Young Aussies sink world champs
Australia v South Africa ... Wallabies' Mark Chisholm takes a line-out against the Springboks during their Tri Nations rugby union test match in Brisbane.
AUSTRALIA 21 SOUTH AFRICA 6
AUSTRALIA's young bravehearts chopped down world champions South Africa last night with a massive upset that revived rugby with attacking panache and character.
The youngest of the Wallaby heroes, 19-year-old James O'Connor, iced the win with a try to end a four-Test losing streak. The crowd erupted and the stodgy fare so often served this year was punted into touch.
This is a massive watershed moment from a side with an average age of just 23. They transformed from nearly men to giant-killers.
Halfback Will Genia had an excellent game in his first starting Test. Flanker Rocky Elsom was a mighty force up front, a steamrolling run in the second half getting the Wallabies' momentum going.
"They kept their heads up and they played for the full 80 minutes and it was evident at the end that the confidence was starting to kick in, and the spirit was great,'' coach Robbie Deans said.
"We took them (South Africa) outside their comfort zone, which we haven't been able to do previously.''
The sea of gold in the crowd erupted when the Wallabies showed their intent to run from the outset, five-eighth Matt Giteau throwing a long pass across the uprights just metres out from his tryline.
Centre Adam Ashley-Cooper speared 40m upfield and the flurry which followed gave Giteau the chance to slot a penalty goal.
The Wallabies looked metres faster and had more space. Much of it came from Genia doing what dumped halfback Luke Burgess too rarely executed - slick passes hitting his playmakers.
The 9-6 first half did not produce a try, but there were still pulsating raids from both sides. There were four clear try chances, two apiece, in the first 40.
Wallaby winger Lachie Turner was barrelled in the corner after Genia had created room with a blindside dart, while a trademark Giteau glide saw him in open space just 10m from the line.
Winger Bryan Habana cut down both Wallabies with superb try-saving tackles.
It wasn't all one way, with Springboks centre Jean de Villiers slicing between Giteau and Berrick Barnes, while the scrambling defence denied Jaque Fourie a try.
The energy in the youthful Wallaby line-up was positive across the field. Fearless hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was forced off after 32 minutes with rib damage but not before he had cause plenty of damage of his own. He smashed Fourie du Preez and Heinrich Brussow with low kamikaze tackles, but he was a mixed bag at the lineouts.
After the break, Australia kept on testing the world champions.
Finally, the pressure told. Quick scrum ball to Barnes gave him the room to orchestrate the killer blow. He faked one pass and delivered the real deal to Ashley-Cooper, who steamed over from 30m out.
Ashley-Cooper waved a finger to the sky even before he dived over and then ran into the arms of three fans at the fence beyond the deadball line.
Giteau's conversion catapulted the Wallabies to a worthy 16-6 lead and so much of the pain of four Test losses in a row dissolved instantly.
Fulltime
AUSTRALIA 21 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor tries Matt Giteau con 2 pens drop goal) bt SOUTH AFRICA 6 (Morne Steyn pen drop goal) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Wayne Barnes (ENG). Crowd: 47,481.
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