South Africa clinch Tri-Nations title

Springboks see off the Wallabies in Durban thriller

South Africa clinched the Tri-Nations title with a thrilling 23-19 victory over Australia in Durban on Saturday. All three teams ended the series with two wins and two losses apiece, but the Boks claim the crown - for only the second time - thanks to their haul of bonus points.

Before the Tri-Nations, the wise men said that it was going to be close this year - and how right they were.

Indeed, it was decided only in the last minute of the last match as Australia fought back from 23-7 down to get to 23-19 with the ball in their possession and the wind in their sails.

And then George Smith, such an effective player, kicked the ball into touch after the final hooter had sounded - and thus the flanker's acute anguish gave way to ecstasy for the Springboks, the whole Durban crowd and all South Africa.

All Australian hearts dropped, but their players rallied to shake hands and congratulate their victors.

Leading the congratulations was Wallaby captain George Gregan, playing his 102nd match for Australia, and thus passing David Campese record for Wallaby caps.

South Africa, with a bit of a breeze, had the better of the first half but the Wallabies got the score that counted.

After a couple of errors which delighted the Durban crowd, SA-born Wallaby Clyde Rathbone came off the right wing to thread a deft right-footed grubber to his left.

Lote Tuqiri with balanced patience, waited, picked up the bouncing ball, stepped inside Breyton Paulse and then Schalk Burger to score near the sticks. Matt Giteau converted to make the score 7-0 to Australia after 34 minutes of play.

In this half the Springboks had the better of the line-outs, the Wallabies the better of the scrums in which they contrived to get two penalties when there were scrums five metres from their line.

That there were two scrums in that position was a sign of Springbok pressure, but that pressure was nullified as much by their bungling hands as by the Wallaby defence.

The best bit of running in the half, apart from the try, came from Wallaby fullback Chris Latham, first off a scrum and then when he marked a high kick by Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

South Africa's only score came when Bill Young was penalised at a scrum. Montgomery's kick from in front swerved in the breeze and went over. And the half-time whistle went with the scores poised at 7-3 in favour of the visitors.

In the first half Percy Montgomery and Matt Giteau each missed a penalty. Montgomery missed another early in the second half, but it was to be to the Boks' advantage.

Breyton Paulse collected the ensuing Australian drop-out and hoisted a high left-footed kick. He then leapt high above Latham to knock the ball back to Victor Matfield who tucked it under his arm and ran some 30 metres past George Gregan to score. Montgomery converted to give South Africa a 10-7 lead after only three minutes of the second period.

Back again came the Springboks - attacking right and left. Big No.8 Joe van Niekerk was stopped four metres from the line. Os du Randt burrowed over the line but the television match official recommended that he be penalised for crawling/holding on.

But this didn't deter the Boks. Again they attacked and sucked the Wallabies defenders into a pile. Victor Matfield then fired a long pass to Van Niekerk on the left wing who slid over for a try. Montgomery converted and the Springboks led 17-7 after 12 minutes of the half.

Four minutes later, with the Wallabies reeling under the pressure, Montgomery kicked a penalty when Lyons was penalised at the base of a scrum - and six minutes later he added another when Lyons was penalised once again. It was then 23-7 with 18 minutes to play.

But the Wallabies, as is their wont, were not going to surrender. They were not done - not by a long chalk.

Giteau made an excellent break, not for the only time in this period, and Paulse was caught out and the Wallabies had a five-metre scrum.

Burger was then penalised, and the Wallabies had another five-metre scrum - but still the Springboks held firm.

Then came potential disaster for the home side. Montgomery hoisted an up-and-under. Latham jumped for it. Montgomery took out his legs and earned a penalty and a yellow card with 12 minutes left.

Now it was all Wallaby attack, all Springbok defence.

The attack bore fruit when Larkham fired a brilliant pass to Stirling Mortlock who had a simple run for the line. Giteau converted. 23-14 with nine minutes left.

From the kick-off replacement No.8 John Roe charged a long way up-field and the Wallabies were back attacking. Paulse was perhaps unfortunate to be penalised at a tackle - when he was the tackler - and earned a second yellow card for the Springboks just as Montgomery returned to the fray.

That penalty became a five-metre line-out. The Wallabies mauled and Smith was the man in the bundle who went over for the try - 23-19.

Matt Burke, on for Mortlock, then missed the vital conversion, leaving the Wallabies needing a try with only seconds left.

Van der Westhuyzen kicked off deep and the Wallabies rushed to attack. The Springboks rushed to defend. Replacement hooker Jeremy Paul surged forward, then George Smith took it on - but only to put the ball into touch. Smith punched the floor as referee Paddy O'Brien brought the whistle to his lips - he knew it was all over.

Then came the chasm between the joy of victory and the sour taste of defeat.

It was the first time the Springboks have won the Tri-Nations since 1998. Then they did it with four wins out of four.

Man of the match: George Smith was marvellous for the Wallabies, as was Lote Tuqiri - and so was John Roe with bursting runs for his abbreviated stay on the field. But the man who nearly made the difference was Matt Giteau with his telling breaks. But the man-of-the-match has to be a Springbok. Joe van Niekerk had a good second half. Fourie du Preez showed the value of having a scrum-half who plays scrum-half when he came on for the second half. Breyton Paulse had some magic moments. Bakkies Botha was all things strong and determined. Schalk Burger was a bundle of effective energy and Os du Randt made a real difference in the scrums in the second half, but the man-of-the-match was without doubt was Bok lock Victor Matfield, who proved the value of dropping a great player! Back he came and how he played! Where the Wallabies had dominated the Springbok line-out in Perth, this time the Springboks won theirs and the Wallabies lost five. Matfield was also - with Burger - the most effective tackler in the Springbok side. He scored that telling try and he sent the long pass to Van Niekerk for the Springboks' second try.

Moment of the Match: Breyton Paulse's leap and palm back, Victor Matfield's catch and wing-like run for the try. The second moment for home fans was probably the sad moment when George Smith kicked the ball into touch to produce the final whistle and a famous Springbok victory.

Villain of the Match: South Africa fullback Percy Montgomery for that air tackle that earned a yellow card at such a crucial time in the match.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Matfield, Van Niekerk
Cons: Montgomery 2
Pens: Montgomery 3

For Australia:
Tries: Tuqiri, Mortlock, Smith
Cons: Giteau 2

The teams:

South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Breyton Paulse, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Jean de Villiers, 10 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9 Bolla Conradie (Fourie du Preez, 40), 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 AJ Venter (Gerrie Britz, 64), 6 Schalk Burger (Jacques Cronjé, 36-40, 79), 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Eddie Andrews (CJ van der Linde, 67), 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt (Hanyani Shimange, 79).
Unused replacements: 21 Gaffie du Toit, 22 Brent Russell.

Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Clyde Rathbone (Wendell Sailor, 61), 13 Stirling Mortlock (Matthew Burke, 75), 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 David Lyons (John Roe, 69), 7 Phil Waugh, 6 George Smith (John Roe 26-37), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Daniel Vickerman, 55), 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon (Jeremy Paul, 61), 1 Bill Young (Matt Dunning, 66).
Unused replacements: 20 Chris Whitaker.

Yellow cards: Montgomery (South Africa, 70), Paulse (South Africa, 79).