So concerned was Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen about his side's goal-kicking that he seriously considered using lock and skipper John Eales in Saturday night's Tri-Nations clash against South Africa at Stadium Australia. But his last-minute decision to persevere with ACT Brumbies ace Stirling Mortlock paid handsome dividends as the youngster landed six-from-six and a try for a personal tally of 21 points in Australia's grinding 26-6 victory.
The Springboks may have come out blazing, with a stray boot opening up Wallaby No.8 Jim Williams' head in the first minute, but it was the Australians who opened the scoring, when winger Mortlock landed a penalty after two minutes.
Williams recovered and three minutes later flyhalf Stephen Larkham split the Boks' defence in a movement that eventually saw the big Wallaby No.8 bundled into touch near the left-hand corner flag.
Larkham was at it again soon after when he sent the ball wide for Herbert, who placed a well-wighted kick into the South African 22. New Bok fullback Thinus Delport collected the ball and his opposite Chris Latham at the same time and Latham managed to drive Delport backwards for a five metre scrum.
But for all their spirit and endeavour, the Wallabies couldn't capitalise and in the 10th minute Springbok flyhalf Braam van Straaten levelled the scores with a well-struck penalty goal. Australia 3 South Africa 3.
Throughout the week the Australian and South African press corps repeatedly sang the praises of Larkham. Even Bok coach Nick Mallett referred to Larkham as the main danger to his side's success, while van Straaten copped abuse for his performance against the All Blacks a week ago. Van Straaten reacted by stating that he thought he played well at Christchurch, but when during an interview on Wednesday, Larkham's name popped up again, Van Straaten stormed off in frustration.
In the early stages at Stadium Australia Van Straaten played like a man possessed. He took the ball to the line and his forwards were at his side; time and again pressing the Wallaby defence.
Cheeky halfback Werner Swanepoel joined in on the act and his sniping around the scrumbase and the rucks and mauls proved a menace to Australia. But as in Christchurch last week, the Boks couldn't cross the line.
The Wallabies in the 12th minute showed their intricate handling skills when Larkham twice looped and handled in a movement that ended when Latham was tackled into touch.
Two minutes later rugged Bok flanker Andre Venter (playing his 50th Test) was unlucky to be penalised for a late charge on Larkham. Mortlock goaled for a 6-3 lead.
At this stage, the game was all cut and thrust, with neither side giving any quarter, but it was fast becoming obvious that the Wallabies were gathering some momentum and the ascendancy.
Van Straaten landed a penalty for 6-all after referee Ed Morrison ruled against Wallaby centre Daniel Herbert for a high tackle on Delport. On reflection, the call was a harsh one, but probably evened things up for Morrison's ruling against Venter for his alleged late charge on Larkham.
The Wallabies continued to attack and their confidence increased as the game wore on. In the 23rd minute that man Williams again charged onto the ball, only to be held up over the line. It seemed inevitable the Australians would eventually score.
And four minutes later, Mortlock, who had been the Aussies' go-go man, did the honours after some superb lead-up work by centre Daniel Herbert. Herbert took a pass from Larkham on the angle, committing De Wet Barry to the tackle. Larkham doubled round and kept the movement going with a slick pass to inside-centre Jason Little.
Little handed to winger Joe Roff who found Mortlock on his outside. Herbert's ability to commit Barry created the overlap out wide and Mortlock crossed the tryline without a finger being laid on him. He then converted for a handy 13-6 lead.
Two further penalty goals by Mortlock saw Australia lead 19-6 at halftime.
The second half began in almost the same fashion as the first, with the Boks creating opportunities but failing to finish. But for the most part, the half belonged to Australia.
Toutai Kefu replaced Williams six minutes into the second half and if the Boks thought they would be given some respite, they were seriously mistaken as Kefu showed just why he is regarded in many circles for being the most explosive No.8 in the world.
Every time he touched the ball, Kefu proved a handful for the Boks. Then in the 60th minute he busted through a couple of defenders and popped the ball up for Little, who zigged and zagged his way past Bok winger Pieter Rossouw, only to be stopped millimetres from the line. But that didn't matter as replacement hooker Jeremy Paul was on hand to dot down for the conclusive try. And with Mortlock's conversion, the Australians held a formidable 26-6 lead.
Try as they did, the Boks simply could not breach the Australian line for the remainder of the match. Once again the Wallabies' defence held firm and once again, the Boks failed to score a try for their second successive outing.
After the game Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen said: "We have a lot of pride in our defence. We were disappointed with our defence in our earlier games and I would have liked to see us with more ball in tonight's second half."
The cauldron Bok coach Nick Mallett and his team will walk into when they arrive home on Tuesday is likely to be white-hot. But as always, South Africa will be a formidable opponent on their own soil when they tackle the All Blacks in Johannesburg on August 19, and then the Wallabies in Durban a week later.
Mallett's comments during the week that he didn't have to win and that he didn't see this as a "must-win" Test for his team may come back to haunt him. Further defeat this season could cost him his job.
Man of the match: Who else but Stirling Mortlock, who scored 21 of his side's 26 points and landed an impressive tally of six place-kicks from as many attempts. Once again he showed that he is a powerful runner and very hard to stop with the ball in hand. Matt Burke may be on his way back to full fitness but Mortlock's display makes life difficult for the selectors when they are forced to make a choice.
Moment of the match: Mortlock's try in the first half showed how clinically brilliant this Wallaby backline can be. The buildup was well-planned, Herbert took the ball on the angle, Larkham handled twice and a couple of passes later, Mortlock was in for the try. A superbly executed try.
Villain of the match: South Africa's inability to score tries in the big games is becoming a huge headache for coach Nick Mallett. The Boks scored some wonderful tries against Australia in Melbourne when nothing was at stake. But in their two Tri-Nations outings the Boks have been shown-up for their shortcomings in attack. A big black mark that Mallett must rectify fast.
The teams:
Australia: 1 Richard Harry, 2 Michael Foley, 3 Fletcher Dyson, 4 John Eales (c), 5 David Giffin, 6 Mark Connors, 7 David Wilson, 8 Jim Williams, 9 George Gregan, 10 Steve Larkham, 11 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Dan Herbert, 13 Jason Little, 14 Joe Roff, 15 Chris Latham
Reserves: Matt Cockbain, Rod Kafer, Toutai Kefu, Jeremy Paul, Glenn Panoho, Ben Tune
Unused: Sam Cordingley
South Africa: 1 Robbie Kempson, 2 Charl Marais, 3 Cobus Visagie, 4 Mark Andrews, 5 Albert Van Den Bergh, 6 Corne Krige, 7 Andre Venter, 8 Andre Vos (c), 9 Werner Swanepoel, 10 Braam Van Straaten, 11 Breyton Paulse, 12 De Wet Barry, 13 Robbie Fleck, 14 Pieter Rossouw, 15 Thinus Delport
Reserves: John Smit, Warren Brosnihan, Ollie Le Roux, Percy Montgomery, Joost Van Der Westhuizen
Unused: Jannes Labuschagne, Chester Williams
Attendance: 77048
Referee: Morrison e.
Points Scorers:
Australia
Tries: Mortlock S.A. 1, Paul J.A. 1
Conv: Mortlock S.A. 2
Pen K.: Mortlock S.A. 4
South Africa
Pen K.: Van Straaten A.J.J. 2
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