Australia 39-20 South Africa
Australia bounced back from the indignity of losing at home to Samoa, scoring five crisp tries in their opening Tri Nations game against South Africa. However, seven weeks out from the World Cup, where that leaves the Wallabies on the global stage is anyone's guess.
With more than 20 candidates for World Cup places left at home, this was a Springbok B team at best and, of the starting XV, only two, Morne Steyn and the captain, John Smit ? because he is captain ? are likely to be around when the world champions begin the defence of their crown against Wales in Wellington on 11 September.
In fact, had their coach Peter de Villiers not already nominated his captain for the tournament, it would be hard to see Smit beating Bismarck du Plessis to the hooker's shirt.
On Saturday it was the 33-year-old's particular misfortune to be rendered horribly flat-footed by Australia's inspiration, Will Genia, one of seven changes to the team that started against Samoa. The scrum-half seemed to take special delight in running at, and around, Springbok forwards in general, and Smit in particular, as the Wallabies rushed to a 12-point lead in less than 10 minutes and then wrapped up the match with a fifth try, and a bonus point, only five minutes into the second half.
At 39-6, that was game over, although a rash of substitutions cost Australia their shape and rhythm and, with it, a few more tries.
The Springboks did not even have the consolation of their customary supremacy in the tight. The lineout looked shaky and the scrum creaked. However, the worst aspect of Springbok play was more than two dozen missed tackles and a hatful of turn-overs. Such generosity gave Australia's talented backs all the ammunition they needed.
Quade Cooper side-stepped out of his 22, Kurtley Beale cruised 60 metres up the right and the prop Ben Alexander found himself part of a two-man overlap on the left for the first try. A minute later, the other part of the overlap had scored the second, Genia running around Smit to release the wing Digby Ioane.
By the time Cooper's fast hands had released Adam Ashley-Cooper to run through Steyn's timid tackle, things were starting to look embarrassing ? and with the All Blacks to come in Wellington next week before De Villiers has a chance to rethink his strategy and call for the cavalry.
He will no doubt point to the two second-half tries that made the scoreline less lopsided. Others might suggest the replacement of Steyn with the 20-year-old Sharks fly-half Patrick Lambie added much-needed snap to the South Africa attack before Smit scored his face-saving try with a dive from a metre out.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jul/23/australia-south-africa-tri-nations
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