The world champion Wallabies had to pull out all stops to fend off a gutsy second-half rally and deny South Africa 38-27 in their Tri-Nations rugby Test at the Gabba on Saturday.
The Australians, who lost their opening match of the series 12-6 to New Zealand a fortnight ago, appeared to be in control of the match with a 27-10 halftime lead.
But the Springboks rallied bravely scoring three second-half tries to pull within six points 33-27 with six minutes left of regulation time.
The Wallabies only clinched a bonus point when fullback Chris Latham scored his second try seconds before fulltime to deny South Africa two bonus points for scoring four tries and getting within seven points of Australia.
The South Africans, who lost to the All Blacks 41-20 in Wellington last Saturday, were moral victors with their exciting backs fully stretching the Australian defence in a breathless second half of counter-attacks.
The win kept the Wallabies within reach of the All Blacks who they take on in Sydney next Saturday in the return Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup Test.
The South Africans have a fortnight off before they shape up to New Zealand in Durban.
The Wallabies troubled the Springboks with their variation in attack to score three tries and have one other disallowed inside the first half-hour.
Winger Ben Tune, tainted by a drug scandal earlier in the week, scored on Australia’s opening possession in the game.
Tune, who will face an Australian Rugby Union tribunal in the next two weeks over his use of the banned drug probenecid, could be suspended for up to two years. Tune took a pass from Australian captain George Gregan in the third minute and evaded
three tacklers over 12 metres to score.
The 43-test veteran flung the ball high into the air following his try before a near-capacity 37 258 spectators at the Gabba, where Australia’s last appearance saw them lose 29-13 in the opening test of the British and Irish Lions tour last season.
Tune was given the drug to counteract a knee infection without his medical officials knowing it was banned by the International Rugby Board. He played two games for Queensland before sitting
out four more while team officials waited for the drug to clear his system.
The real reason for his withdrawal from the four matches was kept secret by the Queensland Rugby Union and the ARU. Probenecid is banned by the IRB because it is often used to mask steroid use.
Stirling Mortlock, who plays for the Super 12-champion ACT Brumbies, scored Australia’s second try while Tune’s Queensland teammate and fullback Chris Latham, with his first of two, gave the Wallabies a 21-3 lead in the 25th minute before South Africa began
a comeback.
Some of the Springboks’ frustration showed in the 33rd minute when the teams engaged in a major brawl deep in the Australian end.
Two Australian players – Jeremy Paul and Justin Harrison – were sent off for 10 minutes for punching, as was South Africa’s Werner Greeff.
Springboks captain Corne Krige, punched during the melee, left the field with a bloodied right eye.
South Africa waited until the final minute of the opening half to score its first try – a fine 70-metre solo effort by centre Marius Joubert, but Matthew Burke gave Australia a 27-10 lead with a penalty on halftime.
The Springboks closed to 27-17 six minutes after halftime when Joubert scored his second try, but Burke’s 23-metre penalty in the 50th minute put Australia up by 13 points.
South Africa again closed the gap to 30-22 when Tune failed to cover a kick and Bob Skinstad ran over for the Springboks’s third try which Pretorius couldn’t convert.
Mortlock gave Australia a 33-22 lead before reserve back Brent Russell scored another unconverted try in the 74th minute to give South Africa its fourth try of the night and a bonus point.
Latham’s fourth try in the final minute of the match gave Australia a bonus point as well and prevented the Springboks from collecting another for losing by fewer than seven points.
The win was Australia’s seventh in 13 Tri Nations matches between the teams and improved its home record over the Springboks to five wins and a draw in seven matches.
In test matches overall, South Africa still holds the edge, winning 32 of 51 along with a draw.
The win was Australia’s first in the Tri Nations after losing 12-6 to New Zealand two weeks ago. It sets up a return match with the All Blacks next Saturday in Sydney.
South Africa, which lost 41-20 last week in Wellington to the All Blacks, is 0-2 in the Tri Nations. – Sapa-AP