Wallabies demolish Springboks

The Wallabies have comprehensively thrashed South Africa 49-0 in game two of the tri-nations at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Australia’s backline was sublime for the entirety of the match, with Matt Giteau, Stephen Larkham and fullback Chris Latham all enjoying several moments of brilliance.

Stirling Mortlock proved to be on-song for most of the night off the boot, slotting 16 points, following a disappointing display against the All Blacks last week where Australia went down 32-12.

The 49-point drubbing was the South African’s second biggest defeat in their proud 100-year Test football history.

Australia’s six tries were also the most they had ever scored in a Test match against the Springboks, as Giteau (2), Jeremy Paul, Greg Holmes, Latham and Mark Chisholm all slid over the line.

The conditions were difficult for both sides early on, as rain fell, resulting in plenty of handling errors.

Flyhalf Larkham opened the scoring for the match, slotting a 40-metre drop goal for the Wallabies to take the early lead, before he failed to extend it, missing a penalty kick after it ricocheted off the post and back into the field of play.

Paul then crashed over for the first try of the night, off the back of a huge Latham downfield punt, which found touch five metres out from the Springboks line.

Mortlock then got his second kick of the night on target, and the hosts were out to an early 10-0 lead.

The point-scoring onslaught continued moments later, after South African fullback coughed up a high ball metres out from his line, the Wallabies forced a penalty, which Mortlock converted with ease.

Larkham then produced a piece of individual brilliance, mesmerising the South African defence before off-loading to George Gregan who in turn sent Holmes over the line.

The tourists were then reduced to 14-men, after Victor Matfield was sent off for deliberately knocking in, in a play that would have almost certainly resulted in an Australian try.

Giteau wasted no time in making the Springboks pay, diving over the line moments later to stretch the Australian buffer out to 30-0 at the break.

South Africa had one of their best chances in the second half through Jaque Fourie, but he managed to squander it through some wayward passing.

Australia slid over for another five-pointer through Latham in the latter stages of the game, before tries to Giteau and Chisholm rounded out a comprehensive demolition.

Australian captain George Gregan told the post-match press conference, "South Africa are a proud rugby nation so to beat them 49-0 is pretty special.

"We've probably had a few chances in the past to really put them away but this is the first time we've actually done it."

Wallabies coach John Connolly was happier than after the opening game of the series against the All Blacks, "We played well but we still can't get carried away because we've still got some things to work on.

"We took the foot off the pedal in the second half and I think we all realise we left a lot of tries out there."

Next week, New Zealand clash with South Africa in Wellington on Saturday night, while the Wallabies have a week’s rest before taking on New Zealand in Brisbane on July 29.

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