AUS
No.Name
15James O'Connor, -
14Lachie Turner, -
T
13Ryan Cross, -
12Adam Ashley-Cooper, -
11Peter Hynes, -
10Matt Giteau, -
T
2
2
2
9Luke Burgess, -
1Benn Robinson, -
2Stephen Moore, -
3Ben Alexander, -
4James Horwill, -
5Mark Chisholm, -
6Rocky Elsom, -
7George Smith, -
8Richard Brown, -
Replacements
16Tatafu Polota-Nau, -
17Al Baxter, -
18Dean Mumm, -
19David Pocock, -
20Will Genia, -
21Quade Cooper, -
22Drew Mitchell, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Patersons Stadium
6:05 AM, August 29, 2009
Attendance: 36,148
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'25-32 End of half
81'25-32 End of half
81'25-32 End of second half
81'25-32 Conversion - Matt Giteau , Australia
81'23-32 Try - Lachie Turner , Australia
80'TRY Straight through the middle of the South Africans. Several more phases from Australia before the ball goes back to Lachie Turner, who accelarates quickly and darts his way through the disintegrating ruck. I don't think a hand was laid on him. Giteau converts and that is the last kick of the game. The margin in the end is only 7 points, and the Australians manage to score 3 tries themselves. However, the game never felt close and Australia were always chasing having conceded those early tries. Having said that, there was some promise from them in the second half when they took the attack to South Africa and managed to apply some pressure of their own. South Africa were not at their efficient best at all times, but they were powerful and direct and were very hard to live with, especially once they were out front and a platform to build on. These teams meet again next week at Brisbane, as Robbie Deans will see if he and Australia can salvage something from this campaign. South Africa, on the other hand, will be looking to seal the Trinations. Please join us for that and thanks from me, Jamie Allaway, for following this game with Scrum.com.
78'Still the Australians are dominating the possession and working their phases. Genia takes a quick tap from a penalty and is just caught 5 metres out, but he recycles the ball and the Wallabies have several more phases of pick and drive.
78'Substitute on - Drew Mitchell , Australia
78'Player substituted - James O'Connor , Australia
77'Australia showing some mongrel here and they haven't given this game up for dead just yet. They are running the ball hard and still trying to take the game to the Springboks, it may be too little too late, but they are still competing.
77'Player substituted - Bismarck du Plessis , South Africa
77'Substitute on - Chiliboy Ralepelle , South Africa
77'Player substituted - John Smit , South Africa
77'Substitute on - Jannie du Plessis , South Africa
77'Substitute on - Ricky Januarie , South Africa
77'Player substituted - Fourie du Preez , South Africa
76'Giteau is trying to be positive and get the game moving, but it backfires as his dropkick from under the posts misses as he rushes it and the margin stays at 14 points.
76'18-32 Try - Matt Giteau , Australia
75'TRY Lockie Turner saves Australian legs with a giant kick down the touchline, that rolls into touch in the South African 22. The throw-in is not collected and Cooper cuts into South Africa before spinning the ball and Giteau takes a neat inside pass to put the ball down under the posts.
73'Substitute on - Frans Steyn , South Africa
73'Player substituted - Ruan Pienaar , South Africa
72'South Africa bring on Francois Steyn, the quality of their subs really is very high, and fresh legs are there to close out the game.
71'A kick straight into touch by O'Connor, who is looking a bit bruised. The later it gets, the more Australia are having to try but they are looking tired having been chasing the game from the early stages.
69'South Africa are playing this game now within themselves and not taking too many risks. When Australia have had the ball they have had to run it expansively but not been able to make an impact.
68'13-32 Penalty goal - Morne Steyn , South Africa
67'Steyn knocks it over and Australia are running out of time.
66'This time the penalty at the scrum goes against Australia for taking it down and South Africa have an easy kick to extend their lead.
66'Substitute on - Quade Cooper , Australia
66'Player substituted - Ryan Cross , Australia
66'Player substituted - JP Pietersen , South Africa
66'Substitute on - Adrian Jacobs , South Africa
65'It is South Africa's turn to put some pressure on in the opposition 22, but after a enat lineout move the ball is knocked on by the sub, Jacobs.
64'The South African counter-attack is swift as the ball is spun wide and Pietersen charges up the left. As he is closed down, he puts the ball infield for Habana but Turner is across and has to clear into touch.
63'Australia are still going. No they're not, after 15 phases the ball pops out the other side and South Africa's defence lasted longer than the Aussies' ability to not make a mistake.
61'More promising attacking from Australia as they work several phases from the base of the scrum. Again, mixing back line moves with pick and drives round the fringes. For the moment, the South African defence is good.
60'Australia do seem to be establishing some dominance in the scrum. South Africa pull it down and are penalised, the Wallabies call for the scrum again.
58'Australia are running the ball willingly through Cooper, Turner and also the front row. Several phases but the South African defence is up to the task and forces the knock on.
57'Lineout on the South African 5 metre line. Can Australia get back into this game? No. The lineout is stolen by Matfield.
57'Substitute on - Will Genia , Australia
57'Player substituted - Luke Burgess , Australia
56'Substitute on - Andries Bekker , South Africa
56'Player substituted - Bakkies Botha , South Africa
55'Player substituted - Juan Smith , South Africa
55'Substitute on - Schalk Burger , South Africa
55'Player substituted - Stephen Moore , Australia
55'Substitute on - Tatafu Polota-Nau , Australia
54'That will settle South Africa and could put an end to the Australian resurgence. As if to underline that, Australia are penalised for being in front of the ball at the kick-off. Basic stuff.
54'13-29 Conversion - Morne Steyn , South Africa
54'13-27 Try - Bryan Habana , South Africa
53'TRY This time Habana goes over with no mistake. From the scrum, Fourie makes the dummy run, draws Giteau, and Steyn releases Habana at pace through the gap. Lovely move, four tries, the bonus point for South Africa if they win.
51'The lineout goes long and is bouncing around. It is secured by a South African prop and driven up to the line. When the ball is spun wide, Habana is unable to cling onto the ball with the try-line beckoning. However, they go back for an Aussie knock on.
50'A bit of kicking and unsurprisingly, South Africa come off better, although surprisingly it is a long kick from Pietersen that finds touch in the 22.
49'Substitute on - David Pocock , Australia
49'Player substituted - Richard Brown , Australia
48'Steyn launches a howitzer downfield and O'Connor returns fire with a pop-gun. It is going more Australia's way this half, though, as Brussow knocks on the take on the move. It gets better when Australia win the penalty at the scrum and kick for an attacking lineout.
47'Turner has a dip at running the ball back from the South African clearance. Again, it is forced forward in the tackle but he made ground and looked threatening.
46'The ball is lost forward but you feel the South Africans are under more pressure now.
45'Better from the Aussies, who are looking to build on this start to the second half. They are in the South African half and going through the phases. The difference now is they are making some ground and committing defenders.
44'Critical try, that. The lead is 9 points and more importantly, Australia have taken the game to South Africa and shown they can breach their defences. Game on.
44'13-22 Conversion - Matt Giteau , Australia
44'11-22 Try - Matt Giteau , Australia
43'TRY A loose clearance goes straight to Elsom, who charges back into the South African defence, he has been the most threatening of the Aussie runners. From the ruck, a penalty, which is taken quickly, and Giteau slices through the South African defence and with three tacklers on him, reaches to plant cleanly across the line.
40'Immediately the Springboks try to put the Wallabies under pressure with a deep kick that they win back. A bad pass above Habana's head ends the move, though.
40'The kick is over and that's halftime. The Springboks go in with a mere 16 point lead. South Africa haven't been completely clinical and have made a few mistakes. However, their power and aggression has been way too much for Australia and they are good for that lead. Australia have not been at the races, unable to compete in a lot of the areas the game has played in and making frequent costly mistakes to put themselves under even more pressure. They will need to turn it round quite dramatically in the second half just to compete.
40'6-22 Start of second half
40'6-22 End of first half
40'6-22 Penalty goal - Matt Giteau , Australia
39'Another penalty to Australia as a number of Springboks get themselves offside. Giteau will take the kick and try to trim the deficit before halftime.
36'A free kick from the lineout relieves them and a low driven kick gains them a lot of territory, giving South Africa a defensive lineout exactly on their 22.
35'Errors and missed tackles from Australia. A pass behind the man to turn over the ball, a failure to collect a kick at the back and a failure to hit touch puts the Aussies under more pressure in their own half.
34'3-22 Conversion - Morne Steyn , South Africa
33'Steyn can't miss two of these and pops over the easiest of conversions.
33'3-20 Try - Bryan Habana , South Africa
32'TRY out of nowhere! One of those massive bombs from the boot of Du Preez. Lockie Turner seemed set underneath it, but was disrupted by De Villiers challenging for the ball. And it couldn't have dropped to anyone worse, from an Aussie point of view, as Habana collects it at pace and is away under the posts.
30'Steyn misses the kick.
29'Springboks using their superior power upfront and, having secured lineout ball, work a rolling maul 20 yards upfield. The result is another penalty just inside the 22.
28'3-15 Penalty goal - Matt Giteau , Australia
27'He puts this one over and that will be a relief, if he hadn't then Australia may have felt their options for taking points a bit limited.
26'Giteau has another chance on the 10 meter line, pretty straight. He must hit this one.
25'The Wallabies work a number of phases using Rocky Elsom, George Smith et al to drive the ball up the midfield. Steyn doesn't get himself away from teh wrong side of the ruck and concedes a penalty.
24'GIteau has missed it again. It is vital that he hits these because Australia are chasing the game anyway and this is just making it harder.
23'Now Giteau will have a shot at goal as South African hands in the ruck concede a penalty.
22'Giteau tries to launch an attack running the ball from deep, he feeds Elsom, who beats three men with a couple of hand-offs and a sidestep. However, once again, turnover ball as it goes forward in the tackle.
20'The next Wallaby attack also ends with a turnover, as the man is stripped. After trying an attack down the short side, Steyn kicks long but it's straight out. However, Australia lose their lineout ball.
18'Lost forward. George Smith knocks on after a few pick and drives, problem was the defending South African were making more ground than the Wallabies.
17'Attacking intent from Australia, or a lack in faith in Giteau's kicking, as Giteau puts a kickable chance into touch for an attacking lineout.
17'0-15 Penalty goal - Morne Steyn , South Africa
16'Having missed the simplest of chances, Steyn puts over this much more difficult one, 15 points in the 17th minute.
15'Penalty against Australia in the scrum, it's the halfway line but Steyn will have a shot. If Australia don't secure their ball in the scrums, it spells more trouble for them.
13'Rocky Elsom's turn to drop a simple catch from a kick, they're making life very, very easy for South Africa.
12'He's missed this one and that's unfortunate, because it is looking like it could turn into a bit of a procession for South Africa and Australia need to do something to counter that.
11'Australia seem to have woken up a little bit and this time, in putting together a few phases, are making the game line and making ground. The referree calls them back for a penalty against Smit killing the ball and Giteau has a chance to get points on the board.
10'0-12 Try - Jaque Fourie , South Africa
9'TRY The scrum was solid enough, without making any ground, but the simplest first phase try as Du Preez releases Fourie who picks a nice line but the Wallaby defence was nowhere. Comedy miss from Steyn from in front of the posts, and that's about the first thing that has gone right for the Aussies.
8'More strong running from the Boks who are using their big ball carriers, and every time they are making 5 yards. First scrum of the game now, South African put in. Australia had the better of it last time they met up front and will need to do it again to avoid being put under even more pressure.
7'Again, Brown palms a kick into touch for a South African lineout in Wallaby territory. Australia are giving the Springboks a platform here and putting themselves under enormous pressure.
7'0-7 Conversion - Morne Steyn , South Africa
6'The conversion is made and I have to say it looks ominous for the Aussies already.
6'0-5 Try - Fourie du Preez , South Africa
5'TRY Already, South Africa assert their dominance attacking from halfway, first the forward drive up making yards each time, then the backs are brought into play and the Australians are forced to kill the ball out wide. A quick tap and go from Du Preez cuts through the Aussies and he scores to mark his 50th cap.
4'Australia win their lineout and launch a number of attacks working though several phases. The difference is that these all take place in the middle of the field and make little ground. Eventually a chip through is cleaned up and cleared deep by Steyn.
2'Big problems for the Aussies already, as from the first attack South Africa drive into them, first through Fourie and De Villiers and then a couple of pick and drives from The Beast. They are saved from further pressure in their 22 by an obstruction and get the chance to clear. South Africa look threatening already.
1'A mistake already as Brown palms the return kick into touch and a chance for the South African lineout to show its quality already.
1'Australia host South Africa this evening at the Subiaco Oval, Perth, for what could be a decisive match in this years Tri-Nations. Australia, and their coach, Robbie Deans, in particular, are under pressure having lost the the first three games of their campaign. There was slight cause for optimism in their performance last week, especially in defence, but they were unable to hold out against an improving All Blacks' second half offensive. They have the unenviable task of facing the pace-setting Springboks, although history does indicate they have a chance as the South Africans are not good on their travels and have only won three times in Australia since their readmittance into international rugby. However, they are living up to their billing as world champions and their controlled kicking and power game makes them clear favourites. A win today would effectively, if not mathematically, seal the trophy for them. Join me, Jamie Allaway, at 18.05 local time (10.05 GMT) for full commentary on this crucial game. 11:00 The teams have lined up and the national anthems are underway. Not the most rousing rendition of either anthem and there do appear to be some empty seats in the stadium. Let's hope the rugby gets the passions going, kick off by Giteau coming up now.
1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby Championship 2009 News