South Africa records biggest Test win in Australia
Monday, 9 September 2013 00:00
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REUTERS: South Africa secured their biggest win on Australian soil and their first in five attempts when they smashed the hosts 38-12 in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
Prop Coenie Oosthuizen put the visitors in front after six minutes and their advantage was extended with late tries from captain Jean de Villiers, Zane Kirchner and Willie Le Roux.
The win in front of 43,715 spectators at Lang Park was the Springboks’ first victory at the venue in eight attempts.
“I thought our defence was awesome,” Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer told a news conference. “I truly believe we won the game firstly in our minds and secondly without the ball because the whole message was we needed to make more than 150 tackles. “If they get momentum they are a very good side. I was very happy the way we attacked at the end.
“We really believed we could win. We wanted to show if you work together nothing is impossible.” The win puts South Africa on top of the Rugby Championship with three wins ahead of a meeting with New Zealand, who are also unbeaten, and Meyer cautioned his side to stay grounded ahead of next Saturday’s clash at Eden Park.
“A lot of things worked, but we need to keep our feet on the ground and stay humble because next week is a bigger challenge,” he said.
The talk leading into the game surrounded Australia’s exciting back line but it was the Springboks who ran amok, especially in the last quarter.
Conversely, Australia failed to score a try against South Africa for the first time since 2001 as the Springboks bettered their previous record win in Australia, a 12-point victory in 1971.
