An inspired X-Factor performance by Captain Jean de Villiers saw the Springboks retaining the Mandela Plate and their second place on the IRB rankings with a crushing 28-10 win over Australia.
The Wallabies had descended upon Newlands in search of their first Test win over the high flying Boks on Cape Town soil since 1992. With the Rugby Championship beyond their grasp, the Boks were in a buoyant mood from the onset fiercely dominating the scrums.
The state of the field did not help either side, as it appeared wet despite the absence of a single rain cloud in the skies.
Australia wrung the knot and got their first attacking opportunity in the sixth minute when they invaded the Bok 22 but failed to make it count.
They were subsequently punished six minutes later when Marcel Coetzee barged over the try lion like a grizzly bear for the days’ first five pointer. Handre Pollard, who had a forgettable afternoon, missed the conversion.
The Wallabies had descended upon Newlands in search of their first Test win over the high flying Boks on Cape Town soil since 1992. With the Rugby Championship beyond their grasp, the Boks were in a buoyant mood from the onset fiercely dominating the scrums.
The state of the field did not help either side, as it appeared wet despite the absence of a single rain cloud in the skies.
Australia wrung the knot and got their first attacking opportunity in the sixth minute when they invaded the Bok 22 but failed to make it count.
They were subsequently punished six minutes later when Marcel Coetzee barged over the try lion like a grizzly bear for the days’ first five pointer. Handre Pollard, who had a forgettable afternoon, missed the conversion.
The visitors won a penalty after the Boks were caught offside and James Foley coolly reduced the arrears.
Adam Ashley Cooper restored parity for the Aussies with a beautiful try in the corner. This was after a terrific break from outside centre Tevita Kurindrani.
Bryan Habana suffered a head injury trying to tackle Ashley Cooper and immediately went for a concussion test. He was briefly replaced by the well travelled JP Pietersen.
Having dominated possession, the Boks won an easy kickable penalty but de Villiers opted for a line out instead of the easy 3 points. Willie le Roux knocked the ball on to end a frustrating first half.
The Boks brought in Pietersen as Habana’s replacement after he could not continue. The changed seemed to spur them to bag the first points of the half. And it did work.
Pollard booted in a penalty kick after Foley had been caught offside. The script had suddenly changed and with victory at sight, Schalke Burger was brought in for Oupa Mohoje who had a fairly decent game.
The Boks continued pilling on pressure and won a penalty in the 53rd minute but Pollard, for the third time in the game, failed to find his touch. He was subsequently replaced by Pat Lambie.
Live wire Cornel Hendricks was unlucky not to see his name on the score sheet after darting through a few defenders on his way to the try line but the referee adjudged de Villiers to have forwarded the pass.
The one sided Bok domination continued again in the 66th minute inside the Wallaby red zone. Lambie made up for his earlier miss by calmly slotting a drop goal to nudge the Boks 11-10 ahead.
Captain fantastic, De Villiers scored his 23rd Test try in the 71st minute after a brilliant break from Jan Serfontein in midfield and also some great stepping from Hendricks.
Pollards misfortunes seemed to rub onto Lambie as he failed to convert. The young Sharks man turned from villain to hero by killing the game as a contest in 78th minute with a much needed try in for his career revival after a strong break in midfield.
The Boks weren’t finished yet and gave the home crowd an extra try to take home courtesy of de Villiers second of the match. This time Lambie converted handing the Boks some sweet revenge after losing the corresponding encounter.
Adam Ashley Cooper restored parity for the Aussies with a beautiful try in the corner. This was after a terrific break from outside centre Tevita Kurindrani.
Bryan Habana suffered a head injury trying to tackle Ashley Cooper and immediately went for a concussion test. He was briefly replaced by the well travelled JP Pietersen.
Having dominated possession, the Boks won an easy kickable penalty but de Villiers opted for a line out instead of the easy 3 points. Willie le Roux knocked the ball on to end a frustrating first half.
The Boks brought in Pietersen as Habana’s replacement after he could not continue. The changed seemed to spur them to bag the first points of the half. And it did work.
Pollard booted in a penalty kick after Foley had been caught offside. The script had suddenly changed and with victory at sight, Schalke Burger was brought in for Oupa Mohoje who had a fairly decent game.
The Boks continued pilling on pressure and won a penalty in the 53rd minute but Pollard, for the third time in the game, failed to find his touch. He was subsequently replaced by Pat Lambie.
Live wire Cornel Hendricks was unlucky not to see his name on the score sheet after darting through a few defenders on his way to the try line but the referee adjudged de Villiers to have forwarded the pass.
The one sided Bok domination continued again in the 66th minute inside the Wallaby red zone. Lambie made up for his earlier miss by calmly slotting a drop goal to nudge the Boks 11-10 ahead.
Captain fantastic, De Villiers scored his 23rd Test try in the 71st minute after a brilliant break from Jan Serfontein in midfield and also some great stepping from Hendricks.
Pollards misfortunes seemed to rub onto Lambie as he failed to convert. The young Sharks man turned from villain to hero by killing the game as a contest in 78th minute with a much needed try in for his career revival after a strong break in midfield.
The Boks weren’t finished yet and gave the home crowd an extra try to take home courtesy of de Villiers second of the match. This time Lambie converted handing the Boks some sweet revenge after losing the corresponding encounter.
By: Farai Diza
RSS Feed