Spain win vital Czech encounter

RWC qualifier

On Saturday afternoon at the Josef Kohout Rugby Stadium in Ricany Spain beat the Czech Republic 33-12, an important win, especially away from home.

The second leg is in Madrid at the end of September.

The winner of this Europe Round 4 qualifier will go into Round 5 with Romania and Georgia.  The winner of that will go to the 2007 World Cup in France.  The runner-up will go into répechage.

On a pleasant if windy afternoon, Spain were always ahead, leading 13-0 at half-time thanks to two penalty goals by Esteban Roqué who also converted the try by Alfonso Mata five minutes before half-time.  Mata's try came from a maul started by prop Javier Salazar.

Early in the second half the Spanish Lions increased their lead to 20-0 with a try by scrumhalf Pablo Feijoo.  No.8 Óscar Astarloa tapped a penalty and sent Feijoo on a 60-metre run for the corner.

After the Czech coach had made several changes a try by Jiri Skall got the Czechs on the scoreboard.  Martin Kafka converted.

Esteban Roqué kicked two more penalties before Vaclav Jursik scored the Czechs' second try.  26-12.

Rafael Álvarez chipped, chased, gathered, beat two defenders and scored Spain's third try.

Scorers:

For Spain:

Tries:  Mata, Feijoo, Álvarez
Cons:  Roqué 3
Pens:  Roqué 4

For Czech Republic:
Tries:  Skall, Jursik
Con:  Kafka

Teams:

Spain:  15 César Sempere, 14 Juan Cano,, 13 Javier Canosa, 12 Alvar Enciso, 11 Rafael Alvarez, 10 Esteban Roque, 9 Pablo Feijoo, 8 Óscar Astarloa, 7 Alfonso Mata, 6 Rafael Camacho, 5 César Bernasconi, 4 Andrew Ebbet, 3 Javier Salazar, 2 Mathieu Cidre, 1 César Caballero.
Replacements:  16 Diego Zarzosa, 17 Ion Insausti, 18 Sergio Souto, 19 Cyril Hijar, 20 Igor Mirones, 21 Andrei Kovalenko, 22 Victor Marlet

Czech Republic:  15 Krejcí Tomáš, 14 Jursík Václav, 13 Rohlík Jan, 12 Kafka Martin, 11 Cí?ek Martin, 10 Snídal Martin, 9 Vítezslav Dosedla, 8 Miroslav Nemecek, 7 Ladislav Vondrášek, 6 Jirí Buryánek, 5 Jan Machácek, 4 Robert Voves, 3 Pavel Indrák, 2 Jan Oswald, 1 Lukáš Rapant
Replacements:  16 Jirí Skall, 17 Patrik Leroch, 18 Karel Kucera, 19 Martin Hudák, 20 Pavel Vokrouhlík, 21 Jaroslav Tomcík, 22 Martin Pachman

Referee:  Andrew Small (England)
Touch judges:  Rowan Kitt, Andrew Pearce (both England)
Match commissioner:  Klaus Blank (Germany)

Springboks finish on a high

Two tries to one seals win

The Springboks ended their 2006 Tri-Nations on a winning note, beating the Wallabies 24-16 on a sunny spring afternoon at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.  The South Africans outscored Australia by two tries to one.

Despite the win, the Boks still finish with the tournament's wooden spoon; Australia finish second.  These placing were a done deal even before the game, as was the competition for the Mandela Challenge Plate that the Wallabies had won with their two victories in Australia earlier in the tournament.

The match had its moments -- moments rather than passages of constructive play, melodious snatches in a pretty ponderous piece of music.

It was not quite the boring kickathon that the two teams produced when they last met in Sydney, although the first half promised to be a repeat as they kicked and kicked and produced a half-time score of 3-all -- a penalty apiece.  Not even the goal-kicking was much cop as the Wallabies missed two -- one by Stirling Mortlock and one by Cameron Shepherd and André Pretorius missed two.

In fact it was a match of many errors.  There were handling errors by both sides, the Wallabies guilty of forward passes when they looked scoring.  The Springboks managed four gross kicks out of hand.  Pretorius failed to kick a penalty into touch but kicked a good ball over the dead-ball line, and Jean de Villiers and Wynand Olivier both cleared poorly to touch.

There was a time in the second half when the Springboks were playing like men either drunk or recklessly playing Russian roulette with their historic invincibility at Ellis Park.  They were sloppy in the tackle and sloppy in their handling.

The Wallabies must have been glad there were not more scrums, because the truth is that they are still not good enough as they buckled.  And yet from two wonky scrums they managed good attacks as the Springbok forwards, intent on scrumming, locked themselves in.

Ellis Park was not full -- 51,174 spectators for the third Highveld Test in successive weeks as "grassroots" found the exercise financially withering.  But John Smit, the Springbok captain, whose Tri-Nations had threatened to be the most miserable of all time, was pleased -- pleased with the victory and with the support at Ellis Park, saying that the momentum a second victory gave his side was paramount, especially with the World Cup final just a year away.

The Wallabies did not leave Johannesburg empty-handed as they were given the Mandela Plate, courtesy of their two home victories over the Springboks.

The Wallabies had the first chance to score when they got a really good maul going and BJ Botha was penalsied for collapsing it, but Mortlock hooked his kick to the left.

There was a bizarre near miss.  Stephen Larkham, 40 or so metres out, chipped and Rocky Elsom chased.  Fourie du Preez was at the ball and went strolling back with it.  At the line it stopped, by which time big Elsom was bearing down on him and Fourie managed to push the ball down on the line for a five-metre scrum.  It was an incident which may well have deserved a conversation with the television match official.

In this early part of the match the Wallabies were much more threatening.  When the Springboks overthrew a line-out George Gregan was on hand to attack.  Pedrie Wannenburg conceded a penalty and Mortlock opened the score after 17 minutes.

After that, more and more, the Springboks got on top,.  They counter-attacked and Pierre Spies had a great break past Rodney Blake.  He gave a perfect past to Jaque Fourie who, Mortlock looming, played inside on a switch to Wynand Olivier who looked certain to score till Clyde Rathbone mowed him down from behind.  Gregan was on hand to get the tackle ball and Olivier was penalised for holding on.

The Wallabies tapped a penalty for obstruction and debutant JP Pietersen was hard pressed on defence.

After missing two penalties, Pretorius, who was not as much in control as he had been against the All Blacks in Rustenburg, goaled the third when Daniel Vickerman was penalsied at a tackle on the half-way line and five metres in from touch.

At half-time Breyton Paulse came on as a substitute for Akona Ndungane -- it turned out to be a significant substitution on vital defence and decisive attack.

From the kick-off for the second half, Rathbone caught the ball.  He evaded AJ Venter but not Os du Randt and conceded a penalty for holding on.  Pretorius made it 6-3 with an easy kick.

But the Wallabies were soon back in front when the Springboks went on a drunken wobble.  De Villiers gave a poor clearance but the Springboks won the line-out.  They then won a turn-over but Victor Matfield eschewed the option of a simple pass and went on a crazy run.  He then lost the ball.  Matt Giteau scooped the ball up and went left where the Wallabies had numbers.  Big Wycliff Palu cut inside with power and at the line gave Larkham an easy try, which Mortlock converted.  10-6 after 45 minutes.

When Vickerman was penalised for an air tackle at a line-out, Pretorius made it 10-9 but the Wallabies attacked.  They were knocked out near the Springbok corner-post.  A quick throw-in saw Paulse hoof the ball miles down the field where Latham had no angle and kicked out just outside the Wallaby 22.  From the line-out Pretorius dropped a perfect goal.  12-10 after 53 minutes.

Spies caught the kick off and raced down the touch-line on his right.  He had just Latham to beat but opted to grubbered and grubbered into touch.

At this stage the Wallabies made changes, bringing on Mark Chisholm and Mark Gerrard.  When the Springboks got a maul going, Chisholm was penalised for collapsing it.  Du Preez tapped and charged at the backpedalling Wallabies.  Through and past Palu, Jeremy Paul, Gerrard, Blake and Nathan Sharpe he went to force his way for a try.  Pretorius converted.  19-10.  Now the Wallabies had to produce something extra to win.  They could not.

Palu had a great break past Du Preez, Venter and Wannenburg from a scrum but Fourie got him in the nick of time, but the Springboks were off-side in the subsequent disarray and Mortlock made it 19-13.  after 59 minutes.

Larkham kicked a high ball on 20-year-old Pietersen who knocked it on many metres where Venter showed disregard for the laws of the game and played it, way off-side, Mortlock made it 19-16.

After Matfield had flung an impossible line-out take at Du Preez's feet Sharpe had a great run till Paulse tackled him.  The move developed but Paulse was back up to intercept and clear.  But it looked as if the Wallaby was in the ascendant.  The ascendant fizzled out.

Paulse was also involved in a great Springbok attack down the right with Pietersen showing wonderful handling skills but inside five metres from the Wallaby line, Spies lost the ball forward and Giteau cleared.

Back the Springboks came down the right with Pietersen and Matfield prominent -- Pietersen twice.  The ball went back to the right where slightly-built Paulse crashed between Gerrard and Larkham, stretched and scored a splendid try.  24-16 with seven minutes to play.

Both sides made changes in that short time but neither looked likely to score though George Smith did find time for a bit of gratuitous stamping.

Man of the Match:  Chris Latham's positional play and boom-boom boot were outstanding, Nathan Sharpe was excellent and Phil Waugh still stole ball, but the stars were probably Springboks -- again Pierre Spies, strong Os du Randt, Breyton Paulse for his cameo appearance and our Man of the Match staunch Fourie du Preez who is such a good footballer and such a good team man.

Moment of the Match:  There was not great sparkle in the match but our Moment of the match is Breyton Paulse's try, build-up and finish.

Villain of the Match:  A few fisty-cuffs and a little bit of tap-dancing, but nothing overly naught.  No award.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries:  Du Preez, Paulse
Con:  Pretorius
Pens:  Pretorius 3
DG:  Pretorius

For Australia:
Try:  Larkham
Con:  Mortlock
Pens:  Mortlock 3

Teams:

South Africa:  15 JP Pietersen, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Wynand Olivier, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 AJ Venter, 6 Pierre Spies, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Johann Muller, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements:  16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Jacques Cronjé, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Butch James, 22 Breyton Paulse.

Australia:  15 Chris Latham, 14 Clyde Rathbone, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Jeremy Paul, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements:  16 Tai McIsaac, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 George Smith, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Mark Gerrard, 22 Scott Staniforth.

Referee:  Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Alan Lewis (Ireland), Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Television match official:  Eric Darrière (France)
Assessor:  Michel Lamoulie (France)

Pretorius penalty gives Boks a win

Losing streak ended at Royal Bafokeng Stadium

The Springboks ended their long-running losing streak with a nail-biting 21-20 win over the All Blacks at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Saturday -- South Africa's first win of the 2006 Tri-Nations tournament.

The teams scored two tries each, but Pretorius landed a 78th-minute penalty to put the Boks into the lead, which they clung on for their first win since June.

It not only ended a five-match losing streak for South Africa, it punctuated New Zealand's 15-match winning run.

Wow!  Take common sense and form and reason and throw them all away when 15 men stand up and decide that that other 15 -- the best in the world, they say -- are also just 15 men and can be beaten.  Take a team beleaguered, belittled and befuddled and give them a chance to play rugby football with serious determination and throw predictions in the bin.

This is the glory of sport -- the upset.  This is the glory of sport -- rival against rival in nail-biting contest.

The Springboks had little going for them -- a dilapidated season, playing on a ground they had never played on before to rob them of the advantage of being in their own "country" and with a threadbare crowd that spent much of the match like a sedate crowd of cricket watchers at a five-day test.

Then when the crowd sensed the possibility of a Springbok victory they got right behind the Springboks.  After all just being there proved their loyalty to the cause.

After the match Mils Muliaina said that the Springboks deserved to win, and that would be fair.  There was just a single point in it and obviously the All Blacks could have won but this time the pressure told and they became uncharacteristic -- their handling unsure.  Their captain Richie McCaw said that they had become frantic and lacked the composure which instead the Springboks had.  Perhaps chasing records produces counter-productive pressure of its own.  Perhaps having nothing but pride to lose produces winning determination.

Problems for the All Blacks started at the line-out.  They lost six to the Springboks and threw one in skew.  That was telling, and this time the Springboks used the ball won far better than they had done in their previous four Tri-Nations matches.  When Jason Eaton came on the All Black line-out got onto an even keel but by then a lost line-out had given the Springboks their second try.

For their part the Springboks did what people had been imploring them to do -- play with the ball in hand and play wide, for the All Blacks may be great attackers out wide but they are not great defenders there.

At flyhalf André Pretorius set his men running and they attacked space.  It was his brilliant pass that sent Pedrie Wannenburg plunging for the try.

The much-questioned Springbok loose forwards did well enough.  Jerry Collins was great for New Zealand and Richie McCaw was the boss of the tackle but otherwise the Springboks were well and truly in the game.

It was a day to remember at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace outside the western town of Rustenburg with its platinum mine.  It was a day when the Springboks struck gold.

There was a time when it looked as if it was going to be the chaos of Springs in 1964 but the gates were thrown open to let the people in, just in time.  There were singable anthems, the controversial throat-cutting haka and then a gripping match on an outstanding playing surface.

In the first couple of minutes Wannenburg dashed up and thumped Doug Howlett to ground.  Then the Springboks played wide to their right but Akona Ndungane was penalised for hanging on.  Penalties continue to blight the Springboks game.  In this match the count was 12-10 against them and seven of their dirty dozen are for tackle/ruck offences.

South Africa scored first when Rodney So’oialo was penalsied for going into the side of a maul.  He was also the player penalised last, and that was the one that counted as Pretorius set up his ball on a sand castle, peaked out from under a boxer's eyebrow and goaled the vital, winning kick.

After Fourie du Preez kicked the ball away Aaron Mauger had a frightening break which suggested that Springbok defence was leaky indeed but from then on it was, as John Smit described it "alert".

Having kicked badly and having missed a tackle Du Preez then went into the side of a tackle and was penalised.  Carter goaled to make it 3-3 after nine minutes.

When Ali Williams for a sceond time interfered with a line-out jumper in the air, Pretorius made it 6-3 after 16 minutes.

Then the All Blacks scored one of those tries that they make look so incredulously easy.

From a line-out after a poor clearing kick by Pretorius, they went left with Joe Rokocoko coming in from the right wing and Howlett sprinting down the left to send Sitiveni Sivivatu running.  Back they came right where Chris Jack took Carter's pass, which may have been meant to be a skip pass, and the big lock charged at the posts.  He got a pass to Jerry Collins who would surely have scored if he had not let Carter do so.  Carter converted and the All Blacks led 10-6.

Was this the sign of things to come?  Hindsight answers that.

The Springboks responded almost immediately when So’oialo dithered and then passed to his right.  The pass reached Bryan Habana who did what he did so well last year -- intercepted and jogged off for a try under the posts.  Pretorius converted.  13-10 after 20 minutes.

The score stuck on that for 20 minutes till just before half-time when AJ Venter made an appearance in the match, falling on the tackle area to be penalised and enable Carter to give his side parity at 13-all at half-time.

Not that nothing happened in those 20 minutes:  Os du Randt went off with a cut head, Carter -- astounding to relate -- missed a penalty kick at goal.  Rokocoko set the All Blacks going left and right.  The Springboks won a turn-over and Matfield, in his favourite position of fly-half, grubbered into touch.  The Springboks won an All Black throw into a line-out five metres from their own line but Carter smashed Du Preez back for a five-metre scrum.  The All Blacks bashed and then lost the "use it or lose it" maul.  The Springboks cleared but not out and the All Blacks were counter-attacking with Jerry Collins breaking.  The All Blacks went over.  Andrew Hore grounded the ball under the Springbok posts.  The referee consulted the television match official, Hugh Watkins of Wales, and he advised that So’oialo had obstructed Jean de Villiers.  Instead of a try the All Blacks were penalised.

So’oialo did not have the sport of game he will want prominently in his memory bank.

The second half belonged mainly to South Africa.  Pretorius tried to drop at goal three times.  The first attempt was charged down and he missed the other two by substantial margins.

The Springboks attacked and Chris Jack intercepted but the big man lacked the legs to carry him 70 metres.

Then Collins counter-attacked and Ndungane intercepted well inside his 22, but Rokocoko mowed him down without the possibility of a try.

The Springboks now sent on Breyton Paulse and Ruan Pienaar.  Pienaar was at scrum-half this time and had a great 27 minutes.

The Springboks won an All Black line-out and went far left.  Then they came back right and Pierre Spies straightened for the line.  In straightening he took out three defenders.  The ball came back to the Springboks quickly -- Pienaar to Pretorius going further right.  Under pressure Pretorius got a perfect pass to Wannenburg who scored far out.  The conversion was missed.  Later that seemed a crucial miss.

Going left Muliaina slipped a perfect grubber behind the Springboks backs and into their in-goal area where Rokocoko got to the ball first and got it down for a try far out.  Carter's boot was true and the All Blacks led 20-18 with 14 minutes to play.

Pretorius did much to keep the Springboks in All Black territory as he probed the diagonals.  They also had the ball in hand and De Villiers looked to have got away but a great Carter tackle pulled him down.

The All Blacks were in Springbok territory on the Springbok left.  Howlett was penalsied for diving on Paulse, and Pienaar kicked the penalty down onto the All Black 22.  He kicked because Pretorius was having trouble with cramp and Butch James was off the bench and looking likely to replace him.  This was significant in the unfolding drama.

The Springboks won the subsequent line-out and the All Blacks were penalised.  Cramp forgotten, Pretorius's nerve and body held as he goaled the kick that made the score 21-20 to the Springboks.

There was 1 minute and 17 seconds left on the clock.

It was still not time to rejoice -- not against the All Blacks who can score from anywhere.

The Springboks got the kick-off and kicked the ball out.  The All Blacks got the ball from the line-out and attacked.  Felled in a tackle by BJ Botha, the great McCaw lost the ball forward.  It was a scrum to the Springboks.  Do or die.  The scrum fell down and was reset.  It fell again and the siren went.  The ball had to be fed into the scrum.  It fell again and had to be reset.  The Springboks won the ball.  Kick it out and the game would have been won.  But Wannenburg picked up and dummied Kellher as he drove forward.  A pile of All Blacks fell on him.  The referee decided the situation was unplayable and blew the final whistle.

The unlikely had happened.

There were speeches and the King of the Bafokeng presented the Freedom Cup to South Africa, wrongfully it seems.  They were also, after all, the last team to beat the All Blacks before the mighty New Zealanders went on their winning spree, a spree which has come to an end after fourteen glorious months.

Man of the Match:  Daniel Carter and Jerry Collins were magnificent for New Zealand, such effective players and Aaron Mauger was back again to give direction.  For the Springboks there was a choice between André Pretorius and his steel nerve or the exuberance of young Pierre Spies who was playing just his third Test.  Our Man of the Match is Pierre Spies.

Moment of the Match:  There was Bryan Habana's intercept.  There was the television match official's verdict that Rodney So'oialo had obstructed and so there was no try for Andrew Hore.  But our moment of the match is that last penalty kick at goal by Andre Pretorius that flew, straight and true, between the winning uprights.

Villain of the Match:  Perhaps for his crucial errors Rodney So'oialo would be a candidate.  But by and large people behaved.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries:  Habana, Wannenburg
Con:  Pretorius
Pens:  Pretorius 3

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Carter, Rokocoko
Cons:  Carter 2
Pens:  Carter 2

Teams:

South Africa:  15 Jaque Fourie, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 AJ Venter, 7 Pierre Spies, 6 Pedrie Wannenburg, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Johann Muller, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements:  16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Jacques Cronjé, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Butch James, 22 Breyton Paulse.

New Zealand:  15 Doug Howlett, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Malili Muliaina, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements:  16 Anton Oliver, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Marty Holah, 20 Byron Kelleher, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Rico Gear.

Referee:  Chris White
Touch judges:  Alan Lewis (Ireland), Eric Darrière (France)
Television match official:  Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Assessor:  Michel Lamoulie (France)

Belgium shock Spain

Final of IV Nations

Belgium beat Spain 18-6, six kicks to two kicks, in the final of the inaugural IV Nations tournament.

The result is a surprise to Spain and a blow to the country's hopes of qualifying for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.  This tournament was to have acted as part of the Spanish preparation for their match against Czech Republic and the Spanish side had something of an experimental look about it.

To get to the final Spain had had a convincing (25-7) victory over the Welsh Amateurs while Belgium had beaten the French Amateurs 15-12.

The match was slow and only kicks scored.  The Belgian fullback Carlos Fiero kicked three penalties in the first 20 minutes to give his side a 9-0 lead.  Experienced Spanish flyhalf Esteban Roqué reduced the deficit to 9-6 but then Foero added a fourth to make the score 12-6 at half-time.

Spain made every effort to score a try in the second half but, despite chances, did not manage a single point while Belgium added two dropped goals.  The Belgium pack denied Spain possession and was the instrument of victory.

In the play-off for third place.  France Amateurs beat Wales 28-17.  The tries each scored a try but seven penalty goals and four yellow cards put paid to Welsh hopes.

Scorers:

For Belgium:
Pens:  Fiero 4
Drops:  Fiero, André

For Spain:
Pens:  Roqué 2

Teams:

Belgium:  15 Carlos Fiero, 14 D Nemesdaze, 13 Thibaut André, 12 Dirk Haghendooren, 11 Simon Marote, 10 Peter Dunman, 9 Olivier Mahieu, 8 Pierre Plasman, 7 Bertrand Billi, 6 Mathieu Molreu, 5 Damien Godefroy, 4 Mathieu Verschelden, 3 Jerome Wey, 2 Norman Wende, 1 Alain Miriallakis
Replacements:  16 Patrice Gautier, 17 Julien Massimi, 18 Cyrille Nana, 19 Geoffroy Mulls, 20 Charlie Fourneau, 21 Daniel Nkwasina, 22 Romain Orban, 23 Aaron Denmati, 24 S.  Gunsl, 25 Noam Dubart, 26 Fabian Renquin.

Spain:  15 Rafael Álvarez, 14 Tomás Salvador, 13 David Mota, 12 Javier Canosa, 11 Juan Cano, 10 Esteban Roqué, 9 Matthieu Lo, 8 Álvaro Lázaro, 7 Juan González (captain), 6 Rafael Camacho, 5 Guillermo Bárcena, 4 Andrew Ebbet, 3 Manuel Serrano, 2 José Maria Bohorquez, 1 Jon Insausti
Replacements:  16 Diego Zarzosa, 17 Javier Salazar, 18 Carlos Souto, 19 Iván Criado, 20 , 21 Antonio Beltrán, 22 César Caballero, 23 César Sempere, 24 Álvar Enciso, 25 Matthieu Cidré

Referee:  Bruno Gaudefrin (France)

All Blacks shine in Pretoria

Boks' losing streak continues

New Zealand recorded a well-deserved 45-26 victory over South Africa in a bruising encounter in Pretoria on Saturday, running in five tries and ensuring the Boks' worst run of defeats since they were re-admitted to rugby union post-Apartheid.

There are few feathers left to add to Graham Henry's cap, but one was added at Loftus Versfeld this weekend:  a win over the Boks in South Africa.  Just one diminutive gold pot remains out of his grasp -- for the moment, that is.

The All Blacks, who have already won the tournament, scored five tries and were good value for the win, with Henry making it third time lucky after two consecutive away losses against the Springboks in as many years in the Tri-Nations.

Jake White's cap is not quite as cluttered as his counterpart's.  This is now the worst losing streak since South Africa's readmission and the spotlight over the Bok boss will grow a little more intense.

It was a beautiful day on the Highveld.  Opulent cumulus clouds hung motionless in the big African skies.  There was a palpable sense that something grand was about to happen.

Indeed it did:  the Boks restored a little pride in their rugby and the All Blacks proved that they are fallible.

A fallible 45-26 victory?  A pride-restoring 45-26 defeat?  Perhaps we should back up a wee bit -- it was an extremely confusing afternoon.

Like Pretoria, recently renamed Tshwane, this was a game that struggled to define itself.  Was it a brilliant advert for rugby or a disjointed mess?  A joy to behold or embarrassment?

It would be unfair to say that either side played poorly -- but neither side would look back at this match with much fondness.

Yes, there were moments of brilliance -- but also episodes of pure idiocy.  Some beautiful rugby, but also some moments of barbarism -- the sort of thuggery that Helen Clark might be inclined to call "acts of assault".  Indeed, the citing commissioner is unlikely to have an early night.

The schizophrenia extended even to the stadium clock.  South Africa owned the first 20 minutes of the game and the last 20 minutes; New Zealand feasted on the sandwich's filling.

Despite the flaky performances, two absolute truths remain etched in stone -- the All Blacks are still the current Picassos of world rugby, able to forge masterpieces with the merest flick of the wrist; the Springboks continue to paint by numbers.

And so it was that South Africa began the game -- blasting the visitors with big hits and crash balls, playing with fire in their bellies and textbooks in their pockets.

It worked wonderfully as an opening gambit but the All Blacks hit back once their hosts had burnt themselves out.

Percy Montgomery kicked two penalties to put the Springboks 6-0 up after only four minutes.  Dan Carter managed to halve the deficit with a three-pointer only for the hosts to extend their lead through a Fourie du Preez try.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, having turned the ball over from Akona Ndungane, then lost possession himself, allowing scrum-half Du Preez to pick up and motor over for the opening score.

Carter brought the All Blacks to within five points with another penalty before Mils Muliaina sped down the near touchline, offloaded to Rico Gear, who cut inside only to be stopped a metre short.

The recycled ball was spread wide and Carter stabbed on for Neemia Tialata to touch down.

Carter stretched the lead to eight points with penalties prior to and after half-time before the Boks conceded three tries in 10 minutes.

First, Luke McAlister stripped the first line of defence from the halfway line to go over before Jerry Collins took a quick tap and sent Sitiveni Sivivatu past a clutch of forwards to score the third try.

The fourth came when New Zealand forced a turnover, launched a counter attack, and saw Muliaina finish off a flowing move to put his side 38-14 up.

The game needed two late tries from Jaque Fourie to make the scoreline easier on the eye for the hosts.

The centre scored the first of his brace when he received a flip-pass from Jacques Cronjé on a blindside move to power his way over from close range and then got his second when he was on the shoulder of Jean de Villiers to score under the posts.

That brought the Boks to within 10 points, but as they were edging closer to the All Blacks line, another turnover saw Gear run 70 metres to complete the victory.

Man of the match:  The Springbok half-backs didn't disgrace themselves, Jean de Villiers was a welcome addition to the SA lines, and Jaque Fourie took his tries well.  But this award will be returning to New Zealand.  Dan Carter recovered from so early wobbles to stamp his usual authority on proceedings.  Jerry Collins and Chris Masoe were as cerebral as he was forceful.  Rico Gear created much those around, and Sitiveni Sivivatu had one of his better games.  But we're handing this award to the calm and ever-dependable Mils Muliaina, the unsung hero of New Zealand's dazzling backline.

Moment of the match:  The early exchange raised a few eyebrows -- you don't see idols melt into mortals on everyday of the year.  But for that eternal "that was-the-game-in-which..." moment, look no further the that soaring 62m penalty from Dan Carter on the stroke of half-time -- it meant so much than three points.

Villain of the match:  Isaia Toeava will feel a little villainous after dropping a try-scoring pass, but we'll leave the AB fines council to sort that one out.  As usual, a few silly slaps were exchange by the 'prettier' members of both sides; more unusually, several of the bigger fellows decided to come to blows in a few very ugly encounters.  There's plenty of video to pick over, but for the moment we'll single out the most obvious offender, Ali Williams, who landed a accomplished right-hook to Johann Muller's face.  The big AB lock seems destined to miss out on a the trip to Rustenburg.  Not much of a punishment, granted.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries:  du Preez, Fourie 2
Cons:  Pretorius
Pens:  Montgomery 2, James

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Tialata, McAlister, Sivivatu, Muliaina, Gear
Cons:  Carter 4
Pens:  Carter 4

The teams:

South Africa:  15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Pierre Spies, 6 Solly Tyibilika, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Johann Muller, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements:  16 Chilliboy Ralepelle, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Wynand Olivier, 22 André Pretorius.

New Zealand:  15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Mils Muliaina, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Anton Oliver, 1 Neemia Tialata.
Replacements:  16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Tony Woodcock, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Jerry Collins, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Sam Tuitupou, 22 Isaia Toeava.

Referee:  Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Touch judges:  Chris White (England), Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Television match official:  Eric Darrière (France)
Assessor:  Michel Lamoulie (France)

All Blacks retain Tri-Nations crown

Australia go down in Auckland

New Zealand clinched the 2006 Tri-Nations title courtesy of a tense 34-27 victory over Australia at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

The visitors put up a sterling challenge and had the better of their illustrious opponents during the early exchanges.  But the All Blacks upped the gears in the second half to notch up their 21st consecutive home win and seventh Tri-Nations title, four of those coming in the last five years.

The results mean that the South African leg of the tournament has been reduced to little more than a victory parade for the all-conquering ABs;  the Springboks and Wallabies now must ready themselves to play for that most unpalatable of substances -- pride.

"It's all yours, New Zealand."

Danie Craven said that at Eden Park in 1956.  It's true again at Eden Park fifty years later as the All Blacks stood to receive the Blesidloe Cup and the Tri-Nations Cup.

Even with two matches still to play, the All Blacks are the champions of all that is available to them so far in 2006.  But it was not easy.

The Wallabies had the champions on the ropes in the first half but then, like true champions, they tightened a little and came back in the second half, winning it 23-7.  The All Blacks have the quality of champions and in warding off the Wallabies they had to fight against a physical onslaught.

Physical it was, and enthralling it certainly was as both sides sought to play with the ball in hand.  For one thing there was little kicking, in fact just 23 line-outs in the match.

There were many turn-overs, mainly in the first half and mainly in favour of the Wallabies -- 12-6 was the half-time statistic -- as the All Blacks played a risky game which threatened to sink them.

The All Black line-out held up well and the Wallaby scrum, creaky at times, stood up but it was in the area of the tackle that the fierce contest raged with Richie McCaw an obvious target for the Wallabies, especially for Phil Waugh and Rocky Elsom who were not always scrupulous in their methods.

Elsom was particularly prodigal, giving away four penalties and nine points.  But Waugh was the one sin-binned late in the game -- for quite calculatedly grabbing Ali Williams when he did not have the ball and was supporting the ball-carrier in a movement which could have led to a try.  Lote Tuqiri weighed in with a tackle on McCaw that looked remarkably like a spear tackle.  He was not sanctioned, except by the crowd at whom he sneered.

Those were the bad bits of a match that had so much going for it.

The first shot fired in the first half was by Stephen Larkham as he charged straight ahead and made ground from the first line-out after New Zealand had sought to run from his kick-off.  Carl Hayman was penalised at the tackle and Stirling Mortlock, who had another giant of a game, goaled the penalty.  The Wallabies led 3-0 after two minutes.

Then it was New Zealand's turn to attack.  They went right, left and right again till Elsom and Dan Vickerman were penalised for being off-side and Elsom, who had infringed earlier in the movement, earned his first talking-to.  Carter goaled.  3-3 after five minutes.

In this half Carter's play was more hesitant than his majestic usual and he missed two kicks he would have been expected to goal.

The All Blacks threatened to go right when McCaw turned a pass inside to Joe Rokocoko but a forward pass destroyed a possible try.

When McCaw looked likely to win a turn-over off Greg Holmes Waugh battered into his face and set the All Black captain's nose bleeding, which troubled him for the rest of the match.  But it was McCaw who later gave away a penalty at a tackle that enabled Mortlock to make the score 6-3 after 15 minutes.

New Zealand's line-out was working well though -- evidently reaping the rewards of Robin Brooke's coaching -- and they threatened with their first long maul from the line-out, a tactic which would eventually produce their first try.

When Nathan Sharpe held on, Carter goaled.  6-6 after 20 minutes.

After the Wallabies, with the light wind, had done what the All Blacks did, namely run the ball from their own 22, disaster struck the All Blacks.  They had been doing a lot of risky passing but mostly it was at close quarters.  Jerry Collins tried doing it far out and long and with his left hand.  He floated it high and wide.  Tall Lote Tuqiri plucked the ball out of the twilight sky and raced just over 50 metres to score the first of his two tries in the match.  Mortlock converted, 13-6 after 26 minutes.

At this stage Carl Hayman left the field injured and was replaced by Greg Somerville.  It may come as a surprise to some that the All Black scrum improved with the change and put increasing pressure on the Wallabies, forcing a turn-over through a wheel.

After Carter had missed an easy penalty at Goal when Vickerman was off-side, Elsom was penalised at a tackle and Carter put the ball into touch.  The All Blacks, remarkably confident and efficient at lien-outs compared to their previous two Tri-Nations matches, threw deep and mauled some 20 metres to, and then over, the Wallaby line where the television match official confirmed that Jason Eaton's long reach had scored a try.  It was the young lock's first Test try.  Carter missed the comfortable conversion.  13-11.

The selection of Isaia Toeava had been much debated and it was not a great success as the young man's hands proved fallible.  In the second half he was replaced by Leon MacDonald with Mils Muliaina moving to outside centre.

Toeava's second knock-on on the All Black left sent the Wallabies counter-attacking down their left.  This led to a line-out in All Black territory.  New Zealand tried to run the ball out of their own 22 but Muliaina was turned over and suddenly Mortlock was hammering at their line on his right.

The Wallabies went left on a frantic attack and Elsom managed to stumble past McAlister.  Down he turned over and stretched for the line.  The referee consulted the television match official.  It was a tough decision.  Did he lose the ball forward before grounding it?  Did the ball spit forward after he had grounded it.  eventually the TMO advised that a try had been scored -- a debatable but understandable decision.  Mortlock converted and the wallabies led 20-11 at half-time.

The All Blacks were different in the second half.  The risky passes were gone, the forwards more physically active, meeting muscle and bone with muscle and bone.  Gradually they ate away at the Australian lead.

Two penalties for off-side took the score to 20-17 after 50 minutes but then the Wallabies attacked for the first time in the half, as Tuqiri grabbed the ball at a knock-back from the kick-off.  They won an attacking scrum and Wycliff Palu had a good moment when he charged.  But he followed this with a bad moment when he knocked on and New Zealand was relieved.

Substitutions were happening now -- Piri Weepu for Byron Kelleher who had suffered erratic ball in the first half, Ali Williams for Eaton, and a few others.  Waugh and Mortlock were replaced for bleeding.

Rokocoko had a great moment when he caught a kick and started at counter-attack from well inside his own half.  Weepu went for the line in a battering attack but lost the ball forward over it.

The All Blacks created space for Doug Howlett who came back inside.  Weepu went blind and gave the ball away with an attempted grubber.  The Wallabies cleared but there was lock Williams waiting back for the ball.  He countered with power down the right and from there the ball went far left where Muliaina straightened brilliantly to give lock Chris Jack and easy run-in for a try -started by lock, finished by lock, both in "funny" positions.  Cater converted.  24-20.  The All Blacks were ahead for the first time with 17 minutes to play.

They went even further ahead four minutes later with a present of a try.  Larkham, who had grown quieter as the match progressed, got good ball from a scrum and moved to his right.  Suddenly Carter was up on him, and Larkham spilled the ball in the tackle into the eager arms of McAlister who was just inside his half of the field.  The burly inside centre pumped his powerful thighs down the field for a try which delighted him.  Carter converted.  31-20.

Mat Rogers replaced Larkham who was playing his 90th match for Australia.

At this stage it looked as if the All Blacks were cruising to a big victory.  After all they had scored 20 points to nil in the half, but the Wallabies were proud and determined.

With eight minutes to go they scored a wonderful try as far out Matt Giteau got the ball going right and then slid a long grubber in behind the All Blacks to his left.  there was not an All Black soul in the big empty box and Tuqiri raced after the ball.  It sprang benignly for him and he stretched out and scored as Howlett clung to him from behind.  Mortlock converted.  31-27 with eight minutes to play.

At this stage the Wallabies were rejuvenated and victory was not unlikely.  Mark Chisholm, on for Elsom, had a great charge but then Chris Masoe, on for Rodney So'oialo, won a turn-over off Clyde Rathbone and the All Blacks made attack out of defence.  Waugh was cynical in grabbing Williams.  The referee and the touch judged conferred and bloodied Waugh left for the sinner's chair.  Carter kicked the penalty.

There was just time for the kick-off, which Chris Jack won and bashed the last nail in the Wallaby coffin with a great left-footed kick down the touch-line.

Man of the match:  There were some great performances.  Veterans Chris Latham and Stirling Mortlock were magnificent for Australia as was industrious Lote Tuqiri apart from that bad moment with Richie McCaw and his puerile reaction to it.  For the All Blacks Mils Muliaina was full of constructive endeavour and, of course, Richie McCaw was a telling factor.  If opponents have to go to so much trouble to contain one man, he is doing a great job.  Keven Mealamu was as lively as ever, and Joe Rokocoko was superb on and off his wing.  But our Man of the Match is inside centre Luke McAlister who was so effective in all departments of the game.

Moment of the Match:  There was something special about all the tries but the most special of them all for the vision and skill was Lote Tuqiri's second try, the one off Matt Giteau's perfect grubber.

Villain of the Match:  It will be interesting to see what happens to Lote Tuqiri and Phil Waugh if the citing commissioner decides on activity.  But for the time being Phil Waugh is the official villain for his well-deserved yellow card.

The scorers:

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Eaton, Jack, McAlister
Cons:  Carter 2
Pens:  Carter 4

For Australia:
Tries:  Tuqiri 2, Elsom
Cons:  Mortlock 3
Pens:  Mortlock 2

Yellow card(s):  Waugh (Australia) -- holding back the attacking player (77).

The teams:

New Zealand:  15 Malili Muliaina, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements:  16 Andrew Hore, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Sam Tuitupou, 22 Leon MacDonald.

Australia:  15 Chris Latham, 14 Clyde Rathbone, 13 Stirling Mortlock (vice-captain), 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Jeremy Paul, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements:  16 Tai McIsaac, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 George Smith, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Mark Gerrard, 22 Mat Rogers.

Referee:  Chris White (England)
Touch judges:  Mark Lawrence, Craig Joubert (both South Africa)
Television match official:  Willie Roos (South Africa)
Assessor:  Bob Francis (New Zealand)

Canada rush off to France

Big win over the USA

In a Rugby World Cup qualifier for a place in France in 2007 Canada destroyed the USA's hopes by winning 56-7 in St. John’s Newfoundland on Saturday.

The USA now go into répechage and face Uruguay in two matches with the burden of further matches to qualify for France.

This is Canada's biggest win over the USA in 41 matches between the two.  Canada's biggest win prior to this one was 53-12 in 1997.  The USA's biggest win over Canada was 35-20 in 2003.

The Canadians dominated the game from start to finish.  They scored seven tries to one.  Northampton Saints player James Pritchard, playing wing, scored a hat-trick of tries and added three penalty goals and five conversions for a 36 points, a record haul for a Canadian.

One of the try-scorers was veteran prop Rod Snow, one of rugby's itinerant who may well have played his last match for Canada.  A Newfoundlander, Snow's performance was loved by the whole of the 5000 strong crowd which included delighted members of his family.

It took Canada just six minutes to get on the scoreboard.  The USA penalised, prop Kevin Tkachuk tapped and the Canadians raced some 40 metres downfield for a try by fullback Mike Pyke.  The brittleness of the Eagles' defence was evident.  7-0.

Snow got the next try, his eighth for Canada, after virtually the whole side had been in the action.

Two Pritchard penalty goals made the score 20-0 after 24 minutes and it was clear that there would be only one winner.

Four minutes later centre Ryan Smith broke and No.8 Sean-Michael Stephen scored, 27-0

That was the half-time score.

In the second half the wind was behind Canada to add to the USA's woes.

Pritchard was first to score in the second half when he and Justin Mensah-Coker chased a long kick.  Mensah-Coker caught François Viljoen the USA fullback who tried to get a pass away.  Pritchard intercepted in athletic fashion and scored.  34-0.

Pritchard scored again when Pyke came into the line to provide the overlap.  41-0.

Pritchard added a penalty and then, surprise, the Eagles scored.  They won a turnover and centres Phillip Eloff and Albert Tuipolotu were off to make a try for flank Todd Clever.  44-7.

Replacement Derek Daypuck accepted a pass from Pritchard to score in the corner.  49-7.

From a quick line-out experienced scrumhalf Morgan Williams set Pritchard flying half the length of the field for a try, which he converted.  56-7.

Afterwards Ric Suggit, the Canadian coach, said:  “I'm very happy.  I couldn't be happier for the players.

"We said two-and-a-half years ago that this was the game we needed to win and now it is a reality.  At times we played some excellent rugby but we have to continue to improve because when we go to play Wales and Italy in November, we'll have to be even better than this.  The next level is a huge jump."

The eagles' coach Peter Thorburn said:  “It was amateurs against professionals.  Canada was much better than we were today and when things go wrong they tend to compound.  They put us under an immense amount of pressure and we didn't handle it well.”

At the World Cup Canada will be in Pool B with Australia, Wales, Fiji and probably Japan.

Scorers:

For Canada:
Tries:  Pritchard 3, Snow, Pyke, Daypuck, Stephen
Cons:  Pritchard 6
Pens:  Pritchard 3

For USA:
Try:  Clever
Con:  Hercus

Teams:

Canada:  15 Mike Pyke, 14 James Pritchard, 13 Ryan Smith, 12 David Spicer, 11 Justin Mensah-Coker, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Morgan Williams, 8 Sean-Michael Stephen, 7 Stan McKeen, 6 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Luke Tait, 4 Mike James, 3 Rod Snow, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Kevin Tkachuk
Replacements:  16 Mark Lawson, 17 Dan Pletch, 18 Garth Cooke, 19 Colin Yukes, 20 Mike Webb, 21 Ed Fairhurst, 22 Derek Daypuck

United States:  15 Francois Viljoen, 14 Brian Barnard, 13 Phillip Eloff, 12 Albert Tuipolotu, 11 Paul Emerick, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Kimball Kjar, 8 Kort Schubert (captain), 7 Justin Stencel, 6 Todd Clever, 5 Mike Mangan, 4 Alec Parker, 3 Chris Osentowski, 2 Matt Wyatt, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements:  16 Patrick Bell, 17 John Vitale, 18 Adam Russell, 19 Louis Stanfill, 20 Scott Lawrence, 21 Chad Erskine, 22 Vaha Esikia

Referee:  Christophe Berdos (France)
Touch-Judges:  Romain Poite, David Rosich (both France)

Mortlock boots Wallabies to victory

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)

New Zealand retain Bledisloe Cup

Narrow win in Brisbane seals trophy

New Zealand sealed the Bledisloe Cup and laid one hand on the 2006 Tri-Nations trophy with a narrow 13-9 win over Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

Joe Rokocoko's try in the first half was the difference between the two teams, and although Australia had the better of the possession and territory they could not find the key to unlock some magnificent All Black defence.

The one-try thriller was a thoroughly absorbing contest between two skilled and determined sides.  In the end there was a try's worth of difference.  The hour and a half simply flew away.

New Zealand had much the better of the scrums, shoving ahead on their own ball and making a mess of a few Wallaby scrums.  The Wallabies had much the better of the line-outs, taking six throws off the All Blacks who also threw in skew once.  The line-outs were more important in terms of getting possession as there were 37 of them, but the damage to the scrums -- there were only 17 of them -- did more damage to morale.  The penalty count was 7-6 to Australia in the first half and 10-9 over all, but where the All Blacks probably profited most was at the vital post-tackle turn-overs.

There were differences in playing styles.  The Wallabies went on one-man charges and used the boot a lot while the All Blacks looked for chances to pass and run, even from within their own territory.

Both sides tackled with deadly efficiency and it was a late tackle which saved the game for the All Blacks.  Going right, Stirling Mortlock produced the most incisive break of the match.  Mark Gerrard was free on the outside and raced for the line.  He started to come back inside as Richie McCaw charged across in desperation.  It was similar to the earlier Rokocoko-on-Latham situation in Bledisloe one, but McCaw got his man and then he got to his feet and got the vital ball.  It was a moment of brilliance by one of the world's greatest forwards.

After all the polemic about the throat-cutting haka, the All Blacks did not do it.  They went back to a "Ka Mate" with grimaces.  Then came Waltzing Matilda during which the Wallabies did their own dance -- playing defence against tackle-shields while the All Blacks stood and watched in deflated amazement.  One-upmanship became two-upmanship!

The first half flew by.  The Wallabies had more possession and bashed and kicked but it was against an adamantine defence which allowed them not a chink of a gap.  The Wallabies did not look like scoring a try, not even when they marched a post-line-out maul some 18 metres to about five metres from the new Zealand line by which time George Smith, the ball-carrier, had got ahead and the All Blacks, with Chris Jack powerful, won a turn-over.

The All Blacks had two chances to score tries, and they took the first one brilliantly.

They were going left in close formation.  Right against the touch-line, Joe Rokocoko got a tiny pass from Jerry Collins which he had to pull back from behind and then he accelerated.  He went past Rocky Elsom on the outside, away from Matt Giteau and then inside Chris Latham for a magnificent try.

On the other occasion the All Blacks went left with lots of flicked passes -- Carter inside to Gear, Gear back to Carter, Carter to Mauger, Mauger inside to Kelleher, Kelleher to Mils Muliaina and suddenly the All Black had space but the intense Wallaby defence scampered across and put Leon MacDonald down.

The Wallabies started the scoring when Keven Mealamu suffered a dubious penalty for coming in the side of a maul when he gave every impression of coming in from behind.  Mortlock goaled that after 8 minutes.

Straightaway the All Blacks struck with Rokocoko's try which Carter, from the left corner on his left foot, bisected the uprights with the conversion.  That made it 7-3 after ten minutes.

When Latham kicked the ball out for a line-out five metres from the All Black line, McCaw jumped at number two and won the ball.  Kelleher cleared.

When MacDonald broke and set Carter running away from Mortlock from within the New Zealand 22 a try was possible.

When Rocky Elsom was penalised for illegally using his hands at a tackle, Carter made it 10-3.  This was followed by a period of frantic Wallaby attack.  There was no doubting their intent, but the attacking was one-at-a-time and the resilient All Blacks resisted.

Just before half-time Mealamu was penalised for diving in and Mortlock made the score at the break 10-6.

The New Zealanders stared the second half destroying two Wallaby scrums.  The Wallabies had the first real chance to score but McCaw thwarted that with that magical turnover.  Soon afterwards they had a second chance on the other wing when they countered and gave Lote Tuqiri a chance to run but this time it was Ali Williams who was there to tackle and win the vital turn-over.

The All Blacks had an attacking moment and a drop goal by Carter made it 13-6 to the All Blacks.

Soon afterwards Williams was penalised at a tackle/ruck and Mortlock made it 13-9.

That was the final score but it tells little of the massive, valiant efforts of both sides.

Just before the end the Wallabies won a rare turn-over at a tackle but Latham kicked it into the All Blacks' in-goal where Carter was on hand to ground the ball.

When the siren went the Wallabies had the ball and they went through phase after phase, but slightly in their own half and without getting beyond the gain-line until the game died on an unplayable tackle.

Man of the Match:  There were lots of heroes out there, especially Stirling Mortlock and George Smith for Australia and our Man of the Match -- leader and saviour, Richie McCaw.

Moment of the Match:  It's a toss up between Joe Rokocoko's try and Richie McCaw's try-saving action.  Let's give it to the try.

Villain of the Match:  There were tiny emotional moments but Jerry Collins may well have attracted the citing commissioner's interest as he tugged, and kept tugging at, George Smith's long locks.

The scorers:

For Australia:
Pens:  Mortlock 3

For New Zealand:
Try:  Rokocoko
Con:  Carter
Pen:  Carter
Drop goal:  Carter

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 Scott Fava, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Jeremy Paul, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements:  16 Tai McIsaac, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Wycliff Palu, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Mat Rogers, 22 Clyde Rathbone.

New Zealand:  15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Mils Muliaina, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements:  16 Andrew Hore, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Isaia Toeava.

Referee:  Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges:  Joël Jutge (France), Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Television match official:  Willie Roos (South Africa)
Assessor:  Dick Byres (Australia)

Uruguay in big win over Chile

RWC qualifier in Montevideo

In a Rugby World Cup qualifier Uruguay beat Chile 43-15 at Club Nacional in Montevideo on Saturday.

The victory sends Uruguay into répechage against a North American side, the loser of the match between Canda and the USA.

Both the teams had lost to the Pumas of Argentina who go directly to France in 2007.

Uruguay dominated the first half and led 25-3 at the break after two tries by Nicolás Grille and one each by Juan Pérez and Juan Miguel Álvarez.  Nicolás Grille scored his first try after 8 minutes and Uruguay, who were at the final World Cup tournaments in 1999 and 2003, were never behind on the scoreboard.

In the second half the brave Chileans fought back and got two tires, one by Rodrigo Coda, another by Sebastián Berti.  Coda was unfortunate not to be awarded another try after a great 80-metre run.

Scorers:

For Uruguay:
Tries:  Nicolás Grille, Juan Pérez, Juan Miguel Álvarez, Juan Menchaca, Ignacio Conti
Cons:  Juan Menchaca 3
Pens:  Juan Menchaca 4

For Chile:
Tries:  Rodrigo Coda, Sebastián Berti
Con:  Sebastián Berti
Pen:  Sebastián Berti

Teams:

Uruguay:  15 Juan Menchaca, 14 Francisco De Posadas, 13 Joaquín Pastore, 12 Diego Aguirre, 11 Juan Labat, 10 Matías Arocena, 9 Juan Campomar, 8 Rodrigo Capó (captain), 7 Nicolás Grille, 6 Hernán Ponte, 5 Juan Alzuet, 4 Juan Miguel Álvarez, 3 Guillermo Storace, 2 Juan Andrés Pérez, 1 Diego Lamelas
Replacements:  Rodrigo Sánchez, Nicolás Klappenbach, Mario Sagario, Ignacio Conti, Rafael Álvarez, Sebastián Aguirre, Gustavo Voituret
Coaches:  Nicolás Inciarte, Fernando Silva

Chile:  15 Francisco Cruz, 14 Cristóbal Berti, 13 Felipe Graell, 12 Cristián Onetto, 11 Rodrigo Coda, 10 Sebastián Berti, 9 Nicolás Arancibia, 8 Alejandro Tocigl, 7 Cristóbal Westenenk, 6 Edmundo Olfos, 5 Sebastián García (captain), 4 Patricio Desmond, 3 Sebastián Gajardo, 2 Jorge Pollack, 1 Nicolás Venegas
Replacements:  Sergio De La Fuente, Luis Pavez, Alejandro Moreno, Paul Marsalli, Lucas Seccattore, Tomás Olave, Cristián González
Coaches:  Jorge Navesi, Cristián Jory

Referee:  Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges:  Daniel Jabase, Federico Cuesta (both Argentina)
Assessor:  Carlos Molinari (Argentina)

Boks get the boot in Wellington

Carter sees off South Africa

New Zealand recorded a gritty 35-17 victory over South Africa at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday -- but the all-conquering All Blacks struggled to rein in the sprightly visitors.

The Springboks exorcised some of the memories of last week's defeat in Australia with a commendable performance that shook the resolve of their hosts and denied the Tri-Nations leaders of an all-important bonus point.

South Africa opened the scoring with a try from Fourie du Preez in the first minute of play, but they were unable to capitalise on the early lead.

New Zealand rallied from the set-back and began to chip away at South Africa's lead with the dead eyes and steady nerve of Daniel Carter doing the damage.

But what a difference a week makes!  And what a difference a boot makes!

The Springboks were barely recognisable from the half-hearted team that was thrashed by the Wallabies, probably causing a national sigh of relief in South Africa, but still the scoreboard tells of a heavy defeat.  It was the boot that did it.  Not entirely, of course, but as a telling factor.

Carter kicked seven penalties out of seven.  Percy Montgomery missed his first three, all of them eminently kickable.  Two of those misses were in the first half at a time when they could have given the Springboks back the lead.

In addition, Leon MacDonald and Carter were better at kicking out of hand than Montgomery and Butch James.

The Springbok back-three also looked wobbly, and produced the bizarre moment of the match when the All Blacks kicked off and nearly scored as veteran Montgomery had a senior moment and Bryan Habana was casual, as he was throughout another poor performance from a player who was once the best one-man strike force in the rugby world.

The boot was the main protagonist of this tussle in Wellington -- two kicks, one late in each half, were turned into tries.  But the genius of Carter made a major contribution, as did Springbok sluggishness reminiscent of Brisbane last week.

Those were the obviously telling factors in a New Zealand win and a South African defeat.

South Africa were better at the line-outs, New Zealand at the scrums.  New Zealand got mauls going better but the Springboks had a great one which almost led to a try.

Both teams countered mauls from five metres from their line efficiently.  Both teams tackled in deadly fashion.  In post-tackle play the New Zealand tactic of getting close to but beyond the tackler kept the Springboks away from the tackle and rendered that area relatively uncompetitive.  It is a tactic of dubious legality.

The penalty count was high -- 15-11 against the Springboks but it was the first-half count that really sunk them -- 7-4 against, four of them goaled.

All of that said, it was a stern encounter, worthy of the great rugby history between the world's sternest rugby nations.

The Springboks were 80 minutes on the field against Australia and did not score a point.  They played for 17 seconds against New Zealand and scored seven points.  What a difference a week makes!

The Springboks kicked off deep.  They put immediate pressure on the All Blacks who got the ball back to Carter who had Du Preez and Matfield charging at him.  Du Preez charged down the kick.  It bounced high in in-goal where Du Preez waited for the ball to come down, caught it with a fumble and fell on it.  Montgomery converted.

There was a lot of kicking during the ensuing part of the game, the All Blacks banging it downfield, the Springboks banging it into touch.  The result was that the first scrum came after 14 minutes.  There were just six in the first half.  But by then the Carter litany was being chanted.

When Matfield went off-side, Carter made it 7-3.

When Du Preez handled the ball in a tackle/ruck, Carter made it 7-6.

When CJ van der Linde was penalised for unbinding at a Springbok scrum, as he had been against the Wallabies, Carter made it 9-7 to New Zealand after 24 minutes.

When Van der Linde was penalised for diving at a tackle/ruck Carter made it 12-7.

That seemed to be what the score at half-time would be.  But two important events were yet to unfold.

First the Springboks attacked and got the ball back from a tackle/ruck near New Zealand's posts but Habana, light, delicate wing, tried to bash past the New Zealand defenders when his backs were standing with width and longing.  Back the Springboks went to a penalty which they made into a five-metre line-out.  The All Blacks got stuck into their attempt at a maul and Chris Jack won a turn-over which enabled them to clear.

At the next line-out Matfield threw a horrible pass over the head of Wynand Olivier and suddenly the All Blacks were attacking.  Du Preez was back to gather a kick-ahead.  Kick it out and it was half-time.  Instead he kicked low and long to Carter -- a massive mistake.  Carter raced and stepped.  Mils Muliaina's raced and passed.  Things looked wobbly but Piri Weepu was on hand to snatch the ball up and force his way over.  Ineluctably Carter converted and the half-time sounded with the All Blacks winning 19-7.

Early in the second half John Smit was silly at a tackle and Carter made the score 22-7.

The All Blacks were close to scoring soon afterwards when they won a turn-over after a line-out and went speeding wide on the left, the try nullified by a forward pass.

Carter then made it 25-7 from a tackle/ruck penalty, but with 18 minutes to go the Springboks got their second try.

Doug Howlett, under no pressure, knocked on near his 22.  The All Blacks put huge pressure on the Springbok scrum but Jacques Cronjé got the pass to Du Preez in the fly-half birth.  He kicked a long diagonal towards the right wing -- a perfect kick.  Breyton Paulse, playing his 60th Test, caught the ball, scooted past MacDonald and scored.  Montgomery converted.

Montgomery missed his third penalty but when Carl Hayman was penalised at a much-collapsed scrum, Montgomery made it 25-17.  It was still a contest with nine minutes to play.

It was from that moment that Montgomery and Habana combined to give the All Blacks a chance at a try.  The matter was referred to the television match official who detected a tiny knock-on off Ali Williams's wrist which resulted in a scrum to South Africa.

New Zealand tried a cross kick for big Scott Hamilton but Montgomery and Paulse combined to avert the danger.  But when Montgomery was penalised for throwing the ball away after being forced into touch, Carter made it 28-17 with seven minutes left.

Then James returned a long, probing kick via the boot, and the ball found Carter on the touch-line.  The maestro ran, chipped, gathered and gave to McCaw who scored.  That sounds so easy -- and it was, even though it took over 50 metres to do it.  Game, set and match.

The Springboks have reasons to be cheerful, they were better but still not good enough.  The first edition of the extended Tri-Nations is not yet into its adolescence and its already beginning to look like a two-horse race.

Man of the match:  No question -- Daniel Carter.  Forget all others and forget his initial error, he was the major difference.  He kicked 25 points and made the other ten for New Zealand.  He tackled, kicked out of hand judiciously and was his side's general.

Moment of the Match:  There was Daniel Carter's chip that led to Richie McCaw's try, there was Percy Montgomery's senior moment and there was Du Preez's hold-your-breath kick that produced Breyton Paulse's try, but the moment of the match was really that charge-down and try by Fourie du Preez that announced to the world that this was going to be a Test match.

Villain of the Match:  There were moments of mild emotion but nothing that was obvious villainy.

The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries:  Weepu, McCaw
Con:  Carter 2
Pens:  Carter 7

For South Africa:
Tries:  Du Preez, Paulse
Cons:  Montgomery 2
Pen:  Montgomery

The teams:
New Zealand:  15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Mils Muliaina, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Scott Hamilton, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Anton Oliver, 1 Neemia Tialata.
Replacements:  16 Andrew Hore, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Greg Rawlinson, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Isaia Toeava.

South Africa:  15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Breyton Paulse, 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, 4 Victor Matfield, 4 Albert van den Bergh, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements:  16 Danie Coetzee, 17 Eddie Andrews, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Enrico Januarie, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 JP Pietersen.

Referee:  Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges:  Alain Rolland (Ireland), Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Television match official:  George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor:  Steve Hilditch (Ireland)

Wallabies smash Boks with record score

South Africa's second biggest lost ever

Australia recorded the biggest ever win over South Africa at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, notching up an emphatic 49-0 victory over the thoroughly outclassed visitors.  The result also saw the Wallabies overtake the Springboks in third place on the IRB World Rankings.

Even worse, the six tries to nil hammering is the largest defeat by any team in more than 10 years of Tri-Nations history.

And it is second biggest defeat ever suffered by the Boks in more than 100 years of rugby -- only one point less than the 50-point (53-3) hammering they suffered against England at Twickenham in 2002.

This game was billed as bulk versus beauty, South Africa's piano-shifters versus Australia's piano-players.  It wasn't quite like that.  The Wallabies not only tinkled the ivories, they looked capable of ripping the raw material right off an elephant's face.

The local forwards, clearly stung by the negative press that followed last week's loss in New Zealand, chose to attack the green pack from the off.

The tactic visibly unsettled the Boks who were unable to get a foothold on the damp Suncorp Stadium turf -- conditions that all but the Wallaby forwards believed would favour the big men from South Africa.

How wrong we were!

The Wallabies -- all 15 of them -- came out of the traps more in the manner of Tigger than Roo, bouncing around the pitch with gusto, determined not to allow the rain to ruin their parade.

The visitors, meanwhile, stayed true to their sobriquet, stalking the grass with unease as if acutely aware that any one of their number was just moments away from being chewed up and spat out.

They weren't far wrong.  The Wallabies showed all the instincts of the big cats of the highveld and feasted on poor South African kicking, weak defence, naive debutants and shoddy tactics.

They also showed a particular appetite for the lumpy texture of South Africa fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen who would have perhaps preferred to spend the day in the depths of the Kruger National Park, tethered to a tree by a strings of sausages.

Australia's final try-tally tells the tale of tape -- three tries to the pack, three to the forward -- total rugby at it's best.

But the floodgates were kicked open by Stephen Larkham who landed a soaring drop-goal from about 30 yards out, taking advantage of the flat-footed Bok backline who were ready to defend against the various running moves that they had read about in the papers.

South Africans were wholly unable to play their rehearsed percentage/territory game as attempted touch-finder after attempted touch-finder failed to cross the line, allowing the Australia's audacious backline plenty of ammunition.

With the soggy conditions drowning a number of early attacks, the Wallabies chose to look to touch themselves and a beautifully worked rolling-maul off a line-out in the corner saw Jeremy Paul flop over the line for the first.  Mortlock added the extras.

It was a poignant moment for Australian rugby -- Paul's score not only allowed the gold pack to being to believe in themselves but paid handsome tribute to the memory of another illustrious Wallaby hooker, Paul Mooney, who passed away last month.  A minute's silence had marked the death of the doyen of Queensland rugby just prior to kick-off.

The Wallabies' opening try deflated the Boks.  Van der Westhuyzen fluffed a clearance before Percy Montgomery spilt an easy "mark", and Mortlock was soon lining up the sticks, slotting a penalty-kick to open up a 13-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

Then came the moment of the game, and perhaps sport's earliest coup de grâce.

A well-taken gold line-out on the gold 10-metre line looked pretty innocuous, but a short pass from George Gregan to Larkham screamed "open sesame" and the green jerseys parted like the Red Sea.

Larkham was off, cutting a line to the corner before turning the back-pedalling Bryan Habana inside out.  Gregan was on hand to take the pass and feed Greg Holmes who proved that his recent try against Ireland was no fluke by taking the ball over the whitewash.  Mortlock converted as the Boks attempted to understand what was transpiring.

The Wallabies had now warmed to the task and made the most of another spilt ball from Van der Westhuyzen, hacking it on into space.

South Africa debutant Akona Ndungane -- out of his depth opposite Lote Tuqiri -- got back well and gathered the loose ball, but George Smith was on hand to pick the debutant's pocket.  Gregan spread possession wide but Bok lock Victor Matfield killed the potential try by swatted the ball away.

Mortlock added three points to his side's tally as Matfield made his way to the sin-bin.

The Australians were clearly enjoying the outing by this stage and the source of their fun was Van der Westhuyzen's channel that lacked the meaty back-up of the injured Schalk Burger.

Another short pass -- this time from Gerrard -- allowed the outstanding Matt Giteau to step past the stricken fly-half and he was under the posts before the Boks could blink.  Mortlock added the conversion to leave the Boks 30-0 adrift at the break.

The third quarter of the game saw a slender improvement from the visitors -- they began to concentrated on their strengths and strung together a number of meaningful attacks on the end of a series of meaty mauls.

They also started to catapult their big forwards at the fringes with reasonable effect.

Even their appalling defence began to show some signs of spine, with replacement scrum-half Fourie du Preez managing to hold up replacement scrum-half Sam Cordingley over the line.

But, inevitably, it was the Wallabies who got the next score -- a sublime crossfield kick from Giteau found Tuqiri who popped the ball inside to Latham who in turn sauntered over the line.  Mortlock added the extras once again.

Latham then almost followed up his try by creating one, but he fumbled the ball whilst under no pressure whatsoever, and it was a measure of Australia's complete dominance that the unforced error was greeted with laughter by Latham and his mates.

Du Preez then pulled off another try-saving tackle on Nathan Sharpe, but he was soon standing under his posts once again.

Giteau pirouetted out of a tackle before hitting replacement wing Clyde Rathbone with a pass.  The SA-born flyer grubbered back inside to the creator of the move who slide over for his second try of the night.

Mortlock, for once, was unable to find the sticks with his conversion attempt -- but he was soon lining up another after Mark Chisholm punctuated another nice Rathbone raid by touching down.

Mortlock bagged the extras, and South Africa's nightmare was complete.

The sound of the All Blacks licking their lips across the "ditch" was almost audible as Paul Honiss called this remarkable game to an end -- South Africa have a date with the New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.  May the heavens have mercy on them.

Man of the match:  Plenty of fine performances within the Wallaby rank, with the tenacity of their forwards raising a few eyebrows, and Rocky Elsom proving once again that he is a big-name in the making.  And gold medals to each member of the gold backline, with a special mention to Matt Giteau who produced a masterclass on his return from a long lay-off.  Perhaps the new Western Force signing is worth all that money ...

Moment of the match:  That try from Greg Holmes encapsulated all that was good about this Wallaby performance -- a tidy set-piece followed by cunning then magic then power.

Villain of the match:  A few hangbags were swung, but nothing too violent.  Enrico Januarie was the worst offender, his claw to Stirling Mortlock's face was unnecessary and underhand.  For a comedy moment, we'll opt for Jaco van der Westhuyzen's protestations that a fumbled attempt at a catch was actually an attempted drop-kick; he was about 10 metres outside his own 22 at the time.

The scorers:

For Australia:
Tries:  Paul, Holmes, Giteau, Latham, Giteau, Chisholm
Cons:  Mortlock 5
Pens:  Mortlock 2
DG:  Larkham

For South Africa:
None

Yellow card:  Victor Matfield (South Africa, 31)

The teams:

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 Scott Fava, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Jeremy Paul, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements:  16 Sean Hardman, 17 Al Baxter, 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 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Joe van Niekerk, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Victor Matfield, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements:  16 Danie Coetzee, 17 Eddie Andrews, 18 Albert van der Berg, 19 Jacques Cronjé, 20 Fourie du Preez, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Breyton Paulse.

Referee:  Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Steve Walsh, Lyndon Bray (both New Zealand)
Television match official:  Gary Wise (New Zealand)
Assessor:  Steve Hilditch (Ireland)

Pumas qualify to take on the world

Victory in Buenos Aires takes books Argentina's spot in France

Argentina have qualified for the World Cup in France next year after beating Uruguay 26-0 in Buenos Aires.

Worcester Warriors new signing Miguel Avramovic scored the two tries while man-of-the-match Federico Todeschini, who has just joined Top 14 team Montpellier, converted both and added four penalties.

Argentina will now play in a tough-looking World Cup Pool D against France, Ireland, a third European team and the top African qualifier.

Uruguay meanwhile now face Chile on July 22 with the winner advancing to a play-off against either Canada or the United States.

The opening exchanges of the match were scrappy as both sides struggled in the slippery conditions that came as a result of a heavy thunder storm an hour before kick-off.

The rain kept cohesive attacking rugby to a minimum, and although Argentina did try to stretch a brave Uruguay side, it was down to the Pumas forwards to lay the foundations for victory.

While virtually all the first half play was contested inside Uruguay’s half, the visitors proved with some ferocious tackling that they would not be bowled over.

Martin Schusterman was held up over the line in the 31st minute by a magnificent forward effort, and it was left to Todeschini, who was impeccable with the boot in conditions that were not suited to place kicking, to steer Argentina into the lead, kicking three first half penalties to leave the home side with a 9-0 advantage at the interval.

The rain abated in the second half, but the wind in the San Isidro Stadium picked up, adding a new problem to what was already proving a difficult match – a lack of consistent kicking.

The Pumas resorted to endless forward drives, the brave Uruguayans began to tire and Argentina took a vice-like grip on the match when Uruguay captain Rodrigo Capo was sin-binned.

Avramovic scored twice in rapid succession while Todeschini kept the scoreboard ticking over with both conversions and a fourth penalty to seal what was in the end a comfortable victory.

The scorers:

For Argentina:
Tries:  Avramovic 2
Cons:  Todeschini 2
Pens:  Todeschini 4

Yellow cards:  Capo (Uruguay, 56, killing the ball)

Argentina:  15 Federico Serra, 14 Rafael Carballo, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Miguel Avramovic, 11 Lucas Borges, 10 Federico Todeschini, 9 Agustín Pichot (captain), 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 7 Martín Schusterman, 6 Martín Durand, 5 Rimas Álvarez, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Martín Scelzo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements:  16 Pablo Gambarini, 17 Gastón De Robertis, 18 Pablo Bouza, 19 Agustín Creevy, 20 Nicolás Vergallo, 21 Juan de la Cruz Fernández Miranda, 22 Horacio Agulla.

Uruguay:  15 Juan Menchaca, 14 Francisco Bulanti, 13 Juan Manuel Llovet, 12 Diego Aguirre, 11 Juan Labat, 10 Matías Arocena, 9 Juan Campomar, 8 Rodrigo Capo (capitán), 7 Alfredo Giuria, 6 Rafael Álvarez, 5 Juan Miguel Álvarez, 4 Juan Alzueta, 3 Guillermo Storace, 2 Juan Andrés Pérez, 1 Diego Lamelas.
Replacements:  16 Federico Capo, 17 Nicolás Klappembach, 18 Rodrigo Sánchez, 19 Ignacio Conti, 20 Nicolás Grille, 21 Sebastián Aguirre, 22 y Gustavo Voituret

Referee:  Nigel Owens (Wales)

First blood to the All Blacks at Jade

New Zealand take full points in Tri-Nations opener

It was first blood to New Zealand in the expanded Tri-Nations tournament.  The All Blacks recorded a convincing 32-12 win over Australia in the opening match at Jade Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday, gaining an all-important bonus point by outscoring the visitors by four tries to two.

For the first half hour, all the pre-tournament moans and rumbles about New Zealand peaking to early and not being settled looked like being proved right.  The All Black backs stood too flat, the forwards left each other isolated, and the hands spilled ball as though it were made of vaseline.

Australia's defenders stood in a line, tackled with solidity, and bided their time in patience, breaking out once after a quarter of an hour to score a scintillating try.  It had an aura of inevitability about it too, and a source of New Zealand riposte was not easy to locate.

Then Rocky Elsom was sin-binned, and it all changed.  Wallaby tacklers fell off their prey.  Line-outs became a lottery.  The scrum -- which had in fairness been buckling already as Carl Hayman welcomed Greg Holmes to the big time -- crumpled out of all existence under the weight of the extra man.  Keven Mealamu picked off a stray line-out to level the scores, and then dived over a maul to hand the home team the lead.

New Zealand were seven points behind when Elsom left, by the time he returned, New Zealand were seven ahead at 14-7, and as the players left the pitch, the air of a let-off trailed behind them in the light Canterbury mist.  The Wallabies were not so lucky in the second half.

The stupidity and effect of the sin-binning should not be under-estimated.  Elsom had been warned by referee Jonathan Kaplan -- who handled affairs with his usual detached authority -- just two minutes before for killing the ball.

At the very next ruck, Elsom simply collapsed on top of the ball-carrier in an untidy heap, even wriggling briefly so as to make sure the ball was not even able to peep out around the corners of his impressive frame.

Kaplan had little choice but to dish out a yellow card, and suddenly Australia had one choice less at the line-outs too.  Two minutes later, Tai McIsaac's throw evaded Dan Vickerman's clutches, and Mealamu seized the bouncing ball to score, right through the hole which Elsom had hitherto been filling more than adequately.

For the next ten minutes, New Zealand found that particular Elsom-shaped hole all over the pitch and in all phases of play, as their game finally came together.  Five minutes after the first, Mealamu popped up again, this time capitalising on a magician's sleight of hand from McCaw which took out three defenders.  All Mealamu had to do was fall over.

Mealamu's first try cancelled out the opener by Lote Tuqiri, which was the highlight of the opening half-hour.  Chris Latham took one of a few nondescript kicks from Aaron Mauger, and ran it back, chipping and regathering spectacularly as he burst through a couple of tackles like a Hollywood cop charging through a villain's front door.

Latham's timed pass took Leon MacDonald out of the game, and although Mat Rogers could not find the extra yard to get past Dan Carter, Lote Tuqiri popped up on that familiar inside shoulder angle and cantered the final five yards to the line.

The tackle stats gave a measure of how much the game turned on that Elsom sin-binning.  Shortly before it, the missed tackle stats stood at 3-3.  By half-time, Australia had missed six more as they struggled to cope with the extra man.  Later in the second half, the same stat yielded a count of 3-17.  Once Australia had been knocked by those two sucker-punches, they never recovered.

The New Zealanders took to the pitch in full flight in the second half.  Everywhere the ball went, it was followed by a hyena-like pack of black shirts, a scavenging bunch that tore the entrails out of every stray Wallaby move gone to ground.  Australia, in particular George Smith and Dan Vickerman, fought gamely, but were always a step behind in the loose.

The All Black tactic of the midfield inside pop-pass, which had floundered on the flat-standing backs in the first half, now yielded several clean breaks as the supporting runners measured their distances and angles more accurately.

From one such, Mauger tore through, past and round three defenders, and then weighted a kick towards Australia's line for Joe Rokocoko to chase.  Larkham got to the ball first, but fumbled it on the ground and ended up carrying the ball over the line between his legs.  There the ball stayed, on the goal-line and trapped under the maul.  McCaw, ever ready to do something special for his team, had the presence of mind to reach between Larkham's legs and grab the ball, and Kaplan consulted his TMO before awarding the try.

Carter's conversion made the score 24-7 -- he had converted both first-half tries and landed a penalty two minutes before this one -- and it was a killer blow.  All that remained was to wait and see if New Zealand could get their bonus point to finish the job.

They seemed oddly reluctant to do so.  Australia managed a swift reply, a brief burst of cohesion and power which got Scott Fava to the line under a pile of bodies, but Mortlock missed the conversion and Carter landed another penalty, taking the all Blacks three scores ahead at 27-12.

Yet four minutes later and with the clock ticking a little louder, McCaw told Carter to go for posts again from a penalty, and the New Zealanders looked to have eased off the gas, content to simply soak up the Australian running and wait for the chance to break.

Once, the forwards did so, with handling that belied the clumsiness most forwards show when in full flight.  In a bizarre role reversal, Mealamu, Jack and McCaw strung together passes that took them forty yards downfield, and Ali Williams tapped down Carter's crossfield kick with the deftest of touches.  Rico Gear only had to catch it to score, but dropped the sitter like it was a steaming hot pie.

Finally, the All Blacks did get their bonus point.  Carter -- who eclipsed Larkham all night and whose defence work was integral to the team performance -- charged down one of the Australian's trademark chips and then picked up the loose ball, before feeding young Isaia Toeava who would never be caught from 70m.

Carter's conversion hit the post -- he will not be too happy with his conversion tally of five from nine -- but the final scoreline of 32-12 sends its own message.  Peak too early?  They may have only just begun ...

Man of the match:  For Australia, Georges Smith and Gregan both stood out for work-rate, as did Dan Vickerman.  Chris Latham was the pick of their backs.  But the award should go to a black-shirted recipient.  Carl Hayman's performance at prop was towering, and Jason Eaton proved how much of an asset his athleticism is.  Dan Carter's tackle count was magnificent for a fly-half, but for ceaseless tackling, running, ball-carrying and leadership, Richie McCaw was the one who went the most extra yards.

Villain of the match:  In a clean game, the only moment of real villainy -- especially for Australian fans -- was Rocky Elsom's idiotic yellow card which cost his team its momentum.

Moment of the match:  Already described above in its glory, Chris Latham's first-half chip and regather in the lead-up to the opening try was the individual piece of skill that lingered longest in the mind.

The scorers:

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Mealamu 2, McCaw, Toeava
Cons:  Carter 3
Pens:  Carter 2

For Australia:
Tries:  Tuqiri, Fava
Con:  Mortlock

Yellow card:  Rocky Elsom (Australia) -- killing the ball, 27

The teams:

New Zealand:  15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Malili Muliaina, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements:  16 Andrew Hore, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Isaia Toeava.

Australia:  15 Chris Latham, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Mat Rogers, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Rocky Elsom, 7 George Smith, 6 Mark Chisholm, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements:  16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Scott Fava, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Ben Tune.

Referee:  Jonathan Kaplan (SA)
Touch judges:  Craig Joubert, Marius Jonker (both South Africa)
Television match official:  Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assessor:  Steve Hilditch (Ireland)