Author: Rob

Blue Bulls 40 – 34 Sharks
Blue Bulls – Tries: Juandre Kruger, Ruan Snyman, Jaco Engels, Wynand Olivier; Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Zane Kirchner; Penalties: Potgieter (4).
The Sharks – Tries: Lwazi Mvovo, Stefan Terblanche, Alistair Hargreaves; Conversions: Patrick Lambie (2); Penalties: Lambie (5). (more…)

South Africa finished last in the Tri Nations, lost the Mandela Shield, lost the Freedom Cup, lost to Australia on the highveld for the first time in 47 years, conceded the most tries by any team in the history of the Tri Nations and dropped to 3rd in the IRB world rankings after another disastrous game in what has been a disgraceful Trinations series.

The response from the coaches – BLAME IT ON THE PLAYERS!! Peter de Villiers: “I think we showed character to come back. Our structures are in place and they can take us to the World Cup if executed properly. If we execute our plans perfectly, it will be very difficult to score against us. We needed to show more character on defence, like we did in Soweto and last week at Loftus.”

Springboks 39 (13)
Tries: Jaque Fourie, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jean de Villiers
Conversions: Morne Steyn (3)
Penalties: Morne Steyn (6)

Wallabies 41 (31)
Tries: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Stephen Moore, Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell
Conversions: Matt Giteau (4), James O’Connor
Penalties: Matt Giteau, Kurtley Beale

MOTM: Gurthro Steenkamp

Match details
Date: Saturday 4 September 2010
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Assistant referees: N Owens (Wal), S McDowell (Ire)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (Ireland)

South Africa

Replacements:
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle | 17 CJ van der Linde | 18 Flip van der Merwe | 19 Ryan Kankowski | 20 Ricky Januarie | 21 Juan de Jongh | 22 Gio Aplon

15 Francois Steyn
11 Bryan Habana | 14 JP Pietersen
12 Jean de Villiers | 13 Jaque Fourie
9 Francois Hougaard | 10 Morne Steyn
6 Schalk Burger | 8 Pierre Spies | 7 Juan Smith
4 Danie Rossouw | 5 Victor Matfield
1 Gurthro Steenkamp | 2 John Smit | 3 Jannie du Plessis

3 Salesi Ma’afu | 2 Stephen Moore | 1 Benn Robinson
4 Mark Chisholm | 5 Nathan Sharpe
6 Rocky Elsom | 8 Ben McCalman | 7 David Pocock
9 Will Genia | 10 Quade Cooper
12 Matt Giteau | 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
11 Drew Mitchell | 14 James O’Connor
15 Kurtley Beale

Replacements
16 Saia Fainga’a | 17 James Slipper | 18 Dean Mumm | 19 Richard Brown | 20 Luke Burgess | 21 Berrick Barnes | 22 Anthony Fainga’a

Australia

­Much has been written about South Africa’s fall from grace in recent weeks. They have gone from a team that could do no wrong to a team that just can’t get it right. In particular, the South African media is falling over itself about the sudden plummet. While one can certainly see a big difference between last years Tri-­Nations and this year’s, the suggestion that the difference is only the law application is wrong minded.
READ MORE

Player ratings
Good Boks: Francois Hougaard, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie
Bad Boks: Bryan Habana, John Smit

Match Stats

44 – Springboks v Wallabies – 31
45% – Possession – 55%
4 – Turnovers conceded – 6
8 – Penalties conceded – 6
2 – Free kicks conceded – 1
79 – Tackles made – 59
21 – Tackles missed – 17
7 – Handling errors – 13

MOTM: Francois Hougaard

Springboks 44 (24)
Tries: Juan Smith, Guthro Steenkamp, Pierre Spies, Frans Steyn, JP Pietersen
Conversions: Morne Steyn (4), Butch James
Penalties: Morne Steyn, Frans Steyn

Wallabies 31 (28)
Tries: Will Genia, James O’Connor (2), Dean Mumm
Conversions: Matt Giteau (4)
Penalty: Matt Giteau