Wallabies triumph in Durban
South Africa's hopes of winning the Tri-Nations were ended by a 27-15 defeat to Australia in Durban on Saturday.
Last Updated: 23/08/08 5:16pm
South Africa's hopes of winning the Tri-Nations were ended by a 27-15 defeat to Australia in Durban on Saturday.
The Wallabies pulled off a first victory on South African soil since 2000 courtesy of tries from Benn Robinson, Stirling Mortlock and Lote Tuqiri, supplemented by 12 points from Matt Giteau's boot.
The visitors had to hold off a late rally from the Springboks for whom Adrian Jacobs scored two tries in the final quarter.
Robinson scored the solitary try of the first half in the 27th minute helping Australia open a 10-0 lead at the break.
The loosehead prop picked up from a ruck close to the line and dived over. Fly-half Giteau's converted to add to his early penalty.
Sliced through
South Africa got on the scoresheet four minutes into the second half courtesy of a Butch James penalty. Giteau replied in kind seven minutes later to re-open his side's 10-point advantage at 13-3.
Australia took total control in the 62nd minute when Giteau's long pass after a lineout released winger Tuqiri, who brushed off Jacobs' tackle and sliced through for a try from 25 metres out.
Jacobs' day improved three minutes later when he crossed for South Africa's opening try, but Australia struck back immediately when centre Mortlock surged over despite the attention of two defenders.
Montgomery put Jacobs away in the 71st minute for his second try to reduce the Springboks' margin of defeat to 12 points.
South Africa and Australia meet again in Johannesburg next Saturday, with the Wallabies now just one point behind New Zealand in the Tri-Nations table with two matches left to play.
