Coaches stumped to explain bizarre test

Akona Ndungane of the Springboks is stopped by the Wallabies' George Gregan. Touchline / Getty Images

Winning coach John Connolly rated it the worst performance he'd seen from his Wallabies rugby team.

Springboks coach Jake White couldn't quite fathom how his team had lost.

Either way it was a bizarre, forgettable test match which the hosts won 20-18 at Telstra Stadium in Sydney last night, a result which means the All Blacks can seal the Tri-Nations title as early as a fortnight's time -- should they make it three in a row against the Wallabies in Auckland.

A try against the run of play five minutes from fulltime by replacement Mat Rogers, and a cool sideline conversion from Stirling Mortlock was enough to keep a resurgent Springboks winless in the competition.

"It gives a new meaning to the term 'winning ugly'," a deadpan Connolly said.

"It was by far our worst performance of the season."

The Wallabies were a shadow of the side who came so close to upsetting the All Blacks a week ago.

Their scrum backpedalled again, the lineout was shoddy under heavy pressure, the Springboks defended stoutly and were more robust at the breakdown, and the Wallabies' backs were intent on kicking the ball into opposition territory on the greasy surface at every opportunity.

Match statistics counted 56 kicks in general play from both sides, a massive 38 of them in a first half which closely resembled that other, distinctly Australian, oval ball sport.

Connolly said the intention was to pin the Springboks in their half and try to force errors. The problem was, the errors came from the home side and their forwards presented back-foot ball which ensured another forgettable performance from pivot Stephen Larkham.

The All Blacks were given the credit for such a flat Wallabies performance, a week after their 13-9 win in a brutal Bledisloe Cup test in Brisbane.

"We've been flat all week getting over the All Blacks game, emotionally and physically," Connolly said.

"It's been seven tests in nine weeks and a few of the younger guys aren't used to playing at that level, week in, week out."

It was the fresh legs who helped the Wallabies stagger home as Connolly emptied his bench in the final 10 minutes.

With the Springboks rolling forward, the ball popped out to replacement halfback Sam Cordingley who slapped it to flanker Phil Waugh on halfway who burst clear and sent Rogers on a 30m dash to the line.

Mortlock's sideline conversion, which grazed the left post, was a replay of 2000 when he did the same thing to the Springboks in Durban to seal the Wallabies' Tri-Nations title.

"From a goalkicker's perspective they're the moments you enjoy the most, when it's a kick to win the match," he said.

The Springboks showed they had come a long way from the 0-49 loss in Brisbane last month, coming from 0-10 down at halftime then taking control at 18-13 when fullback Percy Montgomery was driven over the line with 12 minutes remaining.

But it was little consolation afterwards.

"It's a bit difficult -- you don't quite know what to say after you've dominated a game for so long," White said.

Said captain John Smit: "We did everything we could. I'm heartbroken."

The Springboks' only hope now is to pray for an Australian win in Auckland to keep the Tri-Nations alive as they return to their beloved home patch for matches against the All Blacks in Pretoria and Rustenberg and the Wallabies in Johannesburg.

"In 2004 the Wallabies did us a favour in Sydney (by beating the All Blacks). Maybe there could be some deja vu," White said.

"I'll have my Wallabies jumper on and I'll be yelling and screaming and willing John Connolly and his boys on."

- NZPA