October 9, 2011. The cynics and whingers may point fingers and lampoon Springbok coach Peter de Villiers (who announced his intention to resign after the Boks’ 11-9 defeat against Australia) but I believe the strategy was sound, the Springboks gave it absolutely everything and, at the end of 80 minutes, were only denied by a defiant Australian defensive performance.
Peter de Villiers resigns as Bok coach
The Boks may have lacked the X-factor in this World Cup encounter, but they threw everything at the Australians, and seemed to have created chances, only to be stonewalled by a vicious 15-man defensive wall set up by the courageous Aussies, who literally made hundreds of tackles.
For my money, the game was won and lost at the breakdown, where Australia’s David Pocock was immense, and was allowed to get away with murder by New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence. South Africa suffered a major blow in this regard when their own pick-pocket Heinrich Brussow went off midway through the first half, but Francois Louw acquitted himself well in this area when coming on for the Boks.
South Africa pays the Bryce for shoddy officiating
When Australia sneaked a try against the run of play, and then went a further three points ahead to lead 8-0 after 18 minutes, it became tough for South Africa to bounce back in such a tight game. South Africa had dominated possession and territory but had nothing to show for it. But come back they did, bolstered by subs Bismarck du Plessis, Francois Hougaard and Louw, who came on for John Smit, Bryan Habana and Brussow.
They clawed their way to 9-8 ahead before young Aussie talent James O’Connor sealed South Africa’s fate with a second penalty kick, to take the score to 11-9 in Australia’s favour. A long range dropkick attempt by Patrick Lambie, which went agonisingly close for South Africa a few minutes earlier, could have swung things South Africa’s way.
Try as they might, the Boks just couldn’t find a way through in the final eight minutes and the Australians held on for a courageous win, condemning the Springboks to the dreaded flight home to OR Tambo International.
There’s no point crying over the legendary spilt milk, time to say farewell to an army of loyal servants and start building now for the World Cup in 2015. – By Garth Johnstone