Springbok captain John Smit praised his team for a “job well done” after their 32-25 victory over the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday, which strengthened their grip on the 2009 Tri-Nations trophy.
Outscoring the Australians by four tries to three, despite having been branded as boring by their Australasian rivals in recent weeks, South Africa have taken a near unassailable lead in the competition.
With two more games – against the Aussies in Brisbane next week and New Zealand in Hamilton a week later, two more points will give the Boks their third Tri-Nations title.
But it was the clinical manner in which the Boks dismantled the Wallabies in the first half in Perth, taking a 23-6 lead at the break, that really impressed.
And becoming the first team this year to score a four-try bonus point also sent a strong message to their rivals.
The Bok captain, Smit, said his team got the result they wanted – five points on the standings from the game.
“We shortened our week [arriving in Perth in two shifts, on Monday and Tuesday] and we were fresh. We saw the energy in the first 50 [minutes],” Smit said in his post-match reaction.
He admitted that the Boks got into a bit of a “defensive mode” in the last 30.
“The one thing about the Aussies, they just keep coming for the 80 minutes, no matter what,” the Bok skipper added.
Asked about being the first team this year to score four tries in a Tri-Nations game, Smit said it was all part of the plan.
“We said all along that we will do whatever we need to win and tonight was a bit of running and a few tries and it did the job,” the Bok captain said.
He admitted that they were happy with their defensive effort, for most part, despite conceding two late tries – in the 75th and 79th minutes – to give the Aussies a bonus point.
“We spoke about it [defence] at half-time, about getting another half-a-metre, just getting on the referee’s good side.
“There was a lot of penetration coming and we just needed to stay organised,” he said.
He admitted that Bryan Habana’s 52nd minute try was the killer blow.
“Half-time [leading 23-6] there was big talk about putting just one more nail in just after the break and the boys listened for a change,” Smit added.
(via: Rugby 365)