Another week of Tri-Nations rugby and another 30 points conceded by the holders, South Africa. This time around it was Australia doing the damage putting them to the sword 30-13 in Brisbane.
15 points from the boot of Matt Giteau was the telling factor. The centre was outstanding, orchestrating Aussie attacks with aplomb. Although he was wayward with two attempts at goal, he appears to have put his nightmare display against England well and truly behind him thanks to a more relaxed kicking motion.
Post match, springbok captain John Smit admitted he is relieved to be taking the long haul flight for a rest week. After three heavy defeats in which they were thoroughly outplayed and at times, in Brisbane, looked completely out on their feet:
"yeah its nice to get home" said Smit, "but we are disappointed we're not taking any points to the people back home."
Taking some pointers from their brothers across the Tasman, the Wallabies ran the ball at every opportunity, nullifying the powers of Morne Steyn:
"Thats the style we want to play all the time" said captain Rocky Elsom "playing it is not as easy as it seems, it didn't go perfectly in the beginning but we just stuck to it and it payed off."
South Africa have not managed a win in Brisbane in almost 40 years, and on the field they would need every possible advantage they could turn the tide. Off the field, head coach, Peter DeVilliers was doing all he could to apply the pressure on the referee. Insinuating midweek that two consecutive wins for the All Blacks were orchestrated by the powers that be in order to boost interest in next years World Cup.
"I've got my own observations about the last two tests" said DeVilliers. "Maybe I can't say it in public. But, they do have a world cup in New Zealand next year and maybe it was the right thing for them to win the games so they can attract more people."
Once again, the Boks were hampered by an early yellow card. Jaque Fourie penalised for a dangerous tackle after lifting the ball carrier's legs above shoulder height. Any sense of injustice from South Africa could be tempered by the second half binning of Quade Cooper, the fly-half committing an identical offence.
After Steyn and Giteau had traded long range penalties, the hosts took points from their first two visits to the 22. And, it could have been more had James O'Conner's try not been ruled out for a forward pass.
The Springboks kept their heads, methodically advancing forward bit by bit. And, but for a tremendous tackle from David Pocock, they would have been right back in the game before half time. Pocock was an incredible defensive asset throughout, and just minutes later he turned a South African ruck on his five metre line into a penalty to relieve the tension.
Just before the break, Rocky Elsom stole a line out without the requiring a lift. That platform allowed Giteau's silky hands to push the visitors left and right before the centre, besieged by three tacklers,somehow squirted a pass between Habana, Ruan Pienaar and Steyn. Drew Mitchell made the entire continent fear the worst as he took three juggling touches, before controlling the loose ball and touching down for five points giving his country a 17-3 lead at the halfway point.
That man again, Giteau stretched the lead after another bout of extreme pressure. The Brumbies star was stretching his thigh as O'Conner kicked the next close range penalty to nudge the scoreboard to 23-3. The offender in this instance, BJ Botha, was binned for cynically slowing the ball down.
The game was now out of reach for the Bok's but Cooper's ten minute lay off allowed the visitors to dampen the mood of the crowd. Their lusty rendition of Advance Australia Fair now seemed a distant memory as Fourie and Gurthro Steenkamp issued five point ripostes. However, with Steyn off the field, the kicking of Pienaar left plenty to be desired. The new Ulster recruit wayward with both conversions leaving them facing down the barrel of a pointless road trip.
Five minute form the end Will Genia put them out of their misery. The scrum-half earning his reward for feeding Wallaby backs with perfect ball all night, sniping in under the posts to seal the victory.
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