Australia 39-20 South Africa
Australia banished the memories of their shock defeat to Samoa a week ago, with a dominant display against a very poor and weakened South African side in Sydney.
The Wallabies started the game in blistering fashion scoring two tries in as many minutes. The first came from prop Ben Alexander after eight minutes, a wonderful dummy and break from fly-half Quade Cooper saw him cut the Springbok defence wide open. He moved the ball onto Kurtley Beale who then found James O'Connor, the ball was recycled and moved out wide and a deft offload by captain Rocky Elsom found Alexander who strolled over in the corner. O'Connor then added the conversion for a 7-0 lead, and it took just 30 seconds for Australia to add their second score of the half.
Will Genia spotted a mismatch at the fringes of the ruck and skipped past Werner Kruger, he threw the ball inside to Digby Ioane, who was to strong and quick for Gio Aplon who couldn't stop the Reds winger and scored a superb try. This time O'Connor couldn't add the extras but Robbie Deans men held a commanding 12-0 lead.
After many pundits suggested Australia lacked intensity and physicality in defence against Samoa, the Wallabies showed that they have some bite with massive hits rocking the Springbok players and forcing handling errors all over the pitch.
Peter de Villiers men registered their first points of the game through a Morne Steyn penalty after 29 minutes which reduced the gap to 12-3. But O'Connor responded with a penalty of his own five minutes later which restored the 12 point lead for the Wallabies. But Steyn had the final say of the half slotting another penalty to reduce the gap to nine points going into the half. But it was clear the Springboks were second best and needed a big second half to get a result from the game.
But it took Australia two minutes to score their third try of the game, Cooper once again ripped through the weak Bok defence, his pass to O'Connor was poor but the young winger showed brilliant composure to take the ball and score. The 21 year old then stepped up and slotted his conversion to make the scores 22-6.
The Wallabies again crossed the line four minutes later, Genia once more probed round the fringes and gave a brilliant delayed pass to Stephen Moore who picked a brilliant line and stepped round the full-back and score under the sticks. It was a superb try that any centre in the world would of been proud of, O'Connor added the simple conversion.
The winger then added his second penalty of the night to make the score 32-6. The Springboks looked completely demoralised and the Australians took advantage by scoring their fifth try of the game. A turnover deep inside their half allowed the Aussies to break clear of the defence, the ball was recycled and moved to the left hand side, and Cooper produced a moment of magic flicking the ball on to Adam Ashley-Cooper, who stepped past Steyn to score. O'Connor added the sensational conversion to make the score 39-6.
To their credit the Springboks got themselves back into the game and added some respectability to the scoreboard. Firstly through replacement hooker Chilliboy Ralepelle who crashed over after a solid maul close to the line. The captain John Smit who had endured a torrid evening, leapt over the ruck to touchdown after a period of good pressure. Patrick Lambie converted both tries to make the score 39-20, but in truth the Australians had taken their foot of the gas and had made several changes.
The final score didn't really reflect the dominance Wallabies showed in all areas of the game, especially defence where they were terrific, they will be full of confidence going into their next game. South Africa were extremely poor, they lacked intensity in defence and looked clueless in attack, and they will be dreading their trip to New Zealand next week.
Man of the Match
Digby Ioane
