Rate it!

4 votes

Wing Jongi Nokwe became the first player to score four tries in a Tri-Nations match as South Africa routed Australia 53-8 on Saturday.

Nokwe's tries complemented by four more from lock Andries Bekker, centre Adrian Jacobs, replacement flyhalf Ruan Pienaar and wing Odwa Ndungane.

Fly-half Butch James converted three tries and added a penalty, while replacement full-back Percy Montgomery added two conversions.

The Wallabies, who had been aiming to win successive tests in South Africa for the first time in 45 years after last weekend's win in Durban, managed just one try through full-back Drew Mitchell, and fly-half Matt Giteau added a penalty.

Giteau slotted a simple 15-metre penalty five minutes into play and Australia held the lead for 10 further minutes before Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes released Bekker through a short gap, and the lock ranged over for the first try of the match.

The hosts struck again four minutes later when scrum-half Fourie du Preez took a quick tap free-kick inside the visitors' 22 and passed to centre Jean de Villiers who found Nokwe for the wing's first try.

The speedster went over in the corner for his second following a five-metre scrum to make it 17-3. James added a penalty before Nokwe completed his hat-trick, and secured the bonus point, with four minutes remaining in the first half.

Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau's inaccuracy at a lineout on his 22-metre line cost the visitors when centre Jean de Villiers latched onto a loose ball, before it was worked wide for Nokwe to canter over and extend South Africa's lead to 27-3 at the break.

A strong scrumming effort laid the platform for the first try after the break.

De Villiers again straightened the line before flicking a pass off his outside shoulder to Jacobs in close support. The outside centre burst through the line before weaving around the last defender to score.

Another powerful scrum by the home team again unleashed the Springbok backs as James took a well-executed pass on the loop to send Jantjes surging over the gain line, the full-back toed the ball ahead and Ndungane gathered and passed inside to Nokwe to score.

A string of substitutions punctuated play before Mitchell sprinted over for a consolation try at the end of the third quarter.

The home team replied with a brace of tries in the final 10 minutes when Pienaar jinked through the Australian line and Ndungane dived over in the final minute.

"We are not yet where we want to be but that's what we expect from the team," said South African coach Peter de Villiers, who has been heavily criticised after a three-game losing streak that has ensured they will finish last in the Tri-Nations.

"We are 60 to 70 percent of the way to where we want to be but the players believe in where we are going."

Australia coach Robbie Deans defended De Villiers, saying: "The reality of this industry is that someone has to be the bottom side in the Tri-Nations but that doesn't mean they're a bad side.

"It was a great win, a good performance by the Springboks," Deans said. "They got in the game and built some momentum, while we dropped off."

South Africa end the tournament in third place with 10 points, while Australia remain in second with 13 points, one point behind New Zealand.

The Wallabies now return home to face New Zealand in Brisbane on September 13 for the series-decider.

Reuters