Wallabies down gallant 'Boks
A late try to Mat Rogers, followed by a handy Stirling Mortlock conversion, clinched a heart-stopping
two-point win for the Wallabies over the Springboks at Telstra Stadium in Sydney tonight.
Trailing 18-13 with five minutes to play, replacement flyhalf Rogers produced the goods, touching down in
the corner to level the scores at 18-a-piece. Fortuitously for the hosts, Mortlock’s conversion bounced off
the left hand upright and over the crossbar to hand them a 20-18 victory.
The first 40-minutes proved to be lacklustre from both sides, and you could’ve been mistaken if you thought
you were at the SCG watching the Swans vs Essendon, with both sides attempting to gain ascendancy via
relentless kicking for touch.
Mortlock opened the account for the Wallabies in the 12th minute with a penalty, before Springboks flyhalf
Butch James butchered a cross-field kick, as a ball intended for the South African winger Bryan Habana bounced
straight into the hands of Mark Gerrard, who raced 50-metres unopposed to score the first try of the match.
Mortlock converted with relative ease, and at the break, the Australians led 10-0.
|
Rugby Union - Tri-Nations Test |
| AUSTRALIA |
20 |
| Tries: | Conversions: |
| Mark Gerrard | Stirling Mortlock 2/2 |
| Mat Rogers | Penalties: |
| | Stirling Mortlock 2/3 |
|
| SOUTH AFRICA |
18 |
| Tries: | Conversions: |
| Jacque Fourie | Butch James 1/2 |
| P. Montgomery | Penalties: |
| | Butch James 2/2 |
|
@ Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Joel Jutge (Fra)
Crowd: 60,522 |
Five minutes into the second-half, the South African side started clawing their way back, with James
slotting two penalties in as many minutes to cut the deficit back to four points.
As Australia continued to cruise, the visitors lifted the tempo, and snatched the lead, with Jacque Fourie
touching down after Fourie Du Preez toed the ball ahead following a George Gregan error at the back of the
ruck. James added the extras and South Africa led 13-10.
Mortlock booted a penalty to level the scores with 17 minutes remaining, before Springboks fullback Percy
Montgomery crashed over for a try. James failed to convert, and the tourists led 18-13.
Replacement Australian flanker Phil Waugh, playing in his 50th test match then produced a piece of
individual brilliance, to gain plenty of ground down the inside of the Springboks defence before popping a
basketball-esque pass over to Rogers who dived over in the corner.
Mortlock's conversion from the sideline bounced off the left hand upright and dribbled over the crossbar
for the Wallabies to snatch a fortunate, 20-18 victory.
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