Australian newspapers on Monday hailed the historic Tri-Nations win by the Wallabies in South Africa as confirmation of the revival of Australian rugby.
The Wallabies won their first game in South Africa since 2000 on Saturday, beating the troubled Springboks 27-15 in Durban to stay in the Tri-Nations hunt.
They now face a Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks on September 13 as they attempt to win the title for the first time since 2001.
Breaking the South African hoodoo continued under new coach Robbie Deans, with six wins from seven Tests, and answered some of the questions raised by a 39-10 loss to the All Blacks in Auckland on August 2.
”August 23, 2008, could easily go down as a defining date in the revival of Australian rugby,” Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper said.
”The importance of the Wallabies’ first triumph on South African soil in eight exasperating seasons cannot be overstated.”
”A steady line” of previous coaches ”have disconsolately headed back to Sydney with nothing to show from their African adventures,” the paper said.
”Admittedly, the Auckland Test loss was a serious blow to the Wallabies but what was so rousing on Saturday was that they made dramatic improvements in all of the areas that let them down against the All Blacks.”
The Australian newspaper also lauded the significant win and said the Wallabies appeared on the verge of another golden era.
”While it is still too early to compare the 2008 side with the golden Wallabies of 1998 to 2001, Robbie Deans’ team is showing similar traits,” it said.
”Australia’s 27-15 win against the Springboks has confirmed this team has the self-belief which is the hallmark of great sides.
”The manner in which the Wallabies controlled the game and then showed composure when the Springboks made a late run was encouraging.”
But Brisbane’s Courier Mail added a note of caution.
”Only when the Wallabies walk off Suncorp Stadium [on September 13] after the Bledisloe Cup match can we make an accurate and balanced assessment of the new regime,” it said.
”Now in the middle of one of the toughest road trips in rugby, successive Test matches in South Africa, there’s measured optimism that at least we have not regressed.
”The potential of back-to-back defeats can always cast a pall, however, so one way or the other the jury may hold their verdict for a while yet.”