Heartbreak for ABs, joy for Wallabies
THE quest for an All Blacks grandslam was up against the Springboks passion, pride and determination to finish the 2021 Rugby Championship on a high note.
The previous week, the Springboks had suffered heartbreak, as Jordie Barrett converted a penalty, minutes from full time to gift the AB a 19-17 win.
However, on Saturday night, history repeated itself as Jacques Nienaber's green machine rallied and bounced back with a colossal effort to win the epic encounter 31-29.
A gutsy South African outfit upset old rivals NZ to bounce back from a tough few weeks in the Rugby Championship while Australia burnished their credentials with a fourth consecutive win.
The world champion headed into the sixth and final round of the southern hemisphere tournament on the back of three defeats and had to dig deep to snap the streak, and end the ABs 10-match winning run.
In a nail-biter on Australia's Gold Coast, the match went to the wire with Elton Jantjies slotting a penalty after the final hooter to earn a tense 31-29 win.
The emotions at the final whistle showed what the win meant to the Springboks who wanted to avoid their fourth successive defeat.
The Springboks showed heaps of character and fighting spirit, and silenced their critics. After all, they showed that the ABs can be beaten.
AFP News reported that in a massive Test featuring four lead changes in the last five minutes, Jantjies kicked the winning penalty after the fulltime siren sounded.
The Springboks took the option of kicking for touch. Pressure paid, as the ABs were penalised for an offside infringement. Jantjies took the points.
Last week's clash was more exciting and enterprising, and the ABs led 2014 at the break after a half of attacking rugby that was a stark contrast to the previous week's tactical and kicking contest that the ABs narrowly clinched 19-17.
AFP News provided an in-depth analysis of the match. The Boks opened scoring, swooping when the ABs lost possession while trying to counter from deep. Lukhanyo Am threw a behind-the-back flick pass to find support.
His midfield partner Damian de Allende crossed in the right corner. After an exchange of penalties, the ABs made it 8-8 when Sevu Reece scored the first of their three first half tries, alongside Ardie Savea, who dived to finish off a scintillating team try.
Another try went astray when Anton Lienert-Brown was tackled into touch, but Brad Weber scored from close range. Penalties from Handre Pollard just before and after halftime reduced the margin to 20-17 before the Boks hit the front when Makazole Mapimpi beat the cover defence to score in the corner and capitalise on sustained attacking pressure from his team. Pollard added another penalty to make it 25-20, and Jordie Barrett responded with two goals to make it 2625 with over five minutes remaining.
Jantjies slotted a dropped goal to give the Boks the lead 28-26 in the 77th minute, but Barrett regained the lead two minutes later with another penalty goal to make it 29-28.
But, it wasn't over yet, as the Boks clinched the winning penalty. Heartbreak for the ABs, but delight for the Boks!
The ABs won the Rugby Championship title with five wins and one loss, and headlines read, 'Springboks stun ABs in classic, Wallabies shine'.
Nienaber's technique in replacing his front three- Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane towards the end of the first half paid off, as Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch sparked things off, while Elton Jantjies and Frans Steyn showed their experience.
In the early game at Cbus Super Stadium, the Wallabies ground down a ragged Argentina 32-17 with Andrew Kellaway bagging a hat-trick to secure second spot with four wins.
The win ensured that Dave Rennie's men finished the Rugby Championship in second place on 18 points, seven behind the ABs and three clear of the Springboks.
Argentina, who played Saturday without the experienced Pablo Matera and Santiago Medrano, finished winless after a long, tumultuous tour. A resurgent Australian side came into their clash bubbling with confidence.
They dictated a game which was the first time they won four in a row since 2017 and the first time at the Rugby Championship.
Thus, congratulations to the Boks for making a huge statement after beating the ABs who managed to win the Rugby Championship title from the green machine!
The Northern Hemisphere battles are set to thrill.