Wallabies hold nerve to deny Springboks

Australia 16-9 South Africa :  A pair of tries by Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock carried Australia to a 16-9 victory over…

Australia 16-9 South Africa:  A pair of tries by Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock carried Australia to a 16-9 victory over South Africa in their Tri-nations today.

The Springboks, who ended New Zealand's five-year unbeaten run at home last weekend in Dunedin, were tormented by a host of errors and a failure to convert the chances they created.
   
The top-class Australian loose trio, led by Rocky Elsom, gave a commanding display at the breakdown, where the Wallabies won a steady supply of quick ball.
   
South Africa won an early penalty, converted by centre Francois Steyn, but Australia led from the 35th minute after a try by wing Tuqiri.
   
Captain Mortlock scored five minutes after halftime, outhalf Matt Giteau kicked a penalty and centre Berrick Barnes added the finishing touches with a late drop goal.
   
Steyn added another penalty for South Africa, as did outhalf Butch James.
   
The Springboks let Australia off the hook three times in the first half when they wasted clear try-scoring chances and the world champions lurched from error to error throughout the match.
   
The Wallabies also had a high error count in the first half, but scored after lock Nathan Sharpe stole a lineout. Flank George Smith took a deep lineout throw and put wing Peter Hynes through a gap. After recycling the ball, it was just a matter of
 shipping it to Tuqiri on the left wing.
   
Mortlock burst through centre Jean de Villiers and muscled his way over the line past two tacklers to give Australia a flying start to the second half.
   
Giteau kicked his penalty five minutes later, prompting a flurry of activity from the Springboks, but two penalties were all they could garner as they turned over far too much possession.
   
Barnes put the result beyond doubt with his drop goal in the final minute.