MATT GITEAU PUTS ON A SHOW: SA Rugby
By Gerhard Burger -- SuperSport Zone
The Highlanders lost 28-33 but the last-minute try they scored against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday ensured that three South Africans teams finished among the last four on the Vodacom Super 14 log this year.
Blow-by-blow scoring
After trailing 0-23 at halftime, the New Zealanders scored four second-half tries to lift themselves above the Lions, the Stormers, the Reds and the Cheetahs at the bottom of the log.
But the match, or at least 60 of the 80 minutes, belonged to Matt Giteau. The Wallaby flyhalf, playing in his last match for the Force before returning to the Brumbies, produced a performance that was a privilege to watch.
He began with a deft grubber kick that gave Ryan Cross a try only 43 seconds after kickoff. His cross-kick late in the first half led to a brilliant try by Scott Staniforth. He had a hand in at least one of the home team’s two other tries.
He landed a couple of breath-taking goal kicks in contributing 13 points (three penalties and two conversions) and brought off at least one try-saving tackle. And then, to show he could do everything, he made a try for the Highlanders by chipping the ball into Ben Smith’s hands.
Giteau’s vision, skills and all-round play have made him just about the most valuable player in the world at present and a worthy successor to brilliant flyhalves such as Johnnie Wilkinson and Daniel Carter.
If it rained at Subiaco on Saturday, Giteau probably would have performed his water-walking trick as well.
The Force dropped their guard in the second half after practically sewing up the match, allowing the Highlanders to get their hands on the ball for a change and to do some attacking of their own.
Two tries in three minutes halfway through the second half put the visitors in sight of the Force’s score. But poor, and often reckless, passing cost them at least two tries; maybe three.
They also gave away too many free kicks to maintain the pressure on the Force. But they never gave up.
The siren had already gone when scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan flew in to score the try that gave them two bonus points – for four tries and for finishing within seven points of the winners.
There was not too much at stake, but the match proved that Australia could be dangerous in the Tri-Nations, as long as Giteau remains fit. The Wallabies also have talented young backline players that are developing well towards the 2011 World Cup tournament.
And even though the Highlanders were the least successful of the New Zealand teams this year, they are likely to make a useful contribution to the All Black teams.
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