The Tri-Nations is under way, and if the first match is any indication of things to come, the competition will be tightly contested throughout the remaining five matches. Based on their recent performances against touring sides, not many thought Australia would come away from Cape Town with a victory over the Springboks, but no one thought it would take late two drop goals for South Africa to eke out a 22-19 win.

Reserve fullback Francois Steyn was the hero of the day, getting rid of the albatross around his neck since missing the game-winning conversion in the Super 14 final last month. Steyn, 20, came off the bench to hit his first drop goal from 45 metres to level the score at 19-19 with six minutes left, then added another from shorter range to clinch victory.

The first half suggested both sides are far from their top performance, with South Africa dominating the opening minutes and Australia battling back to take a six-point lead into half-time.

'South Africa deserved to win - but they didn’t need to make it so dramatic in the end'


South Africa were out to a strong start, with a penalty kick in the second minute. After losing captain John Smit to injury 10 minutes in, the first Springbok lineout was stolen by Australia, who put three on the board on a penalty that came from ensuing phases. South Africa answered immediately, capitalising on a grubber kick off the restart to retain possession and go on an attack that ended in a try in the corner by centre Jaque Fourie.

The Springboks stayed on the offensive, retaining ball in Australia’s half for most of the next 15 minutes, but failed to convert their possession into points after a number of bad tactical decisions and handling errors.

In the last 15 minutes before half-time, the Wallabies came alive, going on the attack and benefiting from some lucky bounces and some questionable officiating. Matt Giteau scored Australia’s only try under the posts ten minutes before the break despite clear obstruction by prop Guy Shepherdson against Springbok lock Victor Matfield.

With Percy Montgomery missing a drop-goal attempt from 40 metres after the hooter had sounded, South Africa went into the changing rooms down 16-10.

Four minutes in to the second half, Australia capitalised on another South Africa penalty at the breakdown to extend their lead to 19-10, but two minutes later, Montgomery answered with a penalty from 36 metres. He added another shortly after flanker when Rocky Elsom senselessly killed the ball in front of the posts.

With 10 minutes left, South Africa mounted a strong scoring threat but could not get through due to sustained defence by the Wallabies. With six minutes left, Stephen Larkham failed to find touch from a clearing kick in front of his own goal and Steyn made him pay, drilling a beautifully-struck drop goal to even the score at 19-19. Three minutes later, South Africa retained possession through multiple phases to set up a pass to Steyn in the pocket to launch the game winner.

Despite the Springboksstarting as heavy favourites, the two teams were fairly evenly matched. In forward play, Australia proved stronger in the scrums while South Africa held the advantage in loose play, with Schalk Burger and Pierre Spies carrying the ball with authority. Neither side looked good in the lineouts.

In the back line, Australia played solid defence, with Giteau and Larkham imitating loose forwards at times, but fullback Julian Huxley looked shaky for much of the match. The Springboks clearly missed  injured super-winger Bryan Habana, but were generally solid on attack from both wings and centres. Fly-half Butch James played a conservative game with few errors but little imagination.

Having played better rugby for most of the match, South Africa deserved to win - but they didn’t need to make it so dramatic in the end. But Steyn and Springbok fans certainly don’t mind that they did.