The Springboks — sparked by another sublime display from super-sub Brent Russell — turned in a powerful performance to pull off a shock 26- 22 win over Australia in a hard-fought Vodacom Tri-Nations rugby match at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
The victory stretched South Africa’s unbeaten record this season to four games and although the Wallabies outscored the Boks three tries to two, it was a performance that will certainly silence some of the team’s critics.
It was a concerted team effort, but along with Russell, centre De Wet Barry was outstanding and was deservedly voted man-of-the-match.
The Springboks led 20-10 at halftime.
The Wallabies took the early lead when fullback Matthew Burke banged over a close-range drop-goal in the third minute after centre Steve Kefu had made a telling run through the Bok mid-field.
At the same time, the fleet-footed Russell was introduced at fullback for Jaco van der Westhuyzen who injured his leg during that phase of play.
And the pocket-dynamo made his presence known almost immediately. After sustained pressure by the home team through several phases, the Wallaby defence cracked to let Russell in for the first five-pointer of the match on six minutes.
With flyhalf Louis Koen’s conversion successful, the Boks led 7-3 and were playing with a confidence that belied the stuttering performances of earlier in the season.
The tight five had the measure of the Australians in the first 20 minutes, while Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha stole three balls from Wallaby throw-ins in the first quarter.
An illustration of the Boks dominance early on was the fact that they only conceded their first penalty of the match in the 16th minute.
The Wallabies are not World Champions for nothing and soon found their stride with flank Toutai Kefu providing trouble for the Bok defence every time he had the ball.
He nearly got through for the visitors’ first try in the 21st minute, but Russell pulled off a courageous try-saving tackle metres from the line.
Australia, however, regained the lead through a typically robust Wendell Sailor try three minutes later, but it was to be the only blip in a commanding first half performance from the Springboks.
The rest of the stanza belonged entirely to the men in green and gold and it was Russell who provided the spark. The Sharks speedster could not put a foot wrong and after Koen had first levelled matters and then grabbed the lead back with two penalties, the replacement fullback initiated a counter-attack from just outside his own 22 metre area.
With Russell handling twice and virtually every pair of Bok hands getting in on the act, Matfield crashed over for a brilliant try that thrilled the capacity crowd.
The new midfield pairing of Barry and Marius Joubert collectively put in some of the biggest hits of the day and on this display could well be the answer coach Rudolf Straeuli is looking for ahead of the World Cup.
However, Joubert was replaced by Gcobani Bobo at the break because of an injury and eight minutes after the restart, Barry was sin-binned for a professional foul under his own poles.
The Wallabies seized the opportunity and deservedly closed the gap two minutes later when the visitors drove over the line for flanker Phil Waugh to emerge from the bottom of the pile with the ball.
Burke added the extras and Australia, who had played second fiddle for much of the match, found themselves trailing by only three points.
The ever-reliable Koen though slotted two penalties in two minutes to keep the Boks in the driving seat at 26-17. Ironically when Barry returned to the fray, the Wallabies
notched their third try through left wing Joe Roff to make the score 26-22 to the home team.
However, he capped a fine return to the national team with a few incisive breaks in the final 20 minutes as the Boks played themselves to a standstill.
Veteran hooker Dale Santon — making his Test debut — was one of several changes introduced in the last 15 minutes as Straeuli brought on fresh legs to nullify the increasing Wallaby threat.
The Boks played in fits and starts for much of the second period, but held on for a thrilling victory.
Point-scorers: SPRINGBOKS 26 (20): Tries: Brent Russell, Victor Matfield
Conversions: Louis Koen (2)
Penalties: Koen (4)
WALLABIES 22 (10): Tries: Wendell Sailor, Phil Waugh, Joe Roff
Conversions: Matthew Burke (2)
Drop-goals: Burke (1)
Cards: Yellow: De Wet Barry (48th minute)
Teams: Springboks: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Stefan Terblanche, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Thinus Delport, 10 Louis Koen, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen; 8 Juan Smith, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Corne Krige (captain), 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Richard Bands, 2 Danie Coetzee, 1 Lawrence Sephaka.
Reserves: 16 Dale Santon, 17 Robbie Kempson, 18 Selborne Boome, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Craig Davidson, 21 Gcobani Bobo, 22 Brent Russell.
Wallabies: 15 Matthew Burke, 14 Wendell Sailor, 13 Mat Rogers, 12 Steve Kefu, 11 Joe Roff, 10 Elton Flatley, 9 George Gregan (captain); 8 Toutai Kefu, 7 Phil Waugh, David Lyons, 5 Daniel Vickerman, 4 David Giffin, 3 Patricio Noriega, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1
Bill Young.
Reserves: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Ben Darwin, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19
Owen Finegan, 20 Chris Whitaker, 21 Stephen Larkham, 22 Lote
Tuqiri.
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) Touch judges: Chris White (England) and Nigel Owens (Wales) – Sapa