| Rugby: Australia 49 South Africa 0 |
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| Sunday, 16 July 2006 | |
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(sportal.com.au) The Wallabies have annihilated the Springboks 49-0 at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, running in six tries and keeping the South Africans scoreless for only the second time in the two teams' history. Stephen Larkham opened the scoring after eight minutes with a 40-metre dropped goal, before the kicking wobbles continued for Mortlock. The Australian vice-captain had worked on his kicking during the week, but it didn't show on his first attempt, slamming it straight into the upright. Latham's boot, meanwhile, was red hot, putting a massive 60m punt into touch and giving the Wallabies a line-out just five metres from South Africa's line. Paul then crossed for the opening try of the night on the back of a rolling maul, and Mortlock finally found his range to give Australia a 10-0 lead. Another superb Wallabies kick set up the next score, Percy Montgomery coughing up a cross-field kick just metres from the Australian line. Moments later Australia received a penalty, which Mortlock dutifully converted. Some superb Wallabies half work then led to a try for Holmes, with Larkham stepping the Springbok defence and offloading to his captain George Gregan, who then sent the forward over. The Springboks were reduced to 14 men on the half-hour when Victor Matfield was sinbinned for a deliberate knock on, and Giteau wasted little time making them pay, dancing around the defence to score his first. Trailing 30-0 at half-time, the Springboks came out full of flair in the second half, dominating the first 10 minutes but blowing several scoring opportunities. The best chance came when the visitors had a scrum just five metres from the Wallabies' line, but Australia pinched the ball and relieved the pressure. Jaque Fourie also looked like scoring when he broke clear through the middle, but some wayward passes again ensured they were kept scoreless. With the South African attack subdued, Australia counter punched, and they were would have gone further ahead if not for the heroic efforts of Fourie Du Preez, who held up both Sam Cordingley and Nathan Sharpe in goal. Finally, however, Australia crossed again, Latham dotting down, and the floodgates opened, Giteau crossing for his second before Chisholm completed the rout. Australia 49 Tries: Giteau 2, Paul, Holmes, Latham, Chisholm Conversions: Mortlock 5 Penalties: Mortlock 2 Drop Goals: Larkham South Africa 0 |
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