Gregan lashes out at crowd abuse

Wallaby captain George Gregan lashed out at the South African supporters in Durban on Saturday after the Wallabies were subjected to abuse and targeted by 'missiles' during their Tri-Nations loss to the Springboks.

The Springboks and their fans were in a jubilant mood following the Boks' triumph which saw the team claim the Tri-Nations title for just the second time in the tournament's history. But sections of the crowd may have let themselves down with their behaviour during the match.

Gregan reportedly came close to being hit in the head with a soft-drink bottle just before the play began in the second half.

"Just before the kick-off, this soft-drink bottle, which was about three-quarters full, came whizzing past my right shoulder and right ear," Gregan told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Gregan picked up the bottle from the field of play and handed it to officials on the sideline.

"I just wanted to make sure we had some evidence of what was going on. I told them to hang on to the bottle. We'll be making a complaint about this," he said.

The Wallabies reportedly complained to South African officials after the game over the incidents - something they have done before following similar incidents in South Africa.

Gregan admitted that failing to secure a win against the Boks was hugely disappointing. The Wallabies have only won one Tri-Nations fixture in South Africa - in Durban in 2000 - and the Wallabies were hoping to break the trend.

"To say it's disappointing is an understatement, especially in terms of the way we prepared, while the attitude among the players was fantastic going into the game. We are a better team than what we showed tonight."

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones, meanwhile, was upset with his team's performance and slammed his forwards for their inability to secure vital first-phase possession. And admitted he was "shattered" with the result.

"The game was very much like a grand final, and because of the intensity both sides made a lot of unforced errors. Still, for 20 minutes, we were dreadful, which was probably the combination of pressure and South Africa's good play," he said.

"It was certainly the worst 20 minutes we have played all season. We probably made more mistakes in those 20 minutes than in the previous three Tests. The reasons for that - I don't know.

"It was more the primary possession we struggled with," Jones added. "We weren't good enough to win our first-phase ball, and then get quick second and third-phase possession.

"We've now had two major losses in the last nine months - the World Cup final and now this one. In both situations, we have made a number of mistakes in a number of small plays.

"It revolves around consistency. It goes back to our first-phase possession. We are not consistent enough in that area. It's just not good enough."