Mortlock conversion seals Wallaby win
Stirling Mortlock slotted a 76th minute conversion of a Mat Rogers try to secure a two-point, 20-18, Tri-Nations win for Australia over South Africa at the Telstra Stadium, in Sydney, on Saturday. Not only did the victory win back the Mandela Plate for the Wallabies from the Springboks, but it also kept the Aussies Tri-Nations dream alive.
Six years ago, in Durban, Mortlock slotted a last minute penalty to win a game against the Boks and win the Tri-Nations. Saturday, in Sydney, he again calmly slotted the winner that ensured the Wallabies stay in the hunt.
They now head to Auckland on August 19 for a rematch with New Zealand, a game that is shaping as the Tri-Nations decider.
And the Boks finally scored their first Tri-Nations point of the year, a bonus point for losing by less than seven points.
But it was a game the Springboks could have, and should have, won. Another opportunity butchered.
For the Springboks it was another improved performance in a funny old game that was as dull as ditch water for the most of the game and then suddenly bubbled into life in the last 12 minutes or so as the scores were tight.
In the end a bit of Wallaby brilliance was enough to win the match. Somehow, under pressure and near the half-way line Sam Cordingley hit a ball up to Phil Waugh and the flank, playing his 50th Test, broke down the midfield. Challenged he threw a pass to Mat Rogers on his left. He was unchallenged though Percy Montgomery came across to shepherd him to the corner where he scored his try.
From touch Stirling Mortlock's conversion hit the upright and dropped over the bar to give the Wallabies a two-point victory.
It was tense stuff at the end, which may have been compensation for the drab stuff that had gone on before, especially in the first half, when they kicked. Both teams kicked. They kicked and kicked and kicked. In the first half there were 56 kicks -- 27 by the Wallabies and 29 by the Springboks. The difference was that Australia did it better than South Africa and ended the half winning 10-0.
The ten points came from a penalty and a try. The try came from a bizarre South African kick.
The Springboks play a conservative game, which is an understatement. They do not mind where they kick as long as they have men behind it. The kick that gave the Wallabies their try was not a safe kick.
The Springboks battled to get the ball back from a maul after a line-out on their right. Under pressure from George Smith but looking as if it were a pre-planned idea James kicked wide to his left. Perhaps Smith's pressure forced him to hook the kick low and shallow. Shallow and low the ball went and it hit the ground between Percy Montgomery and Bryan Habana. There was mark Gerrard who grabbed the ball and raced 50 odd metres to score. Mortlock converted and the score was 10-0 after 33 minutes.
That score came after the Springboks had had territorial advantage despite being contented to kick the ball to Chris Latham who outkicked them.
Mortlock could have scored in the first minute. Stephen Larkham kicked off low to start the match and Wynand Olivier knocked on. Producing the first wobbly Wallaby scrum of the half, but the Wallabies kept the ball going and eventually CJ van der Linde was penalised for diving in. Mortlock missed the relatively easy kick. But when the Wallabies got close to the posts and Johan Muller dived in, Mortlock lobbed over the easy kick to make it 3-0.
The Springboks had a good passage of play as they gave the Wallabies a tough time in the line-out. The Springboks then attacked but Montgomery missed an easy penalty. He missed a sitter of a drop as well when he had lots of time and was right in front, but the ball just made it into the Wallaby in-goal and wide of the posts.
James conjured up a clever chip for Habana but the perverse ball bounced away from the wing and into touch.
Then came Gerrard's try and a 10-0 lead for the Wallabies at the break.
The Springboks started the second half on the attack but Jacques Cronjé lost the ball as he bashed at the Wallaby line and suddenly the Springboks were scampering back to get to Gerrard's kick. Fourie saved the day.
Then it was the Springboks' turn to break out as Fourie du Preez footed a dropped pass at the Wallaby line where Matt Giteau fell on the ball and slithered back to concede a five-metre scrum. Form the scrum Cronjé charged at the wallaby posts where George Smith was penalised at the tackle.
James now took over the goal-kicking and easily potted this won. 10-3 after 46 minutes.
Then came the second best individual break of the match. From a line-out Wynand Olivier cut clean through going left. He played to Akona Ndungane on his right. The wing was tackled but Larkham had no scruples about playing the dangerous ball from the wrong side. Again this was an easy kick for James. 10-6 after 48 minutes.
Again South Africa attacked but Cronjé was penalised for holding on, and then came the first Springbok try.
Under pressure again at a scrum, massive Wycliff Palu passed back to George Gregan but behind his captain. The ball fell loose and Du Preez footed far ahead. Ndungane was there to hack it on and then Jaque Fourie dived on the ball in the in-goal for the try. James converted from far out and the score was 13-10 to the Springboks after 55 minutes. In terms of recent performances this had an air of unreality about it.
The Wallabies should have scored soon afterwards when Gerrard came to a chip at the Springbok line with just Latham behind him. Impatiently he tried to snap up the ball and instead knocked it on. The Springboks won the subsequent five-metre scrum but Montgomery's clearance took them to a line-out just six metres from their line. The Wallabies mauled and James was penalised for coming up too early. Mortlock goaled. 13-13.
South Africa attacked with Montgomery prominent on the left and then the veteran fullback scored a remarkable try.
From the far left the Springboks came right and Montgomery got a pass on the wallaby 22 and surged ahead. He got past Larkham but then Tuqiri got him and three other Wallabies gathered as somehow the slender fullback kept going forward with just slim Habana to support him till eager Solly Tyibilika joined in. Over the Wallaby line they went where, in a steaming bundle, Montgomery was awarded his most unusual Test try.
James missed the conversion, which became significant in the action that happened eight minutes later when Mortlock kicked his in-off to win the match.
Man of the Match: It was not easy to single out anybody but two players made a big contribution for South Africa -- Victor Matfield of South Africa who led the Springboks in the pressure they put on the great wallaby line-out and Fourie du Preez at scrum-half. For the Wallabies George Gregan, breaking John Eales's record as captain of Australia, had moments of brilliance with the variety in his play and his ability to probe close in and our Man of the Match, Stirling Mortlock of Australia. He looked most likely to run, always likely to tackle and he kicked the goal that counted.
Moment of the Match: We are going for Mat Rogers's try off Phil Waugh's break.
Villain of the match: There was Dan Vickerman and John Smit, who did some silly embracing and Stephen Larkham seems so cantankerous when tackled and then his killing the ball at the tackle could well have earned a yellow card.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Gerrard, Rogers
Cons: Mortlock 2
Pens: Mortlock 2
For South Africa:
Tries: Fourie, Montgomery
Con: James
Pens: James 2
Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Stirling Mortlock (vice-captain), 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Mat Rogers, 22 Clyde Rathbone.
South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Solly Tyibilika, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Johann Muller, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Eddie Andrews, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges: Paul Honiss, Kelvin Deaker (both New Zealand)
Television match official: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Assessor: Dick Byres (Australia)
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