Australia matched its worst losing record in nearly 25 years Saturday after its fourth consecutive rugby union test defeat, a 22-19 decision to South Africa in a Tri-Nations match.
A sellout record crowd of 43,278 at Subiaco Oval was not able to help the Wallabies overcome winger Bryan Habana's two tries. The loss was certain to renew calls for the replacements of Wallaby coach Eddie Jones and captain George Gregan.
Australia, which has not lost four in a row since the 1981-1982 season, had all the pressure in the opening two minutes, coming close to scoring before a turnover left Habana to score a near length-of-the-field try on the way to a 14-6 South African lead at halftime.
PHOTO: AFP
It was the only try of the half but South Africa dominated possession and the scoreboard following a 9-5 first-half penalty count. Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery landed just three of six attempts at goal in the opening half.
Australia's first-half points came from penalty goals to Matt Giteau and Mat Rogers.
Rogers gave Australia a 19-17 lead in the 62nd minute before Habana's second try with 12 minutes left sealed the match for South Africa, its first away win in the Tri-Nations since 1998.
Australian flyhalf Elton Flatley was a last-minute withdrawal for the match, forcing a shuffle in the Wallabies' backline with Giteau shifting from center to flyhalf and South African-born Clyde Rathbone coming off the bench to start in the centers.
Australia's first two losses came against the Springboks in South Africa. The Wallabies next play the All Blacks on Sept. 3 in Auckland. A loss would leave Australia winless for the first time since the Tri-Nations began in 1996.
South Africa winger Breyton Paulse was suspended for three weeks on Sunday after being found guilty of kicking Australia prop Al Baxter.
Paulse admitted kicking Baxter in the final few minutes of Saturday's Tri-nations match in Perth, won 22-19 by South Africa, but denied trying to intentionally hurt him.
Paulse said he instinctively lashed out at Baxter after being illegally held by the Australian. The South African's boot struck Baxter just below his left eye.
Paulse was banned until Sept. 11, ruling him out of next week's Tri-nations clash with New Zealand in Dunedin.
The incident was missed by the referee and linesmen, and was referred to the judicial committee by an independent citing commissioner who watched a video replay of the match.
The three-man judiciary committee ruled Paulse had acted recklessly. It agreed a reduced sentence because of the mitigating circumstances and his clean reputation.
"[The committee] accepted that Paulse had a previously unblemished record as an international player of stature over a number of years and the high profile he had as a rugby player and role model in his native country," the committee said in a statement.
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