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QANTAS WALLABIES SUFFER NARROW DEFEAT IN PRETORIA

Oct 3 • General News, International • 1202 Views • Comments Off on QANTAS WALLABIES SUFFER NARROW DEFEAT IN PRETORIA

The Qantas Wallabies have been held out by a desperate South Africa to suffer a narrow 18-10 defeat at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

In a tight defensive struggle, the boot of Morne Steyn proved the difference between the two sides as the veteran flyhalf piloted four penalty goals and two drop goals to register all of the home side’s points.

The Wallabies scored the lone try of the contest, to prop Scott Sio in the opening quarter of the match, but failed to keep the scoreboard ticking over and ultimately would fall frustratingly short of a maiden win at the notorious venue.

In a fast start for the Wallabies, a break by Reece Hodge in the opening minute put the visitors on the front foot but it was the Springboks who took first points when Steyn landed a drop goal from 30 metres out in the 5th minute.

By hunting for the three points early from the boot of their veteran flyhalf, who was starting his first match since 2014 in the Springboks number 10 jersey, the South Africans set the tone for what would be a tight contest throughout.

Soon enough the Wallabies would strike though, when a midfield burst from Michael Hooper set up a try to Scott Sio. Hooper charged into a gap off a short ball from Bernard Foley and got the ball wide to Hodge who was stopped short in the corner. From there quick hands from Will Genia and Sekope Kepu saw Sio dive over untouched directly under the posts.

Foley made the conversion to set up a 10-3 lead in the 15th minute, which ultimately would prove the final points of the night for the men in gold.

A Steyn penalty goal in the 26th minute narrowed the margin to four, before he added another three points when Israel Folau was yellow-carded for taking out Bryan Habana without the ball in the 34th minute. Habana found space on the right and kicked ahead for himself as the Springboks looked for their opening try but Folau stood his ground and bumped the winger off the ball.

The Wallabies would let their narrow lead slip on the stroke of half time when they were again punished for being offsides, handing the visitors a 12-10 advantage which they would maintain until the dying minutes of the match.

Michael Cheika’s men were once again left to lament key missed opportunities and couldn’t find their way to the tryline despite earning some strong front-foot ball and at times producing some scintillating attack.

The visitors had chances to capitalise with two long-range penalty goal attempts in quick session, however Reece Hodge failed to convert with both from difficult position in the 50th and 52nd minutes.

After both sides continued to search for the knockout blow, the Wallabies were left to lament an inaccurate final ten minutes of play which enabled Steyn to slot the eventual match-winning drop goal with under a minute left to play.

Michael Hooper was again among the Wallabies’ best, while winger Dane Hayley-Petty threatened with the ball in the best outing of his young Test career. Melbourne Rebels speedster Sefanaia Naivalu became the 900th player to represent Australia in Test Rugby when he came on as a replacement during a frantic final ten minutes.

The defeat saw the Wallabies drop to third in The Rugby Championship standings, with one remaining clash against Argentina at Twickenham Stadium in London next Saturday (Sunday morning AEDST).

How it happened:
5 mins: Morne Steyn drop goal, AUS 0-3 RSA
8 mins: Bernard Foley pen, AUS 3-3 RSA
14 mins: Scott Sio try, Bernard Foley con AUS 10-3 RSA
26 mins: Morne Steyn pen, AUS 10-6 RSA
35 mins: Morne Steyn pen, AUS 10-9 RSA
40 mins: Morne Steyn pen, AUS 10-12 RSA
HALF TIME
76 mins: Morne Steyn pen, AUS 10-15 RSA
80 mins Morne Steyn drop goal, AUS 10-18 RSA
FULL TIME

South Africa 18 (Morne Steyn 4 pens, 2 dg) defeated Australia 10 (Scott Sio try; Bernard Foley con; pen)

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