So much for the Subi hoodoo and the crowd all South African.
AUSTRALIA has opened their Tri-Nations campaign with a tense 16-9 victory over South Africa at Subiaco Oval in Perth.
The Wallabies scored two tries to none but the game was in the balance right up until Berrick Barnes kicked a drop goal with two minutes remaining.
Lote Tuqiri scored a try five minutes before half-time with Australia’s first real show of attacking intent to give the Wallabies a 5-3 half-time lead in their Tri-Nations clash with South Africa in Perth.
Tuqiri crashed over in the corner to cap off a fine Wallabies move but it was the Springboks who dominated territory for much of the first half. Only desperate defence and handling errors prevented the Springboks from crossing the line.
Francois Steyn gave the visitors the early lead with a long-range penalty goal and should have extended the lead but missed a much easier attempt from closer in.
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock crashed over out wide just after the break to give the Australians a 10-3 lead before Matt Giteau kicked a penalty to open up a 10-point break.
The Springboks fought back and first Butch James and then Steyn reduced the deficit to set up the thrilling climax.
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Thanks Robbie - Sydney suddenly a hot ticket
Thanks Robbie - Sydney suddenly a hot ticket
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - RugbyHeaven | Saturday, 19 July 2008
HUGE RESULT: Stirling Mortlock and his Wallabies helped Robbie Deans pass the first major test of his reign and set up a massive head-to-head with Graham Henry in Sydney next Saturday night.
New Zealand rugby has had plenty to thank Robbie Deans for down there years. And even now with the Canterbury legend in charge of the Wallabies, there is plenty to be grateful for as his Australian side breathed new life into the Tri-Nations championship with their stunning win over the Springboks.
The 16-9 victory in Perth has brought the All Blacks back into the championship and set up an enthralling Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney next Saturday night.
Deans inspired his Wallabies to a ruthless victory against the world champion South Africans.
After scratchy efforts against Ireland and France the Australians produced a performance full of passion and efficiency to clinically dispose of a side that had proven too good for the All Blacks in Dunedin a week earlier.
The result has opened up the tournament and probably opened up the Deans-Graham Henry debate again as they get set to square off in Sydney.
In reality this was Deans' first major test. And how he passed his examination!
There should never have been any doubts from this side of the Tasman.
Deans, after all, is a coach at the peak of his powers. The Wallabies, judged to be third class in a three-way championship, were full of hustle and bustle to frustrate the Boks.
This was trademark Deans stuff for much of the match.
The Wallabies soaked up everything the Boks threw at them in the first half - and there was plenty.
Then they struck either side of halftime with two tries to stalwarts Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock.
There was the quick recycled ball that was a hallmark of Dean's Crusaders sides. There was the clever kicking game where they eventually won the game of force-back that the Springboks were happy to engage in.
And amongst it all was some wonderful defence.
There was a bit of bite from the Aussie scrum as well despite all the pre-match criticism of this crucial element.
There was certainly no shyness among the Wallabies pack to take the direct route through the heart of the Boks.
And New Zealand's fears that Deans may be able to liberate an Australian backline that has been strangely stifled for far too long were realised.
Quick hands were at the heart of the two Wallabies tries.
Matching them up against an All Blacks backline that wasn't able to engineer a try against the Boks in two attempts is now a worrying prospect.
But it's an intriguing one as well and that's what next week - and this tournament - is suddenly all about.
There has been talk over the past week about a few seats being unsold in Sydney. Suddenly they may be the hottest tickets in town.
RugbyHeaven - New Zealand's home of Rugby news, coverage, video & pictures
Wallabies down Boks to serve notice
By MARC HINTON - RugbyHeaven | Saturday, 19 July 2008
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Were you watching Graham Henry? More to the point, are you worried after watching Robbie Deans' Wallabies make a huge opening statement in the Tri-Nations with a gritty and gutsy 16-9 victory over the world champion Springboks in Perth?
The oddsmakers had favoured the Boks to back up on their huge win over the All Blacks last weekend in this Subiaco Oval contest in front of 41,838 fans in the West Australian rugby outpost.
But they hadn't counted on the freshness, organisation and commitment of these Wallabies under Deans who won their fourth match from four under their new Kiwi coach, and more importantly opened their account in the Tri-Nations with a crucial home victory.
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Wallabies triumph over Springboks
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock scored the only try of the second half as the Wallabies downed South Africa (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
Map: Subiaco 6008
Australia remain undefeated in 2008 after a scrappy 16-9 win over South Africa in tonight's Tri-Nations rugby union clash at Subiaco Oval in Perth.
The Wallabies went in rank outsiders for the series, and in their first match faced a Springboks side full of confidence after a historic 30-28 win over the All Blacks in Dunedin last weekend.
But in front of a crowd of over 41,000 fans the home side scored the only two tries of the match either side of half-time, with Berrick Barnes sealing the win in the final minute, nailing a drop goal from 25 metres.
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