AUS
No.Name
15James O'Connor, FB
T
14Lachie Turner, W
13Adam Ashley-Cooper, C
T
12Berrick Barnes, C
11Drew Mitchell, W
10Matt Giteau, FH
2
9Will Genia, SH
1Benn Robinson, P
2Tatafu Polota-Nau, H
3Ben Alexander, P
4James Horwill, L
5Mark Chisholm, L
6Rocky Elsom, FL
7David Pocock, FL
8George Smith, N8
Replacements
16Stephen Moore, H
17Pekahou Cowan, P
18Dean Mumm, -
19Wycliff Palu, -
20Luke Burgess, -
21Quade Cooper, C
22Peter Hynes, W

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
6:05 AM, September 5, 2009
Attendance: 47,481
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

82'21-6 End of half
81'21-6 End of half
81'21-6 End of half
81'21-6 End of second half
80'A clean take for the Wallabies at a lineout, the hooter sounds and Genia, who's had a fine game, boots the ball into touch. It's all over in Brisbane and the Aussies have snapped their six-game Tri-Nations losing streak. They've also kept the title race alive, as the table-topping Boks will now have to go to Hamilton next week and take something off the second-placed Kiwis. On the back of their performance at the Suncorp, that will be easier said than done for South Africa because they looked tired and ponderous tonight. Another fascinating 80 minutes of Tri-Nations action lies in wait.
79'Player substituted - Ben Alexander , Australia
79'Substitute on - Pekahou Cowan , Australia
78'Pekahou Cowan comes on for Alexander for the Aussies, who know that the game is in the bag now. The Boks can barely even muster up the energy for a consolation try. A terrible knock-on from Frans Steyn just about sums up their second half efforts. They've been outfought and outplayed tonight.
77'21-6 Try - James O'Connor , Australia
76'TRY It's game over, folks. Du Preez tries to make something happen near halfway but Elsom knocks the ball from his grasp. O'Connor picks up the loose ball and races clear to score. There is no way back for the dejected Boks now. The Aussies, by contrast, are ecstatic and understandably so - they've been excellent tonight and fully deserve this win.
75'Player substituted - Berrick Barnes , Australia
75'Substitute on - Quade Cooper , Australia
74'That's the end of Barnes' evening as the centre makes way for Cooper.
73'Steyn clears the ball straight to O'Connor, who collects superbly in midfield. He saunters forward before attempting a 40-metre drop goal. It looks good but it drifts to the right. Another stay of execution for the increasingly desperate Boks, who are now attempting to run everything from deep.
71'Hynes very nearly conjured up a stunning solo try moments ago. The winger attempted to burn the entire Bok defence on the outside before he eventually ran out of gas and was wrapped it. It's thrilling stuff from the Aussies at the moment, though.
70'The Wallabies are rampant at the moment. A second try seems inevitable. First Elsom has a go, then Mitchell breaks through before Barnes threatens - it's relentless Wallaby pressure. The Boks are hanging on - but only by a thread. If the Aussies score again this game is over.
69'Substitute on - Francois Steyn , South Africa
69'Player substituted - Ruan Pienaar , South Africa
68'Pieter de Villiers has decided to take makeshift fullback Pienaar out of the game and throw on Frans Steyn in the hope that the latter's boot might be able to get the struggling Boks back into this game.
67'The Boks are under the cosh again, this time courtesy of a beautifully-measured kick into space from Mitchell which eventually led to Steyn being bundled into touch ten metres from his own line. Credit to the Wallabies, they have the Springboks by the throat and are refusing to let go.
66'Oh, Giteau has just squandered a chance to put the home side 13 points clear with a penalty. Will that prove costly? It was a long way out but Giteau's shaking his head; he knows himself that could have made it.
64'16-6 Conversion - Matt Giteau , Australia
63'Giteau adds the extras with ease and now we'll see what this South African side is really made of. An inspired Wallaby side has put it up to them; now it's time for the Boks to show their mettle.
63'14-6 Try - Adam Ashley-Cooper , Australia
62'TRY for the Wallabies at last! The Aussies have finally scored the try their attacking endeavour has long merited, with Ashley-Cooper, with the aid of a sumptuous line, scything through the Springbok defence to score. Hard not to feel some sympathy for Fourie. He prevented a try just seconds beforehand but this time he was to blame. In fairness to him, though, he didn't really know who to pick up as the Boks had been left horribly outnumbered.
61'Burger receives one hell of a welcome to the game, the flanker ending up on his backside after being nailed by Ashley-Cooper. The Aussies pilfer back possession and O'Connor launches a counter-attack. The ball is worked wide until Giteau trickles a grubber in behind the Springbok defence. It should be meat and drink for Jacobs but instead of stepping into touch or kicking it clear he stupidly tries to pass it back inside. Giteau intercepts and dives for the line. However, his foot was in touch as he grounded the ball in the right corner. So unlucky for the Wallabies but credit Fourie for a great last-gasp tackle.
60'Another overthrown lineout from the Wallabies gifts possession back to the South Africans, who have just been bolstered by the introduction of Schalk Burger.
60'Substitute on - Danie Rossouw , South Africa
60'Player substituted - Bakkies Botha , South Africa
60'Substitute on - Schalk Burger , South Africa
60'Player substituted - Heinrich Brussow , South Africa
58'Unusually sloppy work from the Boks at the lineout and the ball is knocked on. A succession of collapsed scrums follow before the Wallabies are eventually awared a free-kick. It's all gone very cagey and very nervy. One imagines the next score could prove fairly significant.
55'Solid scrum from the Boks and they earn themselves a penalty. A timely boost for the South African front-rowers. Steyn then puts the Springboks ten metres into the Australian half with a stunning kick. Have the Boks weathered the storm?
54'It's a five-metre scrum for Australia. They win it but Smith drops it but it doesn't roll forward. The Wallabies pound away at the Springbok line. They try to work it wide but Elsom fumbles O'Connor's pass wide on the right wing. Excellent defensive work from the Boks.
53'Genia slips the ball insdie and the onrushing Elsom bounds through the Springbok defence. The flanker is eventually grounded some eight metres out. The South Africans are penalised and the alert Genia takes a quick tap. He charges for the line and forces his way over. But did he get it down? No, it was ripped out of his hands by du Preez. The Wallabies are denied again.
50'The Aussies up the ante, with Steyn seeing an attempted clearance charged down and into touch inside his own 22. The pressure is on the Boks but Wallaby ill-discipline let them off the hook. Matfield is tackled in the air and Styen punts the resulting penalty into touch on halfway. Matfield claims the throw once more and now it is the Boks who are on the front foot.
48'The Aussie lineout ball continues to look vulnerable. There's no disgrace in that, of course, as they are facing the best lineout in world rugby and it hasn't proven that costly thus far. But it must be a worry for Deans and company.
46'The Aussies are dropping like flies! Genia's now down injured. It looks like he's got a small problem with his knee. Losing him would be a massive blow for the Wallabies as he's having a fine game, completely vindicating his selection at nine ahead of Burgess. Happily for the Aussies, he's back on his feet and is ready to continue.
44'It's still a little scrappy at the moment. The Aussies are particularly culpable in that regard: they've had three handling errors already. Still, defensively, the Wallabies looks pretty solid.
41'Cracking start to the second half with Smit cutting Moore in two with a crunching tackle in midfield. That results in a turnover but the Boks then lose it themselves after attacking down the left flank, presenting the Wallabies with an excellent chance to counter-attack. They blow it, though, and incredibly it's Giteau who is to blame, the fly-half dropping a relatively straightforward pass. What a shame for the Aussies. Giteau had five men menacingly positioned outside of him.
41'9-6 End of first half
40'Giteau gets us back underway in Brisbane.
40'The Springboks continue to turn the screw and are edging ever closer to the Wallaby whitewash. However, this time they are undone by a knock forward. Scrum Australia, and there goes the hooter. It's half-time in Brisbane and it is the Wallabies who lead. And deservedly so. They would have crossed twice had it not been for Habana. They've been aggressive, highly competitive at the breakdown and encouragingly incisive at times. The Springboks, though are still well in this and, let us not forget, they have repeatedly threatened the try-line themselves. A fascinating second half lies ahead of us.
40'9-6 Start of second half
39'Some tremendous pressure from the Boks. They work it wide well but are unable to pierce the Wallabies rearguard. Du Preez tries to switch the focus of the attack but his pass to Brussow is forward.
37'9-6 Penalty goal - Morne Steyn , South Africa
36'Some senseless Aussie indiscipline at the breakdown (hands in the ruck) presents Steyn with an attempt to post an immediate reply for the Boks. It's a tricky kick from wide on the right but such is this man's confidence at the moment that he never looked like missing it.
36'Substitute on - Adrian Jacobs , South Africa
36'Player substituted - Bryan Habana , South Africa
35'The Wallabies are threatening the Springbok try-line again. Horwill charges forward but he's held up just short. After some more pressure, Giteau decides to cut his loses and deftly strokes over a drop goal from close range to restore the Wallabies' six-point advantage.
35'9-3 Drop goal - Matt Giteau , Australia
34'Polota-Nau has finally succumbed to the inevitable and he's replaced by Moore. Unlucky for Polota-Nau, who had been having a good game and who was keen to make an impact having been selected ahead of Moore.
33'Penalty against the Springboks for collapsing the scrum! Smit again proves the weak link, buckling under pressure from the impressive Robinson.
33'Substitute on - Stephen Moore , Australia
33'Player substituted - Tatafu Polota-Nau , Australia
32'Genia knocks the ball on and it's a scrum for the Springboks some 40 metres from the Wallaby line. The set-piece affords everyone a well-deserved breather and also allows Polota-Nau to get some much-needed treatment on that shoulder. The hooker's clearly struggling but he's staying on.
31'Substitute on - Peter Hynes , Australia
31'Player substituted - Lachie Turner , Australia
30'Only half an hour gone but Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has been forced into a change already, with Turner having picked up what looks like a shoulder injury. He trots off and on comes Hynes in his place.
29'6-3 Drop goal - Morne Steyn , South Africa
28'Excellent response from the Springboks. They're appeared to be little on as they ambled their way into Australian territory but Steyn tried to take matters - and the ball - into his own hands and promptly halved his side's arrears with a sweetly-struck drop goal from roughly 35 metres out. What a Tri-Nations he's having!
27'6-0 Penalty goal - Matt Giteau , Australia
26'Giteau composes himself and makes no mistake with a relatively straightforward kick from just to the left of the uprights. This realy has been a fine performance thus far from the Wallabies and, dare we say it, the reigning world champions look a little shell-shocked.
25'It's advantage to the Wallabies for an offence at the breakdown. They try to find away through but to no avail. Wayne Barnes brings them back for the penalty. Another look at the incident shows that Brussow was rather sneakily using his outstretched boot to prevent Genia from getting his hands on the ball at the back of a ruck.
23'We've yet to see a try in Brisbane but God knows how! It's de Villiers who this time breaks through, blazing through a gaping hole in the Wallaby midfield. The Munster-bound centre off-loads quite superbly to his midfield partner Fourie, who powers his way through three Wallaby tacklers. However, the ball squirms free from his grasp with the line just a metre away. The Wallabies pounce and manage to clear - at the second attempt.
21'Polota-Nau's just getting a bit of treatment on his shoulder at the moment. It's not surprising as he was hammered by Brussow as he tried to collect a dropping ball. That may have been a case of retribution as Polota-Nau nailed the Springbok flanker with a monster hit on the edge of the Wallaby 22 just moments ago.
20'Habana may be having a stormer from a defensive viewpoint but he's just subject us to one of the worst drop goal attempts in history. Admittedly, it was the guts of 40 metres out but it was a truly ghastly strike. It never got above five metres off the deck. Nasty. Still, hard to be too critical of Habana given he's already made two try-saving tackles!
18'That was disappointing for the Wallabies but they don't seem too perturbed. Less than 60 seconds later, Giteau jinks his way through the increasingly rattled Springboks. However, it's Habana to the rescue again, the Bulls ace nailing Giteau with another superbly-timed tackle before stripping the Force fly-half of the ball. Incredible defensive work from Habana!
17'We're going upstairs. Genia jinks away from Spies wide on the left-hand side and feeds Turner out on the touch-line. The winger has too much gas for Ndungane and looks certain to score in the corner until he is bashed into touch by Habana. What a tackle from the Springbok flyer! But did Turner get it down? We're going upstairs and the TMO quite rightly rules that Habana forced Turner into touch. No try.
14'The answer to that question is yes. Although they claim the line-out ball, the ball is spilled in midfield, allowing the Springboks to counter-attack. Habana leads the breakout and some lovely passing releases Fourie into Australian territory. However, the centre is taken to ground and is stripped of the ball. The Wallabies then attack from deep once more. It comes to nothing but this is exciting stuff in Brisbane. It's end to end at the moment!
13'The Springboks go back to basics and try to get their rolling maul going. However, the Wallabies hold their ground and bring it to a crashing halt. Brussow is then pinged for going off his feet. Giteau boots the ball downfield. More good field position for the Wallabies. Will they waste it again?
11'It's pretty frantic stuff in Brisbane; plenty of turnovers. Pleasingly for us neutrals, the Wallabies look well up for this and defensively solid. The Boks could be set for a real test here.
9'The Springboks move it wide but Fourie runs into traffic and eventually turns the ball over. After some decent phases of possession, the Wallabies run out of ideas and Barnes' ill-advised grubber is easily cleaned up by Ndungane.
8'The Springboks try to post an immediate response but Habana gives away a penalty, allowing Giteau to kick the Wallabies deep into South African territory. However, the Aussies' lineout ball is stolen.
6'3-0 Penalty goal - Matt Giteau , Australia
5'Bakkies Botha is caught a mile offside in the middle of the pitch and Giteau punishes the South African lock's indiscretion, landing a superb kick from fully 50 metres out. A great start for the Wallabies.
4'The Wallabies counter-attack from deep inside their own 22 and Adam Ashley-Cooper, with the aid of a fortuitous bounce, is set free down the left flank. However, while the centre has support both outside and inside of him, he fails to take advantage of either option and is grounded by two Springboks.
3'The Springboks are looking menacing with ball in hand and Fourie scythes through but is crucially halted by the scrambling Wallaby defence. The Springboks try to keep the move alive but Habana spills a loose pass wide on the left-hand side.
1'Big early hit from Elsom on Spies lifts the home crowd but, worryingly, with their first phase of possession, the Wallabies turn the ball over on the floor. The Boks try to counter-attack through Smith but the Australian defence holds firm and the flanker is forced to kick possession back to the hosts.
1'Australia play host to South Africa at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane this evening in what could be the decisive match in this years Tri-Nations. The Springboks know that victory here would see them clinch the southern hemisphere crown for only the third time ever and the first time since 2004. The Wallabies have already suffered at the hands of their rivals twice in this year's competition and yet another reverse would increase the pressure on coach Robbie Deans and his talented but yet under-performing squad. In a bid to snap a four-game losing streak in this year's Tri-Nations, Deans has made five changes including the selection of scrum-half Will Genia and flanker David Pocock. Unsurprisingly, South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has kept faith with the vast majority of his unbeaten side with winger Odwa Ndungane the only change due to an injury to JP Pietersen. Join me, Mark Doyle, at 20.05 local time (10.05 GMT) for full commentary on this crucial game. 11:00 The anthems are out of the way and we're ready to get down to business in Brisbane, with the seemingly unstoppable Springboks hoping to clinch their third Tri-Nations title today. The Wallabies are just hoping to stop the rot. South Africa fly-half Morne Steyn to get us underway at the Suncorp Stadium.
1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby Championship 2009 News