Australia overturned a narrow half-time deficit and survived a late South African onslaught to notch up their first victory of the Rugby Championship with a 23-18 win in Brisbane on Saturday that snapped a four-match losing streak.
Two Matt Toomua penalties after the break added to the centre's first-half try and one from his captain Michael Hooper to give the Wallabies a morale-boosting victory after back-to-back losses to Ireland in June and New Zealand last month.
They were made to work hard for it in greasy conditions at Lang Park, however, and needed a huge defensive effort to prevent the Springboks from scoring what could have been a match-winning try in the final few minutes.
Matt Toomua (right) celebrates beating South Africa with Will Genia (left) and Tom Robertson
The Australia team pose with the Mandela Plate following their victory in Brisbane on Saturday
'It was tight,' said Hooper, who led a side without late withdrawals David Pocock, Israel Folau and Adam Coleman.
'We knew it would be that way. We knew they would come out firing. It was a good game, back and forth a lot. I'm really proud of the guys' resilience.'
Tries from hooker Bongi Mbonambi and winger Makazole Mapimpi helped to give South Africa an 18-17 lead at half-time but they were held scoreless after the break to slump to a second successive defeat after a loss to Argentina last time out.
'We made it tough for ourselves by not taking our opportunities again,' said skipper Siya Kolisi.
'Australia played really well and they took their opportunities. At this level you have to take the opportunities when you get them.'
South Africa started slowly in the manner that has become a habit this season and Australia were a converted try up inside two minutes after skipper Hooper went over from close range.
Springboks flyhalf Elton Jantjies soon cut the deficit with a penalty, however, and the visitors were in front after 14 minutes when Mbonambi scored off the back of a rolling maul from a lineout.
Mapimpi took the lead to 15-7 when he crossed in the corner off a long cut-out pass from scrum-half Faf de Klerk but just after the half-hour mark the Springboks let the hosts back into the game with a self-inflicted wound.
Toomua kicked two conversions, two penalties and scored a try to star for the Wallabies
Players clash after Australia's Michael Hooper disagreement with South Africa's RG Snyman
Having just bundled Australia winger Jack Maddocks into touch, they botched a long throw from a defensive lineout, allowing Toomua to pounce on the ball and touch down under the posts.
Toomua converted his own try but another scrum penalty allowed Jantjies to punish the Australians with three more points from the tee.
With the half-time hooter having sounded, Wallabies centre Reece Hodge unleashed one of his penalty bombs from inside his own half to make it a one-point game at the break.
Australia made the brighter start to the second half but more than 10 minutes of incessant attack sparked by a brilliant run from scrum-half Will Genia produced only three points from a Toomua penalty.
That was enough to put the Wallabies back in front, however, and he added a second after 68 minutes to extend the lead to five points.
The victory never looked secure though, and the crowd at a half-full Lang Park breathed a huge collective sigh of relief when the television official adjudged the ball had been knocked on in the lead up to what would have been a late South African try.
Genia of the Wallabies (centre) celebrates Australia's victory upon hearing the full-time whistle
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/08/australia-23-18-south-africa-matt-toomua-inspires-comeback/
Main photo article Australia overturned a narrow half-time deficit and survived a late South African onslaught to notch up their first victory of the Rugby Championship with a 23-18 win in Brisbane on Saturday that snapped a four-match losing streak.
Two Matt Toomua penalties after the break added to the...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Sport HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/08/14/4FE0F1D200000578-6145995-image-a-37_1536412179937.jpg
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий