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Boks survive Wales scare
Source: Agencies |
September 12, 2011, Monday
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DEFENDING champion South Africa narrowly escaped with a one-point win as all the leading contenders survived a sometimes ragged Rugby World Cup opening weekend.
Substitute back Francois Hougaard dived over for a 64th-minute try and Morne Steyn converted to give South Africa a 17-16 comeback win over Wales yesterday, 24 hours after 2007 finalist England surged back late for a 13-9 win over Argentina.
The Welsh were unlucky, with fullback James Hook having a penalty attempt controversially waved away in the first half and then flyhalf Rhys Priestland missing a 70th-minute dropped goal from close range that could have clinched an epic victory.
Wales coach Warren Gatland thought Hook's early shot at goal was good, and said even the Springboks thought it was three points conceded. "We did everything but win the game. Got ourselves into a chance to win but then we weren't quite good enough."
The first eight matches certainly highlighted a narrowing gap between the super powers and the emerging nations.
South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England have so far shared the six World Cups between them, and France has twice reached the final. They all had struggles at times in their opening matches.
The Italians held two-time champion Australia to 6-6 at halftime yesterday before 21-year-old utility back James O'Connor was recalled from exile and immediately sparked a four-try burst to give the Wallabies a 32-6 win to top Pool C.
The Australians came into the tournament with back-to-back wins over South Africa and New Zealand and, on paper, should have blown the Italians away but didn't.
Ireland was expected to overpower the United States in the subsequent Pool C match at New Plymouth, but struggled to breach the tough-tackling Eagles until just before halftime. The Americans were riding on emotion, having started the day with a church service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, but ran out of steam in the second half of a 10-22 defeat.
Close encounters defying expectations have been the storyline early in the tournament, which goes into a two-day recess before three matches on Wednesday.
The All Blacks, under immense pressure to win the title on home soil and end the drought since they last hosted and won the World Cup in 1987, started with a bang in the Friday night opener but slackened off in the second half of a 41-10 win over Tonga.
Substitute back Francois Hougaard dived over for a 64th-minute try and Morne Steyn converted to give South Africa a 17-16 comeback win over Wales yesterday, 24 hours after 2007 finalist England surged back late for a 13-9 win over Argentina.
The Welsh were unlucky, with fullback James Hook having a penalty attempt controversially waved away in the first half and then flyhalf Rhys Priestland missing a 70th-minute dropped goal from close range that could have clinched an epic victory.
Wales coach Warren Gatland thought Hook's early shot at goal was good, and said even the Springboks thought it was three points conceded. "We did everything but win the game. Got ourselves into a chance to win but then we weren't quite good enough."
The first eight matches certainly highlighted a narrowing gap between the super powers and the emerging nations.
South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England have so far shared the six World Cups between them, and France has twice reached the final. They all had struggles at times in their opening matches.
The Italians held two-time champion Australia to 6-6 at halftime yesterday before 21-year-old utility back James O'Connor was recalled from exile and immediately sparked a four-try burst to give the Wallabies a 32-6 win to top Pool C.
The Australians came into the tournament with back-to-back wins over South Africa and New Zealand and, on paper, should have blown the Italians away but didn't.
Ireland was expected to overpower the United States in the subsequent Pool C match at New Plymouth, but struggled to breach the tough-tackling Eagles until just before halftime. The Americans were riding on emotion, having started the day with a church service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, but ran out of steam in the second half of a 10-22 defeat.
Close encounters defying expectations have been the storyline early in the tournament, which goes into a two-day recess before three matches on Wednesday.
The All Blacks, under immense pressure to win the title on home soil and end the drought since they last hosted and won the World Cup in 1987, started with a bang in the Friday night opener but slackened off in the second half of a 41-10 win over Tonga.
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