PORT ELIZABETH, 18 June 2006 — South Africa secured a 2-0 series win over a spirited Scotland with a scratchy 29-15 victory in the second Test yesterday.
Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery scored 21 points, from seven penalties, which took him beyond 600 points in Test rugby.
Wing Simon Webster and replacement flanker Donnie Macfadyen scored tries for Scotland while scrumhalf Fourie du Preez scored the only try for the home team.
The win ensured Springbok coach Jake White maintained his unbeaten record at home since he took charge in 2004. The Springboks have now stretched that sequence to 13 matches. Scotland lost the first Test 36-16.
The less than convincing display by the South Africans led to the unusual sound of booing from the home supporters. The Boks failed to subdue the Scots and were reduced to kicking for goal when they failed to break down the brave defense.
It took 62 minutes for the Springboks to breach the Scottish line when Du Preez scored after number eight Joe van Niekerk had worked the blindside following a five-meter scrum.
Australia Take Chances
to Beat Toothless England
In Melbourne, Australia took full advantage of their chances to score six tries and beat a toothless England 43-18 in the second Test yesterday.
On a night when George Gregan won a world record 120th cap, England again failed to capitalize on their superior possession and the world champions were restricted to two five-pointers, one from the last move of the game.
Australia claimed the Cook Cup after winning the first Test 34-3 in Sydney on Sunday.
England opened with a commanding period of play capped by Andy Goode’s drop goal on four minutes but Australia rode their luck to take the lead through flanker George Smith.
After fullback Chris Latham’s kick forward went loose, Smith kicked the ball off the floor and a lucky rebound off retreating winger Tom Varndell fell perfectly for the backrower, who ran through unchallenged.
The Wallabies extended their lead when Latham’s teasingly placed kick led to winger Mark Gerrard outleaping Mathew Tait and touching down in the corner for 12-3.
England continued to dominate without result before the outstanding Latham broke through several tackles. He found winger Lote Tuqiri who waltzed over to make it 17-6, with Stirling Mortlock converting to make it 19-6 at the interval. Flanker Mark Chisholm pierced the England defense on 46 minutes when he collected Larkham’s short pass and trotted under the posts.
England looked dead and buried before hooker George Chuter provided his side’s best attacking move of the night, delivering a perfect dummy pass to break clear of the Australian defense and touch down for 26-11. Chuter’s breakthrough sparked a more direct period of attack from England but Gerrard’s second try of the match, also converted by Mortlock, and snuffed out any hope of a fightback.
Larkham added a sixth try three minutes from time when he cantered home after a break set up by Tuqiri, before Varndell gained some consolation at the death by finally out-sprinting his nemesis Tuqiri to touch down.
All Blacks Grind Out 27-17
Win Over Ireland
In Auckland, the All Blacks were forced to rely heavily on the tenacious foraging skills of Richie McCaw as they ground out a 27-17 win over Ireland in a Test played in atrocious weather conditions at Eden Park here yesterday.
A chilly southerly wind, heavy rain and a slippery ball dictated it would not be a boring rugby and it was McCaw who ensured the All Blacks adapted best to the conditions.
With help from scrumhalf Bryon Kelleher, McCaw marshaled his forward to stay together and drive through Ireland, creating what limited chances there were for the backs who were largely reduced to kicking for territory.
McCaw was clearly ahead of David Wallace in the hunt for valuable possession in the breakdown, which more than compensated for the All Blacks lineout woes where Irish giant Paul O’Connell dominated. If ever Ireland were to rewrite 101 years of history without a win against the All Blacks it was to be in this series, with a contentious All Blacks’ plan to treat the Tests as a trial and field a less than full-strength squad. But after being overrun in the dying stages of the first Test a week ago, Ireland were never ahead here, leaving captain Brian O’Driscoll disappointed with the outcome.
