July 19, 2008

AUSTRALIA'S new direction under Robbie Deans received a massive boost when the Wallabies opened their Tri-Nations campaign with a tense 16-9 victory over world champions South Africa at Subiaco Oval.

Deans maintained his unbeaten record since taking the helm last month as the underdog Australians scored their most important win of their new era, scoring two tries to nil in front of 41,838 fans.

Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock scored tries on either side of the half-time break with Matt Giteau kicking a penalty goal and Berrick Barnes a late drop goal.

The Springboks' points came from two penalty goals to Francois Steyn and one to Butch James.

"It was never going to e perfect but obviously against an opponent that's very physical I'm very proud of the attitude and the mentality that the team showed," Deans said.

"Up against a side that is very able and very physical, they asked a lot defensively, the guys stood up to that with some great scrambling defence.

"We created a lot and could have achieved more."

It was always going to be a case of whether the emerging Wallabies could make it click against a Springboks outfit rolling with momentum.

Australia led 5-3 at half-time after Tuqiri had finished a superbly worked move to score the only try of the first 40 against the run of play.

George Smith grabbed the ball at the back of a lineout to send winger Peter Hynes charging forward and, on the ensuing play, the Wallabies backline finally clicked with some quick hands from Nathan Sharpe and Giteau.

Australia came out firing after the break and extended that lead to 10-3 within five minutes when a cut-out ball from Giteau and some sheer captain's determination saw Mortlock charge through Boks centre Jean de Villiers and drag three Springboks over the line.

But the groggy skipper reluctantly left the field moments later after being smashed in a tackle as Giteau extended the lead to 13-3 with a penalty goal in the 50th minute.

James' 53rd minute penalty goal made it 13-6 as the Springboks began to threaten a comeback.

Winger Bryan Habana dropped the ball over the line after a perfectly worked backline move in the 66th minute with Mortlock's replacement and local hero Ryan Cross making the telling tackle.

The South African speedster left the field afterwards with what appeared to be a left shoulder injury.

But his pain would have been compounded by the fact the Boks had also blown three good chances in the first half.

The South Africans edged closer with another Steyn penalty in the 69th minute as Australia looked to hang on in a tense final 10.

They might have scored a third try if Wycliff Palu had offloaded to an unmarked Benn Robinson just metres out before the Springboks began pressing again.

But Tuqiri topped a fine all-round performance tonight with bone-crunching hit on de Villiers which caused the ball to come loose and Australia moved in for the kill.

They saw off a fully clad streaker in the 78th minute before Barnes landed his drop goal in the 79th.

Tuqiri's try meant the winger equalled former Wallabies fullback Matt Burke as Australia's fifth highest Test tryscorer with 29 tries.