Tri-Nations Game 3: Wallabies v Boks

Saturday 31 July 2004

Perth, Subiaco Oval

Fulltime: Wallabies 30 def Boks 26

Halftime Boks lead 16 to 7

In the last 2 games against the Boks in Perth the best the Wallabies have done is a draw and it looked as though the revamped forward pack will spell the end of Radike Samo’s international career for a bit. As the Smith, Waugh and Lyons combination obtained plenty of ball and won the battle of the loose play.

The Boks looked tired, especially in the middle part of the second half, not really surprising after 2 tough matches in a row (PI and AB's).  When Burger got sat on his arse by Smith and left for a breather he and the rest of the Bok loosies didn’t scale the heights as they did against the AB’s.

All Australia’s tries come from the backs. Tuqiri’s try came from the bomb into the corner where he was put into a one-on-one situation, Larkham was from straight running at the defensive gap de Wet Barry leaves behind, Latham scooted over untouched after Larkham put him in a gap and Rathbone competed the win doing a Ben Tune impersonation.

To me however a real highlight was the discussion between Smit, Gregan and the ref, where Gregan was telling Smit to listen to the ref.  This confirmed to me that after 100 tests you do pick up a trick or two. Something Motlock wouldn’t have been able to do after the game!  I winced in sympathy when I watched the replay of that attempted charge down. How he walked, let alone run impressed me.

The forwards did a mountain of work and competently for a change. Sharpe, in particular, drove the ball up well and dominated the lineouts (according to FR 14 takes for the game), only because Paul can’t throw accurately past number 2 in the lineout.  Paul tried and failed at least once when he attempted that.  I have the feeling that someone in Kiwiland must have noticed that for next week. Especially since the Boks rarely competed at lineout time and Smit continually threw the ball to Waugh when they went long.

The lack of scrums really helped the Wallaby effort as the front row wasn’t really tested as they were against the AB’s and that tighthead win would have had the front row crowing all night in glee.

I thought Roe had a huge impact when he came on.  A good couple of hits, controlled the ball at the base of the scrum and got right into the breakdowns, and the support play and offload were impressive in such a short time.

The problem with not being at the ground I really couldn’t judge Latham’s game properly.  I wasn’t too sure if he was out of position or not when the Boks scored a couple of tries.  But his attacking nous is a joy to watch (1 confirmed, 1 denied) and that tackle which half killed the attacking player was a defensive highlight.  While accidentally getting in the road of an attacking move didn’t hurt either.

By the way the Wallabies scored 4 tries against the Boks.  I’m sorry I forgot how many did the AB’s score last week.  Making them the only side to get a bonus point for scoring tries and one behind the Boks who have scored 6 tries in total.  Where’s this vaunted attacking All Black side? I still reckon you have the wrong flyhalf, just keep him for another week will you?

I’m looking forward to a dry track in Sydney!