So much for the Subi hoodoo and the crowd all South African.

[travelling_gerry]

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.

Read more...

[James]

What a game!

Who was the referee? I thought he was really really good and apart from missing a dropped Aussie FK (which IMHO the boks weren't back 10 for anyway) and Botha's cheap shot on Stirling Mortlock he didn't seem to put a foot far wrong all night.

Good call Gerry- Hoodoo my arse.

[travelling_gerry]

Iain Payten

July 19, 2008 07:00pm
THE Wallabies proved they're the real deal in Perth tonight with a torrid victory over the world-champion Springboks in a thrilling Tri Nations opener.

In an intense battle that saw both sides exhausted at the final whistle, the Wallabies overcame a brutal South African defence to triumph in a 7-point win at a sold-out Subiaco Oval.

Though the Boks were consistently punishing in defence, the expansive mindset rammed home by coach Robbie Deans paid dividends with tries to Lote Tuqiri and captain Stirling Mortlock on either side of halftime proving the killer blow.

The Boks came close to scoring in the final stages but a try-saving tackle by local boy Ryan Cross on Bryan Habana saved the day, and a Berrick Barnes field goal in the dying minutes sealed the result.

more from the Sunday Times............

[travelling_gerry]

Australia's new direction under Robbie Deans received a massive boost when the Wallabies opened their Tri-Nations campaign with a tense 16-9 victory over world champions South Africa at Subiaco Oval.

Deans maintained his unbeaten record since taking the helm last month as the underdog Australians scored their most important win of their new era, scoring two tries to nil in front of 41,838 fans.

Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock scored tries on either side of the halftime break with Matt Giteau kicking a penalty goal and Berrick Barnes a late drop goal.

The Springboks' points came from two penalty goals to Francois Steyn and one to Butch James.

"It was never going to e perfect but obviously against an opponent that's very physical I'm very proud of the attitude and the mentality that the team showed," Deans told Fox Sports.

"Up against a side that is very able and very physical, they asked a lot defensively, the guys stood up to that with some great scrambling defence.

"We created a lot and could have achieved more."

and from the West Australian.........

[travelling_gerry]

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

[travelling_gerry]

By MARC HINTON - RugbyHeaven | Saturday, 19 July 2008


\

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.

more from NZ Rugby Heaven..............

[travelling_gerry]

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.


more from the ABC...............

[lara93]

well done wallabies..well deserved

[gotheforce]

Springboks world champions my ass.

More like world champions of talking up and not delivering!

[lara93]

the boks played two extremely hard tests in new Zealand against a very good side and now all i think they need is a well deserved break and rest
but wallabies did come out and play be better game and it showed on the score board
so well done

[NTT]

I thought it was a good, bruising absorbing contest that could have gone either way. I was very impressed with the way the wallabies forwards confronted the physical challenge to win some crucial turnover ball. The scrum was good, the work Michael Foley is doing is starting to show through as the scrum was looking a bit more solid. Giteau and Barnes directed the game well at times with Mortlock and Tuqiri making the gain line and giving the wallabies some good attacking impetus. The one thing i was concerned about was the, at times, reluctance of some of our ball running forwards to really smash into the boks with ball in hand resulting in some massive offensive tackles that had us reeling. But overall the attitude was right and the result was achieved. Elsom was impressive with his attack on the tackle contest and winning some turnover ball, especially so after getting a pretty big head knock in the first half.

Go you Wallabies

[lara93]

the crowd was great tonight
loved how it was about 50/50
but whoever sat in 312, did u here the lady who was screaming her lungs and sounded like a bird
so annoying

[jono]

i'd say there were more aussies there.
and is there any news on stirlo?
more imporantly. what happened to him? sharpie got layed out completley. but then stirlo didnt get up. and when he did he was staggering as he went back to the line. and then he fell down again and came off?


and crossy outplayed him when he came on as well!
gits for captain, stirlo off the bench. cross starting

[force addict]

best game ever. had good seats and all the guys around me were like, 'woah you know the names of the players' gosh. anyhoo i thought Elsom deserved MOM he was everywhere! go wallabies! definitely liked the Force boys tonight, shame Drew Mitchell didn't get subbed on, AAC played a shocker

[lara93]

yepp its going to be a tough one next weekend
they need to up there game a lot to beat the blacks