Australia continued their home dominance over South Africa, scoring three first-half tries in 10 minutes on Saturday and defeating the Springboks 30-12 in a rugby union test match.
The win, before 61 534 spectators at the former Olympic stadium, extended a seven-year winning streak for the Wallabies over South Africa in Australia. The Springboks’ last win in Australia was in Perth in 1998.
Australia led 18-3 at halftime, taking the lead when flyhalf Stephen Larkham scored in the 23rd minute after flanker George Smith broke the South African defence.
Smith was again a key man in the second try just five minutes later, a vital turnover in his half getting the ball rolling before fullback Mat Rogers made a long break down the sideline. Rogers linked up with center Matt Giteau, who made the score 13-3 — Giteau’s first of two tries.
In the 32nd minute Rogers scored his own try after a centre-field burst by winger Lote Tuqiri.
With the Springboks threatening after the final siren, Rogers intercepted a South African pass and ran half the length of the field before passing off to replacement Drew Mitchell, who scored the fifth and final Australian try.
Larkham, named man of the match, said the Wallabies managed to hang on for the win.
”The second half wasn’t very pretty, but the guys toughed it out,” said Larkham.
Australian coach Eddie Jones said preventing South Africa from scoring a try was a big accomplishment.
”Five tries to nil in a test match is a pretty telling statistic,” said Jones. ”He (Larkham) had an outstanding game — he was incredible. At 31 years of age and at the end of the game he’s still making line breaks and I really believe he can get better.”
Percy Montgomery provided all the South African scoring with four penalty goals.
South African players wore the number ”46664” Saturday on the sleeves of their uniforms, in honor of former South African president Nelson Mandela’s campaign against Aids.
The number was Mandela’s prisoner number during his 27 years in South African detention — the 466 refers to Mandela being the 466th prisoner in 1964.
The sides will meet again in Johannesburg for the second match of the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate on July 23, then play in Pretoria on July 30 in a Tri Nations game. The fourth match, also in the Tri Nations series, is scheduled for Aug. 20 in Perth.
Scores:
Australia 30: (Matt Giteau 2, Mat Rogers, Stephen Larkham, Drew Mitchell tries; Giteau penalty, conversion), South Africa 12 (Percy
Montgomery 4 penalties). – Sapa-AP