Springbok wing JP Pietersen is grounded by a combination of Nathan Sharpe and Quade Cooper in Pretoria
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Writing on Rugby Heaven, Spiro Zavos analyses Australia's shortcomings in Saturday's Tri-Nations defeat in Pretoria.
"The South African mentality is big on abrasive obstinacy as a dominant characteristic. We saw this in the determined manner in which the Springboks fought their way back into the Test at Pretoria after giving up 14 points in the opening minutes. And also in the way Victor Matfield played out the full 80 minutes of his 100th Test.
"John Smit, who achieved 100 Tests a week earlier, missed a tackle on the last play of the Test that led to the All Blacks scoring their winning try. This time the obstinacy was rewarded with Matfield stealing some crucial lineouts from Wallabies throws near the Springboks try line near the end of the match....
"While the Springboks might have one too many Test veterans, the Wallabies suffer from a lack of them, and the rugby nous they bring. In Pretoria, the Wallabies failed to capitalise on their brilliant start. It is inconceivable that the lead would have been blown had Gregan, Stephen Larkham and George Smith been playing. No one in the Wallabies back line (or the captain Rocky Elsom) seemed to have a clue about entrenching the opening surge."
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