South Africa restore pride against the woeful Wallabies
The Springboks came out firing at fortress Ellis Park on Saturday as they played the type of rugby that was expected of them, running in eight tries against the uninspired Wallaby team. Winger Jongi Nokwe made history by becoming the first player to socre four tries in a Tri Nations match on the way to the 53-8 thumping.
While the match itself was a dead rubber, pride was at stake as South Africa desperately needed a win to regain the faith of the nation. Producing a record winning margin against Australia went a long way towards that.
With the Tri Nations decider set for Brisbane against the All Blacks in a fortnights time, the visitors were dire, looking anything but the same side who beat South Africa so easily just one week ago.
The finishing from South Africa was top class this week though, with Nokwe easily completing the opportunities handed to him. The injury after his fourth try was unfortunate, but his performance justified the faith shown in him when Jake White plucked him out of obscurity three years back.
Nokwe's quartet were complemented by four more from lock Andries Bekker, centre Adrian Jacobs, replacement flyhalf Ruan Pienaar and Odwa Ndungane.
A flurry of Australian replacements came on in the hope of making the score line respectable, and George Smith, now the highest capped flanker of all time, contributed to setting up the attack that saw wing replacement Drew Mitchell go over in the corner.
It was too little too late though, as the South African home crowd finally had something to cheer about after a disappointing few weeks.
"We are not yet where we want to be but that's what we expect from the team," said South African coach Peter de Villiers, who has been heavily criticised after a three-game losing streak that has ensured they will finish last in the Tri-Nations.
Australia coach Robbie Deans defended De Villiers, saying: "The reality of this industry is that someone has to be the bottom side in the Tri-Nations but that doesn't mean they're a bad side.
"It was a great win, a good performance by the Springboks," Deans told the press conference. "They got in the game and built some momentum, while we dropped off."
Australia return home, with the All Blacks only needing to draw in Brisbane to win the 2008 Tri Nations. They (NZ) face Samoa midweek though, a game which promises plenty of action so we’ll do our best to cover it here on RD.
PLEASE NOTE: This video has been removed by Mediazone, who own the rights to the footage and no longer allow us to use it. Apologies from our side.
Time: 10:28
While the match itself was a dead rubber, pride was at stake as South Africa desperately needed a win to regain the faith of the nation. Producing a record winning margin against Australia went a long way towards that.
With the Tri Nations decider set for Brisbane against the All Blacks in a fortnights time, the visitors were dire, looking anything but the same side who beat South Africa so easily just one week ago.
The finishing from South Africa was top class this week though, with Nokwe easily completing the opportunities handed to him. The injury after his fourth try was unfortunate, but his performance justified the faith shown in him when Jake White plucked him out of obscurity three years back.
Nokwe's quartet were complemented by four more from lock Andries Bekker, centre Adrian Jacobs, replacement flyhalf Ruan Pienaar and Odwa Ndungane.
A flurry of Australian replacements came on in the hope of making the score line respectable, and George Smith, now the highest capped flanker of all time, contributed to setting up the attack that saw wing replacement Drew Mitchell go over in the corner.
It was too little too late though, as the South African home crowd finally had something to cheer about after a disappointing few weeks.
"We are not yet where we want to be but that's what we expect from the team," said South African coach Peter de Villiers, who has been heavily criticised after a three-game losing streak that has ensured they will finish last in the Tri-Nations.
Australia coach Robbie Deans defended De Villiers, saying: "The reality of this industry is that someone has to be the bottom side in the Tri-Nations but that doesn't mean they're a bad side.
"It was a great win, a good performance by the Springboks," Deans told the press conference. "They got in the game and built some momentum, while we dropped off."
Australia return home, with the All Blacks only needing to draw in Brisbane to win the 2008 Tri Nations. They (NZ) face Samoa midweek though, a game which promises plenty of action so we’ll do our best to cover it here on RD.
PLEASE NOTE: This video has been removed by Mediazone, who own the rights to the footage and no longer allow us to use it. Apologies from our side.
Time: 10:28
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31 Comments:
Incredible win for the Springboks. Great job, and congratulations to Nokwe, too bad he got injured!
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 12:28 pm
This once again begs the question - why not make sure every home test is played at Ellis Park? There's some years when it doesn't get a game, which is crazy when it's such a stronghold. England do it with Twickenham, so would be good to do the same.
I guess the people in Cape Town and the rest of the country wouldn't be happy though.
Anyway, awesome stuff from the Boks. THAT'S how to play. Who knows wtf went on in their minds last week.
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 12:39 pm
I couldn't believe how badly australia were dominated. its been awhile since they've had such a bad performance.
why is it that giteau never seems to kick the ball into touch?
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 12:41 pm
I've never heard Greg Martin sound so dejected! lol
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 12:50 pm
One side played like losing wasn't an option and the other like they were already on the plane home. The difference in intensity was glaring. A complete reversal of the previous test ... SA won the breakdowns and set pieces, and finished off their tries, while Aus botched three tries in 15 minutes and then got worse.
geoff: the Aus lineout was such a shambles that Giteau was probably told not to kick for touch. But they didn't chase the kicks either!
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 1:06 pm
Australia showed no intensity at Breakdowns and no communication/skill in defence. Number of linebreaks was amazing.
Well done boks!
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 2:33 pm
it just goes to show how upset a guy is when he's commentating on a match and openly says how shit he thinks Bryce Laurence is.
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 2:52 pm
breakaway: good point,
though surely a defensive linout is better than having a team thats playing so well run the ball back at your own disorganised defence.
but its not just this game, giteau seems to always go for distance rather than touch on clearing kicks.
a few selection issues too, phil waugh is quick to the breakdown, but he gets overpowered by every forward on the field, and is useless running with the ball. he's great as a last 20-30min replacement though.
australia didnt really play well enough to deserve getting a few calls their way, but some of the things the ref missed or called against australia was just shocking.
anyone else see where jannie du plessis was sitting on his arse playing the ball for about 5 seconds and none of the refs noticed?
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 3:01 pm
BEEEEAAAASSSSTTTTT...
good performance i mean what happened to OZ? commentators sure sounded pissed lol i know...burgess wasnt playing ;)
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 3:20 pm
ruan pienaar is too good
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 3:33 pm
Ruan Pienaar - what a brilliant try
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 4:04 pm
The Boks are back! For now. Aus would have to be stupid to have thrown a game like this, they were completely out of it! Well done Boks.
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 5:00 pm
I heard any Aussie commentator wingeing about the ref!? Boks played the ref a lot better this game. We are learning to cheat like the best of them.
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 6:10 pm
ruan Pienaar is soo underated aswell as he can play in three positions : 9,10,15.
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 9:03 pm
BOKKE BOKKE BOKKE
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 9:09 pm
how come habana and pieterson wernt playing on the wings?
By Anonymous, at August 31, 2008 10:37 pm
fresh1: both had hamstring injuries, turns out they weren't missed but I'm sure Habana at least will go straight back in.
By Anonymous, at September 01, 2008 7:49 am
Great to have a win and restore some pride for the boks but it was a very unconvincing performance yet again IMO.
Aus came out firing but lost interest after about 12mins...a totally lack lustre performance from them akin to there no-show performance of the RWC semi final.
Huge questions still unanswered for me in terms of bok game plan and clearly defined team...
Ref was again a factor...IRB need to sort this out BIG TIME and I think SANZAR will be seriously looking to go back to 4 game tri-nations format next year again...
By durrie, at September 01, 2008 2:05 pm
Didn't think the Aussies got to the Semi's?
By Anonymous, at September 01, 2008 3:24 pm
man u can't allow urself to get slaughtered like this even if it doesn't matter!!!
i can't be happy with that. hopefully i'll be way happier after they played the AB's
By sebastian, at September 01, 2008 3:53 pm
AUS = Owned
By Anonymous, at September 01, 2008 5:14 pm
Excuse me, can someone tell me what the 46664 on the sleeves of the SA players mean ?
By Anonymous, at September 01, 2008 6:37 pm
Ben,
46664 was Nelson Mandela's prisoner number in Robben Island. It's a tribute to Madiba.
By sacricketer, at September 01, 2008 7:25 pm
Ruan Pienaar given time is surely a better 10 than Butch James?
Sublime sidestepping by him.
By Wessel, at September 01, 2008 7:59 pm
I find it interesting that the press aren't ripping australia apart in the same way everyone laid into england over the summer when they got a walloping, or when they have had wallopings of this magnitude.
Anyway, thats not to take anything away from a great performance from a Sprinbok team thats had it's fair share of problems over the summer.
Great answer to all the critics and some fantastic trys.
This has been quite an interesting Tri-Nations, looking forward to the next game,
By Anonymous, at September 02, 2008 5:30 am
how bad was mortlock's drop ball, he looked like such an unco. Seriously australia's performance was that bad that i think theres something more than meets the eye, i mean im probably wrong but theres something not quite right about how they played. Good game by south africa though
By Anonymous, at September 02, 2008 7:40 am
Mortlock's crap, infact australia are crap, they almost choke as bad in world cups as new zealand.
By Anonymous, at September 02, 2008 5:53 pm
One side played like losing wasn't an option and the other like they were already on the plane home. The difference in intensity was glaring. A complete reversal of the previous test ... SA won the breakdowns and set pieces, and finished off their tries, while Aus botched three tries in 15 minutes and then got worse.
geoff: the Aus lineout was such a shambles that Giteau was probably told not to kick for touch. But they didn't chase the kicks either!
Breakaways know it all comment
By Anonymous, at September 03, 2008 8:58 am
For those of you who don't know, Nelson Mandela is actually a terrorist. He has as much blood on his hands as Bin Laden.
All the international hype about his 'statesman like' behaviour is an absolute farce dreamed up by bunny huggers. - Just for the record and just so that you know....
He actually stands for nothing that is good, and with rugby being a good sport I don't think he should play any part or get any mention in a game as great as rugby.
By Anonymous, at September 06, 2008 4:41 pm
^^
is an idiot and by posting shit like that as an 'anonymous' he shows he has even less balls than brains, which is very little indeed. can we get this crap deleted?
By Unknown, at September 08, 2008 2:10 am
I believe he has some unjustified points about nelson mandela but everyone is allowed their own point of view in a democratic society. However this is a rugby website and i would like to get back to the point about how crap australia are at the moment. Their defence is so bad they seem to be distracted by some lady kangaroos goin past the stadium. As a kiwi i have had my fair share of sheep jokes and yes i have dabbled with some sheep in my time so i'm not that bothered what people say about this.
By Anonymous, at September 08, 2008 12:44 pm
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