Springboks run Wallabies ragged for big win

PRETORIA (AFP) –

Australia’s Radike Samo is tackled by South Africa’s Francois Hougaard during a Test match at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. South Africa outplayed injury-plagued Australia 31-8.

South Africa changed the emphasis from kicking to running with the ball and scored five tries to crush Australia 31-8 Saturday in the Rugby Championship.

Veteran right wing Bryan Habana ran in three and there was one each for full-back Zane Kirchner and flank Francois Louw as the Springboks ended a run of five losses against the Wallabies after leading 14-3 at the break.

The bonus-point triumph before a near-capacity crowd at the 50,000-seat Loftus Versfeld stadium lifted South Africa to 12 points, four behind New Zealand and four ahead of Australia in the southern hemisphere competition.

Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, who took over the placing kicking duties after new fly-half Johan Goosen missed two early shots at goal, completed the scoring with three conversions.

South Africa’s Jean de Villiers is tackled by Australian player during a Test match at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. South Africa changed the emphasis from kicking to running with the ball and scored five tries to crush Australia 31-8.

“It is much nicer to win than to lose and today it all came together,” said Springboks centre and skipper Jean de Villiers, referring to a lucky draw in Argentina and losses in Australia and New Zealand.

“The difference in this match was that we executed our game plan much better than in Mendoza, Perth and Dunedin. Gaps opened up and we took full advantage to score those tries.

“But it was not just the backs who deserved credit — the forwards were all outstanding, especially our loose forwards Duane (Vermuelen), Willem (Alberts), Francois (Louw) and Marcell (Coetzee).”

Wallabies lock and skipper Nathan Sharpe admitted that all the injuries — the catalogue of misery began in the sixth minute when centre Pat McCabe went off temporarily — took its toll on a side that won their last two Championship Tests.

“It is difficult to rejig a side on the run and a good Springbok side fully exploited our problems. We must now bounce back against Argentina and finish the campaign strongly,” Sharpe said.

Continuing poor place kicking was the one disappointment as the Springboks got back on the winning trail after a three-match winless run with Pienaar failing to convert four penalty attempts.

Australia’s Anthony Fainga’a (bottom) tackles South Africa’s Zane Kirchner during a Rugby Championship Test at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. South Africa won 31-8.

Australia have been plagued by injuries throughout the Championship and it only got worse at Loftus with numerous casualties, including centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, who was taken to hospital with concussion before the break.

The visitors had to play the last eight minutes a man short after making all seven replacements and were also reduced to 14 men early in the second half when replacement prop James Slipper was sin binned.

Kurtley Beale, making his first start at fly-half for the Wallabies, kicked a first half penalty and replacement back Mike Harris went over in the corner for a try after the Springboks had built a 23-point advantage.

But razor-sharp Habana had the final say, rounding off another good handling movement in the final minute to raise his career total to 46 tries against demoralised opponents.