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REUTERS
Australia beat the Springboks to reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
Wellington – Australia knocked defending champions South Africa out of the rugby World Cup when they edged the Springboks 11-9 in a bruising but undistinguished quarter-final at the Wellington Rugby Stadium on Sunday.
South Africa, fielding their most experienced side in history, dominated possession and territory but could not land the killer blow against the twice champions in a match riddled with basic kicking and handling errors.
Australia captain James Horwill scored the only try of the match in the 12th minute to help the Wallabies to an 8-3 lead at halftime.
South Africa flyhalf Morne Steyn replied with a penalty and drop goal in the second half to put the twice champions ahead before James O'Connor kicked the winning penalty after a lineout infringement with eight minutes remaining.
The Springboks' physical strength was graphically revealed in two early scrums when they forced the Wallabies to retreat. They also stole an Australian lineout but in neither case were they able to translate power into points.
Instead it was Australia who opened the scoring when South Africa won a lineout near their line and loose forward Schalk Burger lost the ball in midfield.
Wallaby number eight Radike Samo snapped up the ball and fed centre Pat McCabe, who passed to Horwill and the big lock strode through a gap to score. O'Connor, possibly distracted by an early charge from JP Pietersen, missed a regulation conversion.
Fullback Kurtley Beale set up Australia's next points with an electrifying break through the centre. Australia won a penalty and O'Connor made no mistake this time with a simple kick to the right of the posts.
Steyn failed with two ambitious long-range kicks, which his injured namesake Francois might have nailed, but succeeded with an easier attempt in between the misses before halftime.
South Africa went on the attack after the break and fullback Pat Lambie crossed the line for an apparent try but New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence called the teams back for a forward pass by centre Jean de Villiers.
Steyn narrowed the margin with a comfortable penalty then snapped a drop goal over five minutes later to give his side the lead for the first time.
Australia were pinned in their own half and the errors multiplied with both sides persistently relinquishing possession.
However, the Wallabies broke out and won a lineout penalty when lock Danie Rossouw took Sano's feet from under him and O'Connor slotted the kick.
Australia won two scrums, the final one in the last minute, and scrumhalf Will Genia kicked the ball jubilantly into touch. – Reuters
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Aussie bro, wrote
Well I am an Aussie and I feel sensational!! made even better by your whining and blaming of the ref. So typical of you Saffas really. Gracious in defeat....hahahah...not likely. ITs never happened before and I can't see it happening now. This whinging only compounds your reputation as pathetic losers. Keep up the good work Bokke fans...meanwhile we will play the semi final. Watch and weep.
Anonymous, wrote
If I was A Aussie, I would feel terrible as they did not win the game but were given the game. The ref had a shocker, to many misssed calls that should have been made and those calls do influence a game, say whtever you like and it played against the better team the Boks! The pass to Lambie was marginal, and at this level, with the third ref, one would have expected Bryce to call up stairs to make the call, if the pass was edudicated as forward up stairs on the replay well then it would have been acepted more readily! The aussies did not win it the boks lost it unfairly! Sure the boks did not use their chances as well as the Ausssies did, which were given to them, the fact is the ref was terrible and that did cost the Boks the game, no denying that. The Aussies will not make it past the next semi finals in any case, if the Boks won they would have gone all the way and made history! The Boks made us proud, well done to them!
Zimasile Mzazi, wrote
I am very proud of the Boks, they plaid their hearts out and with purpose, hold your heads high boys, your loss was just unfortunate. Don't be disappointed, you are the best and you will always be.
Breaker Morant, wrote
Such poor losers - blaming everyone except those who lost - but then again I am glad we were not playing in Durban - or we might have been poisoned like the All Blacks not so long back...... But then again that reminds me of the Englishman, the Irish wanderer and a "Bokkie who met in a bar - at the Wellington Departure lounge
Spock101, wrote
@ All those who are saying how wrong it is to blame the ref - lets see what gets said next week after the game. The ref is a South African, Craig Joubert. Is he going to allow Messrs. Pocock & McCaw to get away with their blatant infringements? I think NOT! Lets hear all the whining Aussies & AB's whinge about 'the Saffa done us in' when they lose. Then the winner can get beaten by Wales. Now that is what I call 'what goes around comes around'.
Ah HA, wrote
Simply said, I think when a game official has a day like that, he should have at least 50% of his fees revoked, and have a 3 game match ban and further training. He was not the sole cause of the loss, but lets get real, complete incompetence at that level cannot be tolerated.
LK, wrote
AJ........You are intelectually challenged. Pockok(sic) played the ball on the ground at will; and MOST refs would have yellow carded him after the second infringement. Read what the experts say. Or shut up.
Confucius, wrote
The score is on the board. Rugby was the real winner. Point 1 finger forward for blame and 3 are simultaneously pointing backwards. Has no-one also heard of victory in defeat? Transformation and quota appointments? Lets learn from that!! Embarrassing selections on field and on reserve!! Are you listening Politicians??
Melbourne Boy, wrote
Hmmm. I saw it as a tough game that could have gone either way. I thought the attacking team, taking the greater risks made more handling errors (due to taking those risks) and lost to a strong defending team who took their opportunities when they arose. I couldn't understand why SA played their better forwards as reserves. Both teams showed a lack of creativity hence it became a turgid defensive game. Why did both teams kick away so much possession? I'm Aussie but I think Wales look the team to beat.
Wally, wrote
The Springboks deserved to lose based on there ball handling mistakes BUT THE REF WAS VERY INCONSISTENT Some of his mistakes Cost us the game Also John Smit decisions on the early penalties were to say the least mind bogling
Anonymous, wrote
To all those sheep herders trying to explain that this team has "psyche" over the BOKKE and "...has their number...", etc....just let me use one example...ONLY one example. Nowhere in any international rugby arena have I ever witnessed two...yes TWO 22 drop outs being charged down...this is evidence enough that at that point in the match the Auzzies were so "....ed" it was amazing. Showed on their faces too...most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life...probably much like that fearful "sheepish" look just before shearing time. The video footage of this will be a defining moment for me always...tough to swallow the exit but ja...we literally "....ed you up" on the day which was fantastic.(Even Robbie Deans knew it...)
Anonymous, wrote
To all those sheep herders trying to explain that this team has "psyche" over the BOKKE and "...has their number...", etc....just let me use one example...ONLY one example. Nowhere in any international rugby arena have I ever witnessed two...yes TWO 22 drop outs being charged down...this is evidence enough that at that point in the match the Auzzies were so "....ed" it was amazing. Showed on their faces too...most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life...probably much like that fearful "sheepish" look just before shearing time. The video footage of this will be a defining moment for me always...tough to swallow the exit but ja...we literally "....ed you up" on the day which was fantastic.(Even Robbie Deans knew it...)
Melbourne Boy, wrote
Hmmm. I saw it as a tough game that could have gone either way. I thought the attacking team, taking the greater risks made more handling errors (due to taking those risks) and lost to a strong defending team who took their opportunities when they arose. I couldn't understand why SA played their better forwards as reserves. Both teams showed a lack of creativity hence it became a turgid defensive game. Why did both teams kick away so much possession? I'm Aussie but I think Wales look the team to beat.
Ghaliel, wrote
just want 2 say goodluck WALLABIES on 'ur win, c u in the semi's[SA ALL BLACK supporter] Nana nana hey hey GOODBYE bokkies.
AJ, wrote
Danie Rossouw Cost us the game plain and simple - Stupid error in a kick-able position. The maths isn't difficult - 8-9 to SA before the penalty 11-9 to the Aussies after the converted penalty. None of the referees bad decisions where match losers for us.
Lionel (All Blacks), wrote
Now the Boks and their supporters know how the All Blacks and their supporters felt when poor calls by the officials i.e. Wayne Barnes, or should I rather say calls that should have been made and were not made in the 2007 RWC quarter final, when the AB's lost to France.
AJ, wrote
Danie Rossouw Cost us the game plain and simple - Stupid error in a kick-able position. The maths isn't difficult - 8-9 to SA before the penalty 11-9 to the Aussies after the converted penalty. None of the referees bad decisions where match losers for us.
Ironic, wrote
A lot of emotional posts here, no reason for anyone to get personal, but us Bok fans are hurting big time. Fact is we did lose and we must give the Aussies credit for snatching that victory. The game and result was so ironic in my view: - The Boks decided to play positive rugby and in doing so completely tore the Aussies apart. Genuine Aussie rugby fans will acknowledge this, they had no ball in our half, and their try was a gift from a very foolish move called by the Boks in our 22. I don't recall an Aussie centre even touching the ball on attack. The stats say it all. The ironic thing is that the experienced Boks forgot how to win and I think got carried away with how much they were dominating the below par Aussies. I was screaming at the TV for FDP to pass to Morne in the pocket for more drop goals. - The Aussies on the other hand kept their heads and remembered that they needed points to win the game. They read the ref better (more on the ref below) and hence kicked all their ball away rather than play their open attacking game that they normally play so brilliantly. - The ref had a shocker! He didn't favour the Aussies, he simply favoured the team that didn't have the ball and in this game that was the Aussies more often that the Springboks. I agree the Boks should have won anyway with all the chances they had, but to say he didn't influence the game is total rubbish. The new break down rules are meant to favour the attacking team, the opposite was the case in the game and as brilliant a player as Pocock he was alloweed to break the rules for most of the game (I give him full credit as he played to the whistle and it took the Boks until the 2nd half to do the same). Again there is an irony here as that approach would normally favour the Boks, however yesterday the Aussies were the beneficiaries. If that is the way refs are going to go then the winner of this world cup will be the negative defence orientated team, luckily I don't think that will be the case in the semis. The Positive is that the Boks showed they are very talented rugby team that can play any team off the park on their day. So let's hope other rugby fans (especially the Aussies) stop moaning about the Boks negative play, but rather acknowledge a great test match and some brutal and brilliant rugby from the Boks, and a brilliant defensive performance and amazing win for the Aussies.
Ironic, wrote
A lot of emotional posts here, no reason for anyone to get personal, but us Bok fans are hurting big time. Fact is we did lose and we must give the Aussies credit for snatching that victory. The game and result was so ironic in my view: - The Boks decided to play positive rugby and in doing so completely tore the Aussies apart. Genuine Aussie rugby fans will acknowledge this, they had no ball in our half, and their try was a gift from a very foolish move called by the Boks in our 22. I don't recall an Aussie centre even touching the ball on attack. The stats say it all. The ironic thing is that the experienced Boks forgot how to win and I think got carried away with how much they were dominating the below par Aussies. I was screaming at the TV for FDP to pass to Morne in the pocket for more drop goals. - The Aussies on the other hand kept their heads and remembered that they needed points to win the game. They read the ref better (more on the ref below) and hence kicked all their ball away rather than play their open attacking game that they normally play so brilliantly. - The ref had a shocker! He didn't favour the Aussies, he simply favoured the team that didn't have the ball and in this game that was the Aussies more often that the Springboks. I agree the Boks should have won anyway with all the chances they had, but to say he didn't influence the game is total rubbish. The new break down rules are meant to favour the attacking team, the opposite was the case in the game and as brilliant a player as Pocock he was alloweed to break the rules for most of the game (I give him full credit as he played to the whistle and it took the Boks until the 2nd half to do the same). Again there is an irony here as that approach would normally favour the Boks, however yesterday the Aussies were the beneficiaries. If that is the way refs are going to go then the winner of this world cup will be the negative defence orientated team, luckily I don't think that will be the case in the semis. The Positive is that the Boks showed they are very talented rugby team that can play any team off the park on their day. So let's hope other rugby fans (especially the Aussies) stop moaning about the Boks negative play, but rather acknowledge a great test match and some brutal and brilliant rugby from the Boks, and a brilliant defensive performance and amazing win for the Aussies.
Roger, wrote
@Uber Mielies.. thanks for the abuse my friend... nice (let's try and play the ball and not the man shall we?!). But back to the facts - the ref was terrible - FOR BOTH SIDES. You can still be guilty of infringing when you HAVE the ball. Experimental side huh? I thought it was a test match and we were assured by PDev that it was the best you could put on the park. If you want to diminish Test rugby with experimental sides then you reap what you sow - all I know is Aus gave you a spanking and then beat you on your own turf. You still haven't told me when the Boks have played a good game this year......@Anton who said "what goes around comes around"...That's right mate it sure did.
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