Mortlock lands the spoils

Stirling Mortlock landed a penalty goal 10 minutes into additional time to give Australia a dramatic 19-18 victory over South Africa in the Tri-Nations Championship in Durban on Saturday. Right wing Mortlock defied deafening whistling from home supporters to place the ball between the posts from inside the 22-metre line, but near the touchline.

This success brought the five-year-old southern hemisphere championship to the Wallabies for the first time and confirmed their international superiority having beaten France in the World Cup final last year.

Australia finished with 14 points after beating South Africa home and away and New Zealand away. The All Blacks were second with 12 points and luckless South Africa third with six.

Mortlock landed four penalty goals and converted a try just before the interval by fullback Chris Latham while outhalf Braam van Straaten never looked like missing any of his six penalty attempts.

After the 10-try spectacle between the Springboks and the All Blacks in Johannesburg the previous weekend, this was a battle of attrition. Try-scoring opportunities were scarce as the packs battled it out and New Zealand referee Paul Honiss often had to appeal for calm as fists flew and boots went in.

Australian replacement Mark Cockbain was on the field less than 60 seconds during the second half when he was sent to the sin bin for unleashing a flurry of punches at a fallen Rassie Erasmus. Several other players were fortunate not to receive yellow cards and Honiss repeatedly called the captains together and appealed for cool heads in the white-hot atmosphere.

After Van Straaten kicked an early penalty, Australia moved ahead with two successful shots at goal by Mortlock and retained the lead until five minutes into optional time when South Africa went ahead, 18-16.

Australia never panicked and after numerous efforts to score a try failed, South African flanker Corne Krige was penalised and Mortlock set the seal on a bold display by the visitors.

Captain John Eales said it came as no surprise that the match was extremely physical: "It is always a lot more difficult playing South Africa away than at home and we knew only a special effort would bring us victory. "Congratulations to the guys, especially David Wilson, Richard Harry and Jason Little, who were making their final international appearances, and Tim Horan, who was with us but could not play."

South African skipper Andre Vos, forced to retire injured at half-time and replaced by Warren Brosnihan, said it was difficult to accept losing a match in such a dramatic fashion. "The Australians are a fantastic team, very tough and very organised. I thought our guys were outstanding, especially during the second half."

Coach Nick Mallett said: "It was really cruel the way we lost and worse than the World Cup semi-final defeat by Australia last year. They were the better team that day, but not this time."

SOUTH AFRI Esterhuizen, R Fleck, B Paulse; B van Straaten, W Swanepoel; C Visagie, C Marais (J Smit 78), R Kempson (O le Roux 40), M Andrews (Erasmus 72), A Venter, A Vos (capt, W Brosnihan 40), C Krige, R Erasmus (A van den Berg 58).

AUSTRALIA: C Latham; S Mortlock, D Herbert, J Little, J Roff (B Tune 72, R Kafer 80); S Larkham, G Gregan; F Dyson, M Foley (J Paul 31), R Harry, J Eales (capt), D Giffin, J Williams, D Wilson (M Cockbain 53), M Connors (T Kefu 52).