Springboks surge to victory over Australia

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa surged to a 33-20 victory over Australia to retain the Mandela Challenge Plate in the second leg test at Ellis Park.

Fielding a new-look backline in a side with eight changes from the 30-12 first-leg defeat in Sydney, the Springboks adopted a pacy, ball-in-hand approach and scored three tries to race into a 33-8 lead with 24 minutes remaining.

Fullback Percy Montgomery succeeded with all seven kicks at goal to finish with 18 points.

South Africa put the Wallabies under early pressure with a series of rapid ruck balls, a snappy service by halfback Enrico Januarie and deft handling in the backs.

Montgomery took advantage of the home side's confident start with a penalty before Australian centre Matt Giteau levelled the scores with a penalty of his own in the eighth minute.

However, the Springboks upped the tempo when Jean de Villiers, who was switched from the wing to inside centre, popped up with an intercept try in the 13th minute.

De Villiers pounced on the ball after Wallaby first five-eighths Stephen Larkham was caught in possession and ran 70 metres to put South Africa ahead.

Montgomery added the conversion and a 17th-minute penalty before the Springboks stretched their lead to 20-3 when new first five-eighths Andre Pretorius also intercepted and scythed upfield 40 metres before setting up wing Bryan Habana to score.

Australia fought back when winger Breyton Paulse was yellow-carded following repeated infringements by the Springboks and number eight David Lyons was driven over for a try from a lineout.

The home side were back in control by the end of the first half, though, Montgomery having slotted a third penalty to earn South Africa a 23-8 lead.

Replacement flank Schalk Burger was yellow carded for a high, stiff-arm tackle almost immediately after coming on and the Springboks had to defend a lineout five metres from their goal-line with just 13 men on the field.

However, lock Victor Matfield earned one of several turnovers of Australian ball from the set piece.

After Paulse returned, South Africa increased their lead to 30-8 when de Villiers made the break for outside centre Jaque Fourie to score and Montgomery completed the conversion.

Montgomery added another penalty after controversial Australian prop Bill Young was penalised for scrumming in and the advantage was big enough to absorb a late Australian fightback via tries by Larkham and hooker Jeremy Paul.

Larkham was given turnover ball by wing Wendell Sailor and powered down the left touchline to score with 11 minutes remaining, centre Stirling Mortlock adding the conversion.

The Wallaby forwards then drove Paul over moments before the final whistle.

Teams:

South Africa - 15-Percy Montgomery; 14-Breyton Paulse, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12-Jean de Villiers (Wayne Julies 60th), 11-Bryan Habana; 10-Andre Pretorius, 9-Enrico Januarie (Fourie du Preez 41st); 8-Joe van Niekerk, 7-Juan Smith, 6-Solly Tyibilika (Schalk Burger 41st), 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Bakkies Botha (Albert van den Berg 70th), 3-Eddie Andrews (Lawrence Sephaka 77th), 2-John Smit (captain), 1-Gurthro Steenkamp (Hanyani Shimange 77th).

Australia: 15-Chris Latham (Drew Mitchell 60th); 14-Wendell Sailor, 13-Stirling Mortlock, 12-Matt Giteau (Morgan Turinui 65th), 11-Lote Tuqiri; 10-Stephen Larkham (Morgan Turinui 14th-30th), 9-George Gregan (captain) (Chris Whitaker 73rd); 8-David Lyons, 7-George Smith, 6-Rocky Elsom (Phil Waugh 42nd), 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-Mark Chisholm (Daniel Vickerman 45th), 3-Al Baxter, 2-Jeremy Paul (Steven Moore 78th), 1-Bill Young.

- REUTERS