Other Results

	5 Feb 2012
	Ireland	21	23	Wales	(17-22)
	4 Feb 2012
	Scotland	6	13	England	(9-17)
	France	30	12	Italy	(34-13)
	3 Dec 2011
	Wales	18	24	Australia	(17-25)
	19 Nov 2011
	Spain	16	13	Uruguay	(25-21)
	23 Oct 2011
	New Zealand	8	7	France	(36-13)
	21 Oct 2011
	Australia	21	18	Wales	(21-17)
	16 Oct 2011
	New Zealand	20	6	Australia	(36-21)

Australia v South Africa - Sydney, July 7 2007

Match Report

With this being Gregan and Larkham's last game on Australian soil the pre-game buildup had been massive. Also after South African coach Jake White decided to rest his top players for the away leg of the Tri Nations the tension increased even more.

It was White's 'B' team that opened the scoring when flanker Van Heerden dived over easily from the edge of a ruck and with Hougaard's conversion, South Africa led 7 - 0 after only seven minutes.

As if that wasn't bad enough for the Australians, winger Paulse grabbed an intercept and sprinted for a second try for South Africa almost straight from the re-start. Hougaard made no mistake with the conversion and South Africa were out to a 14 to nothing lead with only 9 minutes played.

Hougaard made it 17 - 0 with a penalty kick after Sharpe was penalised for 'lazy running'.

Australia bounced back when on their first foray into the South African 22 Gerrard scored a try from a linout set piece. The move started with an Australian lineout close to the goal line after South Africa were penalised for a high tackle in mid-field. A inside pass from Larkham from an uncontested lineout set Gerrard up for the try. Mortlock's conversion made the scoreline 17 - 7.

Australia kept up the pressure and started to dominate the South Africans. Mortlock clawed back another three points after South Africa were penalised for offside 30 metres out in front of the posts. And that was how the half ended with South Africa clinging onto the lead 17 to 10.

It really had been a half of two halves with South Africa all over Australia in the first twenty minutes, but Australia had come back well to pull within seven points at the end of the 40.

Australia kept the pressure on at the beginning of the second half and were rewarded with a try to number 8 Hoiles and a Mortlock conversion to tie the game up after only 4 minutes of the second half.

Another Mortlock penalty gave Australia the lead for the first time with a score line of 20 to 17. Skinstad had been penalised for playing the ball whilst on the ground and had copped an earful from the referee. When South African flanker, Gary Botha, was penalised for a similar infringement just after the re-start, referee Honiss had no choice but to sin bin him. Australia made the most of the advantage and almost immediately scored. Giteau ran on to a great chip kick from Gerrard to score the try and stretch the lead out to 8 points, 25 to 17.

Australia seemed to let their foot off the gas mid way through the second half and allowed the South Africans to come back into the game. However Hougaard was unable to capitalise from the Australian slow down and missed an easy shot at goal after Australia were penalised for an infringement in the ruck.

South Africa were given yet another scoring opportunity after a deep penalty kick from Hougaard gave them a lineout inside the Australian 22. The ensuing drive broke down after a South African player ran into a colleague.

A bit of niggle had got into the game as well and South African lock Muller ended up in the sin bin after the touch judge spotted him throwing a punch after a failed scrum had turned nasty. With only five minutes left South Africa would spent the rest of the game a man down and offered no more threat to Australia.

It was a great mid period for Australia that won them the game, their ability to execute set moves flawlessly made the South Africans look like, well, a 'B' team. It wasn't a great game to farewell Gregan and Larkham, but I'm sure the celebrations in Sydney later sure made up for a lack of style on the pitch.

Australia now sit on top of the Tri Nations table with two wins, yet New Zealand have two home games with which to take the title. These teams meet in Auckland in two weeks time, which could well be the Tri Nations decider. South Africa have one more game over in New Zealand next week before they return home, and the journey home probably can't come quick enough for them.