control and win the game. If he slotted it, it would set up a dramatic eight minutes where the Wallabies would need to continue to repel the rampant Bok forwards.
Through the Herculean efforts of Bismarck du Plessis and Schalk Burger, the Boks threw everything at the Aussies in those final minutes. They even managed to turn the Wallabies over, but unfortunately knocked it on just when they were moving back into the area of the field where Steyn would be able to kick for goal.
From there, the Wallabies closed out the game smartly. It will remain one of the great escapes for the Wallabies, but the Boks can hardly argue that they deserved to win this game. They didn’t take their opportunities, and on the day, the scoreboard will show that they were punished for that failure to convert dominance into points.
1,133 Comments
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9 Oct 2011, 09:28 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-779: Nice one Trans – good to see you coming round to Lambie.
9 Oct 2011, 09:28 am
@ET.(ET.)-794: Yes, it looks likely.
Hoping for a good Pumas performance and no injuries.
9 Oct 2011, 09:28 am
I think we should put a DVD together to show Bryce ‘s gross negligence
You cannot play against a ref guys, we did Paddy not let a neutral ref handle the game
Bryce is always pathetic, has always been and will always be
Can Argentina cause an upset? You never know …
9 Oct 2011, 09:28 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-800:
Yeah I hate sore losers mate… We lost and need to get over it.
9 Oct 2011, 09:29 am
In my opinion the biggest loss for SA was Juan Smith. Best forward in the world.
9 Oct 2011, 09:29 am
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty-763: you’ve been sprouting a lot of sh*t here the last few days…and now things don’t go your way it’s all Bryce’s fault???you are a classic!!!
9 Oct 2011, 09:30 am
And for all thise complaining and whingeing okes just one question.
What did you say after Cardiff 07?
Thank you.
9 Oct 2011, 09:30 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-779: thanks transie and i agree with you
they can all hold their heads high,
9 Oct 2011, 09:30 am
@BillMcConnell(BillMcConnell)-713: Fair play – there are some dumb comments being made like Samo wasnt pulled down which is rubbish – he was interfered with whilst in the air – we only have ourselves to blame there. Some iffy calles by the ref but we didnt take out opportunites – so congrats to Oz. Brussouw out early meant Pocock had free reign – he is a pest. Cooper was shocking – you guys need to replace him with Barnes asap.
9 Oct 2011, 09:30 am
@ET.(ET.)-794:
You. Are. Just. Wonderful.
9 Oct 2011, 09:30 am
Paddy hasn’t done NZ any favours with tonight’s ref either. He’s as bad as
Bryce, hopeless.
9 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
@ET.(ET.)-784: Bantu is a language group, as is Celtic and Slavic for example. I honestly don’t understand your issue.
9 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
@gregars(gregars)-806: bryce was shocking , but kitty is an idiot
9 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
nice Haka boys
9 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
All Blacks, All Blacks, All Blacks!!!!!!!
9 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
Go AB’s you deserve and would probably have beaten us anyway.
9 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-757:
My team won and I am delighted – especially with the way they did it. No fancy stuff, just pure guts.
You are 100% right – every test is a WC final and there are no excuses for repeated choking between world cups.
9 Oct 2011, 09:32 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-757: Yeah, definitely agree with that … thought the finishing was lacking today because we were not consistent over the last 4 years
I’m ok though, we have plenty of good young players, bigger question is whether we get a new coach and who that might be
9 Oct 2011, 09:32 am
Australia was comprehensively outplayed today – that’s a fact.
They needed the extra man (Bryce) and he understood his role
Aussies could not have won that game without Bryce, that’s for sure
You can just sense the relief in Grant Nesbitt’s voice
9 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
@Peter Mkata(Peter Mkata)-793: Watson is not international quality.
9 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
Rossouw did pull Samo down, no complaints about thaT PENALTY
yes we got cheated by Lawrence , but in saying that we must move on, it wont change the result no matter all the crying or blaming
9 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-800: you have nothing to fear from the convicts, even without Carter your team is too good for them.
9 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
was i the only one who noticed that australia’s first 8 points came due to morne not being able to tackle?
9 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
Somebody posted earlier that the ozzies made 147 tackles and the boks still lost the game and the boks could not score one try story ended.
9 Oct 2011, 09:34 am
@Nils(Nils)-802:
Pumas will play it hard annd give their all.
game on.
9 Oct 2011, 09:34 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-816:
Good comment. We are out of the competition – let’s be sportsman and congratulate the winners. The defended like champions and won.
Well done Ozzies
9 Oct 2011, 09:34 am
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-777: you are an absolute ******** kobus. Go be a poor loser somewhere else – you make the rest of us look like idiots.
Ref was appaling, as always, and it went both ways. I couldn’t belive some of the stuff we got away with and vice versa.
I think the ABs will win the cup but im now backing the Wallabies – they showed a lot of guts tonight, made 3 times as many tackles and had no field position.
9 Oct 2011, 09:34 am
Time to go for a new coach without outdated ideas who can take this team forward away from the bash the ball up, kick and chase approach.
9 Oct 2011, 09:35 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-731: No idea how we did it this time. Also, the best rugby blog in the world – that’s why you get all “us” coming in.
9 Oct 2011, 09:35 am
@Inevitable(Inevitable)-817: well done to your team, enjoy the win.
I would say NZ should be too good for your boys next week. Gut feel.
9 Oct 2011, 09:35 am
no doubt we also missed steyn at 12 and his big bootthat penalty morne missed i have no doubt frans would have had a better chance of slotting as it was into the wind
frans also does not kick the ball as high as morne
9 Oct 2011, 09:35 am
One positive: how good was Lambie! So composed and great decision making. Can’t fault him. Awesome!
9 Oct 2011, 09:35 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-813: Bryce WAS shocking…for both sides…
and yes..i agree about *****…i mean kitty…
9 Oct 2011, 09:36 am
Kiwis are 100% cheats
I thought the enormity of the occasion will make you change your ways but no
9 Oct 2011, 09:36 am
@diddles(diddles)-823:
Yes they targeted 10 and ran with him for about 20 metres! The kick from Fourie du Preez also caused a lot of damage. Spies was utter useless too.
9 Oct 2011, 09:37 am
Cooper is a liability, if Deans replaces him with O’Conner or Barnes I’d almost pick them to win the cup.
How the Aussies won was a miracle. No blaming the ref, they earned that win – they had just as many shocking calls against them as we did.
Deans is still a poor coach.
9 Oct 2011, 09:37 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-831:
De Villiers did well. I think we missed him at 15 and would have made a difference. Lambie was not bad though.
9 Oct 2011, 09:37 am
My feelings with the Boks in their change room right now… must be gutted…!!
Heads high, chins up guys.
You did us proud and gave it your all… No shame at losing…. Well done to John Smit… played well and led well. Was gracious in defeat too…
Well done Divvy… Also very gracious in defeat…
Safe trip home…
See you in the Currie Cup…!!
9 Oct 2011, 09:38 am
well done aussie , aint ur fault the ref allowed you to get away with murder , as a player you play as the ref allows you to play
next weeks semi should be a humdinger, also AB’s without carter against aussie will be a true test
9 Oct 2011, 09:38 am
I agree with shampoo that FdP was our weak point as far as penetration is concerned. Our backline play has always been based on him directing it. With his loss of form there’s nobody who seems prepared to take control and a poor FdP is actually more destructive than no FdP.
9 Oct 2011, 09:39 am
@BillMcConnell(BillMcConnell)-829: Cheers Bill.
Funny, I am still incredulous how we lost that game, but actually quite at peace with it. I think because our players gave it everything. There was no shame in that defeat.
I read a great comment earlier – “the Boks were outBoksed.” Usually we play with NO ball and still squeak home despite that. Today, we had all the ball and still conspired to lose. I put it down to being in virgin territory!
9 Oct 2011, 09:39 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-837: dont agree bill
frans should play 12 and he brings the backline into play more, his defense is also of such that it takes some pressure off morne
9 Oct 2011, 09:39 am
FdP is the problem in the back line not De Villiers
Its a new era and the JW class of single dimensionless functionality is now gone
New fresh ideas and fresh players is what is required to take the Bok brand forward..
9 Oct 2011, 09:40 am
lol talk about CC?? sharks now have many players back
watch out lions, now its back to equal fields
9 Oct 2011, 09:40 am
@ufo(ufo)-838: It was a really gutsy performance from both sides – not much polish but really gutsy.
Was it just me or was anyone else amazed Schalk got away with the head attack on Pocock? I’ve seen much less penalised and carded.
Anyway – Schalk was awesome aside from that. And Smit had a great game also. Jannie was rubbish
9 Oct 2011, 09:40 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-834: Should we say Saffas are 100% sissies thanks to you and some other sore whingeing losers?
9 Oct 2011, 09:41 am
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-843: i’ll agree on Fdup he did not have a great match , he has also gotten very slow
9 Oct 2011, 09:41 am
Kiwis obviously feel they were cheated out of the prev WC and now have crafted very grand plans to ensure that Boks wont win it
They fear the Boks the most, that’s for sure
Yes it’s over and official but the truth does not evaporate – they’re cheating their way through this tournament
Its the QF and NZ have not been tested; their other big fear France they played in the group so if anything goes wrong you can bounce back
Surely there must have been a neutral ref
Why do they always have cheat us? Do they not respect the game of rugby union?
9 Oct 2011, 09:42 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-842:
That is what makes debate so interesting. He played against mediocre opposition at 12 and did OK. He didn’t play 12 against any of the big boys in the World Cup. Many look good against weaker opposition.
9 Oct 2011, 09:42 am
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-843: I agree with this skop. JDV was actually quite good today, and it was his break which led to Lambie’s “try”.
FDP was most visible weak link today. He’s a season past it.
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