Aussies derail Springboks

quarter-final victory here yesterday despite enjoying little territory and not much in the way of useful possession.
The Wallabies spent much of the game on the back foot, the misfiring Quade Cooper unable to guide his side out of his own half for much of the 80 minutes.
But a first-half try from captain James Horwill and two James O’Connor penalties, the second with just eight minutes to play, were enough to see Australia home against the most experienced Springbok side ever – boasting eight players who began the 2007 World Cup final, with a further three on the bench.
Experience alone, however, could not carry the often leaden-footed Springbok side lacking any attacking spark into next weekend’s semi-final against the winners of Sunday’s other last eight clash between New Zealand and Argentina.
“It was a huge effort from the boys, they really put us under pressure,” said Horwill. “We knew we had to stick in and defence wins big games,” the lock added.
Wallaby hooker Stephen Moore was just pleased to come through a bruising encounter against the physical South Africa pack.
“They were very direct. I’m thrilled to still be alive,” said Moore.
Dejected Springbok skipper John Smit, who four years ago in France lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy, said: “It’s a sad way to end. It was a ding dong battle between two good teams.
“We did enough to win this game, we just weren’t accurate enough,” the veteran hooker added.
Early exchanges were dominated by aerial ping-pong, a lot of which was inaccurate and often lacked an effective supporting chase-game.
New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence’s unfathomably liberal take on the breakdown made for some ugly viewing, and on countless occasions hands in rucks and players flying in from all directions went unpunished.
A punishing tackle by Radiko Samo on Schalk Burger in the 11th minute saw the ball squirt free, the Australian No 8 recovering to offload to Pat McCabe who in turn found Horwill in support to crash over.
With their heads up, Wallaby full-back Kurtley Beale split the defence from the restart, but Moore was not quick enough to evade the fine covering tackle by Burger.
O’Connor kicked an easy penalty in the 17th minute as the Springboks failed to convert their territorial dominance into points.
With star Springbok fetcher Heinrich Brussow taken off the pitch injured, Australia openside David Pocock forced a number of crucial turnovers but Cooper was in erratic form and could not steer the Wallabies upfield.
Morne Steyn missed a 50-metre penalty as the Boks pressed, with Bryan Habana hauled down after cutting back inside and fellow wing JP Pietersen bundled down with the line beckoning.
Steyn spurned a second shot of goal to kick for the corner, but the ruck from the ensuing lineout saw another dubious turnover.
The fly-half finally got South Africa on the scoreboard with a 39th minute penalty after Pocock was properly adjudged to have handled at a ruck in front of the posts.
But a third effort from halfway fell short, the Boks ruing the absence through injury of long-range specialist Frans Steyn. – AFP.