Mat Rogers scored out wide with four minutes remaining and Stirling Mortlock converted from the sideline as Australia rallied to edge South Africa 20-18 in Saturday’s Tri-Nations rugby union international.
The Australians, 49-0 victors over the South Africans three weeks ago, let a 10-0 half-time lead slip and trailed 18-13 with 12 minutes to play after fullback Percy Montgomery was driven over by his two wingers for the Springboks’ second try.
Australia coach John Connolly made wholesale changes, bringing Rogers on to replace playmaker Steve Larkham, replacing skipper George Gregan and injecting more pace into the pack with the introduction of flanker Phil Waugh.
Mortlock’s long-range penalty attempt dropped just short in the 71st minute but, after Rogers lunged over in the left corner following Waugh’s break upfield in the 75th minute, the Australian centre glanced his conversion attempt off the near post and over the crossbar.
Mortlock landed four goals from six attempts, converting both Australia’s tries and adding two penalties.
He opened the scoring with a penalty goal in the 12th minute after an earlier miss from long range.
The South Africans seemed to have more direction in attack with Butch James at flyhalf and showed more initiative than the Australian backline in the first half, trying options while the Wallabies were content to drill the ball down the field.
After a virtual kick-a-thon for field possession, it was a misdirected cross kick by James for left wing Brian Habana that gifted Australia their first try in the 32nd minute.
The kick landed in front of Mark Gerrard and in between two South African attackers, allowing the Wallaby winger to scoop up the bounce and race 50m untouched.
South Africa’s scoreless stretch in Australia extended into a fourth half of rugby before James kicked two penalties from directly in front — both for ruck infringements — in the first nine minutes of the second half.
The Springboks hit the front in the 54th minute when centre Jaque Fourie crossed against the run of play.
The Wallabies lost possession when number eight Wycliff Palu’s pass to halfback Gregan went astray on halfway and Springbok number nine Fourie du Preez toed the ball ahead.
Ndungane beat chasers to the ball and nudged it further ahead for Fourie to collect and dive over near the posts.
Australia equalised in the 64th minute with another Mortlock penalty after Gerrard had squandered a scoring opportunity when he knocked on as he tried to regather his own chip kick as it rolled toward the try line.
Montgomery gave the Springboks a lead for the first time in the series with a determined run after taking a long pass inside the attacking corner. He stood up in the tackle of Larkham and was driven across out wide amid four Australian defenders.
That redeemed a horror first half with the boot, when he missed two penalty kicks and a dropped goal before handing the kicking duties over to James.
The winless South Africans now head home with more confidence for their last three matches — two against undefeated competition leaders New Zealand and another against Australia.
Australia next play the All Blacks on August 19 at Auckland. — Sapa-AP