DURBAN, 22 August 2004 — South Africa survived two late yellow cards to win their second Tri-nations title with a rousing 23-19 triumph over Australia in Durban yesterday.
Referee Paddy O’Brien sinbinned fullback Percy Montgomery with 11 minutes to go and right wing Breyton Paulse with a minute on the clock.
But the Springboks held on to win their first Southern Hemisphere championship since 1998, despite the Wallabies surging back to score through flanker George Smith in the 78th minute. Australia scored three tries to South Africa’s two, but the Springboks controlled most of the match with an aggressive display among their forward.
South Africa spent most of the opening quarter in Australia’s half, but the Wallabies kept them out with sound defense and superiority in the scrums.
Both Montgomery and Wallaby center Matt Giteau missed shots at goal before the deadlock was broken with eight minutes left in the first half when Australian winger Lote Tuqiri scored after fielding Clyde Rathbone’s grubber kick up the left touchline.
Montgomery pulled three points back with a penalty on the halftime hooter but missed another attempt two minutes after the break.
The Springboks went ahead 10-7 in the 44th minute after Paulse hoisted a kick into the Australian 22-meter area. The ball bounced loose, and lock Victor Matfield followed up to score. Montgomery kicked the conversion.
South Africa surged into a 10-point lead in the 52nd minute when number eight Joe van Niekerk scored in the left corner after O’Brien awarded the Springboks a free kick for time wasting by Australia’s lineout.
Montgomery converted the ball and then kicked two long-range penalties to make the score 23-7 with 18 minutes left in the match.
