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, 11:56 am
@ET.(ET.)-999:
Who do you reckon will be in the final and who do you think will take it?
I am sure it will be the winner of the NZ/Aus game but I am not sure who that will be. Probably NZ by a whisker.
9 Oct 2011, 11:58 am
Much as I wanted the Boks to win today, I guess in the bigger scheme of things it is prolly better for us
When successful, your flaws fade, whereas defeat make you reflect and look for improvements
Our backline play – as some have pointed out – need to be overhauled completely, we need to be more creative and better finishers
Patrick Lambie can be the axis around which these efforts should revolve; as much I respect and admire Morne’s consistency with the boot, he lacks creativity
We also then need to identify a new 12 who can take us to the next level; if that can be achieved we will become more lethal in attack
It did not go our way, I have embraced that but it will not prevent me from raising the concerns
9 Oct 2011, 12:00 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-1001:
Part of the answer is in post 1000 and the ABs are my winners( since 2008 already.
The Aussies played their final today and have peaked too often this season already(S15, TNs).
9 Oct 2011, 12:03 pm
The youngest player was the Bok star and motivator today and then too Burger, much as I dislike writing it.
9 Oct 2011, 12:09 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-975:
Mark Reason has written that sort of shock jock stuff many times. he gets paid to do it.
Can you come up with an expert opinion?
9 Oct 2011, 12:09 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-990: Hi Rob, ja saw on other thread, i feel bad for him, i really dont think he was at fault today. I would make a terrible business person, wouldnt be able to fire a person, would much rather he left with a bit of dignity by rather going out in the semis than now in the quarters.
9 Oct 2011, 12:13 pm
@Sheriff(Lawman)-1002:
Actually, I thought Morne had quite a good game today, as did most of the Springboks.
Just sometimes, things don’t go as they should.
9 Oct 2011, 12:13 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-991:
That was nothing about New Zealand rugby … it is all about referees
I take it that you see that your original statement was bollocks and have changed subject
9 Oct 2011, 12:16 pm
A copy and paste from the Telegraph, …….. interesting
Rugby World Cup 2011: Bryce Lawrence reduced breakdown to a farce in Australia’s win over South Africa
Paddy O’Brien, the IRB’s head of refs, told me before the start of the tournament that no World Cup had ever been decided by the man in the middle.
The great escape: Australia celebrate their narrow win over South Africa Photo: AFP
By Mark Reason, in Wellington
9:07AM BST 09 Oct 2011
29 Comments
It is a highly debatable claim and certainly the refs went out of their way to try to get Australia over the line in 2003. But you would not rule out this Rugby World Cup being decided on a shonky decision.
Mr Bryce Lawrence, the son of an official, is rated rather highly by those in charge of the whistle blowers. But a lot of players and fans have absolutely no idea why. He made a complete hash of today’s game between Australia and South Africa and the Springboks will be furious.
They identified the breakdown as a crucial area of the match beforehand, but they did expect there to be some sort of reffing.
The South Africans thought that the tackler would have to release the ball carrier. They thought that the offside line would be respected. They thought that men would have to stay on the feet. Instead it was a complete shambles.
The trouble is that Lawrence has form at this sort of thing. He was given the final of Super Rugby for apparently being the best ref in the tournament.
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Some of us thought that the South African refs were in an altogether different class. They would also have had the advantage of being neutral as the final was between an Aussie and a Kiwi side. But no, Mr Lawrence got the nod.
And despite all the fantastic players on the pitch, the match became a farce because Lawrence had absolutely no control over the breakdown. Players were diving in on all sides. It became a free-for-all.
What could have been a great game of rugby turned into a mess, because Lawrence did not rule the breakdown.
So should we be surprised at today’s snore. More often than not dull matches are greatly contributed to by the refs inability to be accurate at the contact area. Yes, South Africa are nothing like as efficient there without the great Juan Smith to clean out.
But unless the IRB’s refs get a grip we are going to have some really dull semi-finals. Hopefully the guys who can really get a grip at the breakdown – the South Africans and the Northern Hemisphere refs – will be put in charge of the final four matches.
If we let a Kiwi near the games, then it will be more mayhem. South Africa will feel cheated. And they have every right to complain.
The Aussies have already made one New Zealand ref – Steve Walsh – one of their own. Lawrence could well be next in line for honorary citizenship
9 Oct 2011, 12:17 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-854:
I thought Habana was quite good.
The 8, 9, 10 combination have been our weak link for 18 months now.
I hope the next coach kick Spies to the curb. Thankfully FdP will take himself out of contention.
Morne is a bit of a conundrum. He is such a prolific kicker at poles but his inability to get his back line going is a huge back draw.
Time to throw in Jantjies/Lambie/Ebersohn in at the deep end and bring him through like the Wallabies did with Cooper.
9 Oct 2011, 12:22 pm
@cane(cane)-1007:
No the Boks were clearly the better side on the park.
I felt inspired by the way they built progressively and I guess it was the small things that just did not go our way. I would have loved it if Bryce did not influence the outcome.
I have not seen the Boks dominate the Aussies, except in that 53-8 game of course, in the recent past. Boks had their game where it could have gone either way – against Wales.
So, it is not ideal to lose like that.
I was simply hoping for a fair contest so you can see the best teams contest the final.
9 Oct 2011, 12:23 pm
Funny thing was South Africa played all the rugby, looked the better side but lost. Australia did what SA have done to other teams for years, they strangled them and won the kicking Duel.
Hard luck boys, new team, new coach cant be a bad thing.
Surely youd rather we win it a 2nd time than Ozie win it a third???
9 Oct 2011, 12:25 pm
here is how some neutrals saw this shambles of an officiating cockup
In many ways South Africa only had themselves to blame, turning the ball over on 12 occasions, but referee Bryce Lawrence was also unsually lenient in his adjudicating of what consitutes “rolling away” from the tackle and handling in the ruck, with Wallabies flanker David Pocock benefitting hugely.
Pocock ultimately won the man of the match award, and he was superb, but on another night he might have been whistled into oblivion.
08.09: David Pocock was named as the official man of the match. He also topped the tackling stats with 26.
08.05: Wallaby skipper James Horwill put in a superb shift today. And doesn’t he know it:
It was a huge effort from the boys, they really put us under pressure. We knew we had to stick in and defence wins big games.
08.03: Have we seen the last of John Smit? Well, no, because he’s joining Saracens. But maybe it’s the last time we’ve seen him in a Boks shirt. Here’s what he had to say after that truly memorable match:
It’s a sad way to end. It was a ding dong battle between two good teams. We did enough to win this game, we just weren’t accurate enough.
07.53: Former South African captain Francois Pienaar has paid tribute to the Australian defence but said he did not believe that Lawrence should have awarded that crucial penalty to the Wallabies:
Defence will win you World Cups. Australia are used to doing all the running but today they did all the tackling. The penalty to me was a nothing penalty. It was a very dubious penalty. There’s nothing there. Victor Matfield leaves him alone. That is a very crucial decision.
07.48: I’m no clairvoyant but I think that Bryce Lawrence may get a bit of a battering after this game. Oh, there it is. Here’s former England lock Ben Kay:
South Africa need a substitution. Lawrence for Poite. How did Poite not get this game. High tackle missed turnover the other way!
9 Oct 2011, 12:26 pm
my next bok backline
09 Hougaard
10 Goosen
11 JPP
12 Steyn
13 JF
14 Habana/ Mvovo
15 Lambie
reserves: Vermaak, Mvovo/Habana, JDJ
9 Oct 2011, 12:28 pm
I reckon on today’s performances Aussie are far more hardened and capable to take this thing away from NZ next weekend.. NZ have met nobody except a half mast France in the pools..
So if it isn’t another case of ref’s favorites going through next week then Aussie meets Wales in the final and Wales take Bill
9 Oct 2011, 12:28 pm
@NZMaori(NZMaori)-1012:
thanks but yes most south africans would rather Kiwi wins it then the Aussies
9 Oct 2011, 12:29 pm
Bryce Lawrence was brilliant today. A real stalwart of the game. He was by far Australia’s best player. I am still in shock…cannot believe what happened here…feel like I’m walking away from a Heavyweight boxing fight…you know the feeling…watchin one guy pulverise the other, just doesn’t knock him out and the decision goes the way of the favourite…the money guy…in this case the Wallabies. How can the players be proud of that “win”? I feel dirty…like I’ve been molested….so having said that what a crappy way to see the end of the career of so many great SA Champions!!!! All because of a referee, petrified that by allowing the Bokke to win, he would see the elimination of his country in the ensuing Semi.
Tonight the IRB made Rugby Union ‘The Game played in Las Vegas’.
9 Oct 2011, 12:30 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-1015: i would not be surprised
Carter is showing to be a huge loss to them
Today they got lucky against the Argies,
9 Oct 2011, 12:37 pm
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-1014:
Steenkamp
Bismark
Oosthuizen
Alberts
Bekker
Brussow
Coetsee
Louw / Burger
Hougaard
Goosen
JPP
Steyn
Fourie
Aplon
Lambie
Beast, Chili, Elstadt, Deysel, Duvenhage, De Jongh, Van Aswegen / Jantjies
9 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
Am i the only person angry with Darnie and Victor for that line out penalty where we lost the lead ???? i mean that stupidity cost us the game in the end.
9 Oct 2011, 12:45 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-1020:
Bryce would have manufactured another penalty within striking distance, so it’s immaterial
9 Oct 2011, 12:50 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-1021: why are you being so nasty to the kiwis today ?
9 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
Thought you guys deserved to win..but blaming Bryce is a joke….you had your luck against Wales so evens out
AB’s will surely have some advantage in only having made 41 tackles to Australia’s 120..they will be more tired..I hope.
And we have found a replacement for Carter in Cruden…Slade was bad:(
If Cruden doesn’t start next week Henry should be shot.
9 Oct 2011, 12:52 pm
Sheriff…you’re either in denial…or practicing your stand up routine…
9 Oct 2011, 12:54 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-1022: Cause SA lost…must be gut-wrenching..having choked instead of us Kiwis.
9 Oct 2011, 12:54 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-1011:
“So, it is not ideal to lose like that.
I was simply hoping for a fair contest so you can see the best teams contest the final.”
As we were in 2007, but that didnt happen so carry on Sheriff
9 Oct 2011, 12:55 pm
@Boertjie(Boertjie)-1017: Your in denial your team choked..get over it:)
9 Oct 2011, 12:56 pm
playing the ref is the oldest trick in the book, use it or lose it
9 Oct 2011, 12:56 pm
@gregars(gregars)-1024:
The Sheriff is about to hand the badge in.
Hes not fit to be the lawman no more.
9 Oct 2011, 12:56 pm
@toby(toby)-1023: Enlighten us. Luck against Wales? Surely you’re not talking about a “missed” penalty kick, 15 minutes into that game?
9 Oct 2011, 12:57 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-1020:
I’m with you, tree – problem in SA Rugby has always been too much brawn and not enough brains.
I also felt PDiv messed up by not bringing Aplon on for the last 10 minutes. FDP was sooooo slow. Hougard to 9, Aplon to wing – with all the possession and territory, we were crying out for a gamebreaker.
Not to be.
9 Oct 2011, 13:01 pm
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-1014: From your lips to whoever is the new coach’s ears. Looking forward to new beginnings, and with all that young talent it could be very exciting.
That said, no shame in today’s loss. Proud of the team.
9 Oct 2011, 13:01 pm
@vindicated(vindicated)-1028: That’s just it. Old Bryce wasn’t his usual self.
9 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
@toby(toby)-1025: we have our poepal South Africans and kiwis have there poepals of which you seem to be one, we did not choke we have won the TWICE.
Fact is we had a ref that is something i occasionally step on and go oh sh*t and that is being literal and a Assie side that played very well today. that is not classified as a choke, our cricket team now thats a nother story.
9 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
@Boertjie(Boertjie)-1017: Shame on you! regardless of interpretation, however obvious, and you know how subjective this game can be, why don’t you put out your hand, say well done and move on – the result is the result, and players need to interpret the ref, so let’s not blame. My wife and I are travelling to Eden Park on Friday from Singapore but unluckily will not see the Boks play. Sadly, may the winning team win!!!
9 Oct 2011, 13:05 pm
@Hooker22(Hooker22)-1031: Jeez am glad, thought i was the only one and just couldnt understand it why no one else thought they cost us those points that beat us in the end.
9 Oct 2011, 13:07 pm
The commercial aspects of a NZ v Aus semi were too appealing for the RWC committee! Of course next week the Wallabies will play the breakdown as they did today and get blown off the park. Australia were allowed to camp in offsides positions at the breakdown and the breakdowns themselves were simply not policed. There is a lot of criticism of the Bok backline but in fairness when your opponents are a yard offsides and the ref is oblivious to it nobody would look flash.
Next week Pocock will get a yellow for repeated infringements and he will quite rightly ask “what’s changed since last week”
What will have changed is the IRB want their dream all black final.
9 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-1013:
The penalty was a clear penalty. No credibility in an article calling it dubious.
9 Oct 2011, 13:15 pm
@JEZ(DEE DAH)-1037:
Last week there was a huge amount of abuse on here from South Africans against Samoans for saying the same thing.
9 Oct 2011, 13:16 pm
@chch(chch)-1038: Clear as mud, yeah right your ref is a disgrace
9 Oct 2011, 13:17 pm
The best thing that can happen to rugby is that the ABs win this thing so we ab supporters can get over it. I also think that generally there are too.many stars and too many opinions flying around gods gift to rug
by which is the ABS Aussies and Boks. I was so thrilled when the other gods gifts to rugby got put out. England. Too much talk from all of these teams and their supporters.
9 Oct 2011, 13:20 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-1034: Sorry that was too hard to understand Treehugger..are you drunk from the loss?
9 Oct 2011, 13:22 pm
@JEZ(DEE DAH)-1037: @JEZ(DEE DAH)-1037: Don’t be an idiot. do you think your conspiracy theory is so much more great than those paid a truck load of money to think exactly what you just said. Alal France’s media machine 0 who would have predicted that!
I hope you are right. but it just about interpretation at the ruck which is the most subjective! Nothing fantastic there. Look at the history!!!!
9 Oct 2011, 13:23 pm
Two iffy games in a row by Cooper. what are the odds that he will be at his brilliant bestt and beat the AB’s all on his own self next weekend?
9 Oct 2011, 13:24 pm
Wales just pitched up and did their talking on the field.
9 Oct 2011, 13:24 pm
South Africans are so dependent on having the unfair advantage… a moment without it is seen as unfair for the spoilt brats. The ref clearly blew in their favour at the breakdowns by blatantly ignoring the boks holding on. The Wallabies had to holdback to prevent soft penalties hence the dominance of the Boks.
Nazi laden Boks played the game of their lives and still lost… fking cool!!!!
A good start to my week
9 Oct 2011, 13:24 pm
@JL1(JL1)-1040: You lose you whinge..then blame ref…truth is Bok’s had most of possession but failed to add more points…blaming ref is a joke..he didn’t do both teams any favors….Morne didn’t save you this time…
9 Oct 2011, 13:26 pm
Hey CHCH
Agreed quite right point taken. Not carrying on about it. We got beat. It sucks.
I do stand by my statement though that next week the interpretation will be different and Pocock will be the villain of the piece. All we want is consistency and we dont seem to be getting it. Bryce Lawrence ruined the super 15 final too he is a poor ref. If we had Alain Rolland today the result would have been different. Unfortunately in todays rugby asking who the ref is, is as relevant as asking about weather and pitch conditions. Individual refs have their idiosynchrasies and when I heard Bryce was the ref I expected a dour game.
9 Oct 2011, 13:28 pm
Oh yes now you know what it feels like to choke, I mean get ripped off by a ref. Think forward pass against France
9 Oct 2011, 13:30 pm
@JEZ(DEE DAH)-1048: shut-up and stop complaining be a good sport. save it for your mother’s teet
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