South Africa’s hopes of ending a miserable year with a rare Grand Slam of the home unions ended in the driving Edinburgh rain as Scotland claimed a memorable 21-17 win at Murrayfield on Saturday.
New Zealand were still on for a Grand Slam, however, thanks to a 38-18 victory over Ireland in Dublin.
With England and Australia claiming expected victories over Samoa and Italy respectively, it was left to the Scots to record the biggest surprise on the third weekend of autumn internationals, pipping Fiji’s 16-16 draw with Wales on Friday night.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Dan Parks kicked all of Scotland’s points, through six penalties and a drop-goal, as a team that was crushed 49-3 by New Zealand last weekend earned their first win over the Springboks since 2002.
The world champions finished bottom of the Tri-Nations table this year after losing five of their six matches and had not convinced during their end-of-year tour of Europe, scraping narrow wins over Ireland and Wales, but they were still expected to beat Scotland, who had been embarrassed by the All Blacks just seven days ago.
“It’s tough. We were probably under pressure,” South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said. “Everyone wants us to play more expansive, but with the weather the way it was, it didn’t allow us to. Scotland made use of it much better than us on the night so well done to them.”
The Scots enjoy playing in the rain and would have been delighted to see the heavens open before kickoff. It meant few try-scoring chances and the hosts relied on the dead-eye kicking of Parks to see them through.
Replacement flanker Willem Alberts scored a late try for South Africa, adding to Morne Steyn’s four penalties, but Scotland held on for a fourth win in their last five Tests.
It was only Scotland’s second victory over South Africa in 13 post-Apartheid matches and it was the second time Scotland have ruined the Springboks’ Grand Slam dreams in four bids since their last sweep in 1960-1961.
New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter moved to within three points of surpassing England’s Jonny Wilkinson as the record Test-points scorer as he kicked 18 in his team’s ultimately convincing win over Ireland.
Carter was on target until his match-ending eighth goal-kick, a conversion that shaved the outside right post. His 18-point haul improved him to 1,176 points — two short of Wilkinson.
“I wasn’t too sure how many points I had and how far away I was,” Carter said of overhauling Wilkinson’s record. “I was just happy to come out there and put in a good performance, especially in the second half.”
Ireland went 13-9 up after Stephen Ferris’ 32nd-minute try, but the All Blacks clicked into gear and Anthony Boric, Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock all went over in an eight-minute spell bridging the break to send them clear.
Captain Richie McCaw, on the ground where he made his debut, and fullback Mils Muliaina became the most capped All Blacks in Tests with 93, but celebrations were somewhat muted by lock Tom Donnelly damaging knee ligaments to likely end his tour.
Center and captain Brian O’Driscoll claimed a second-half consolation score for Ireland, who fought bravely, but fell to their second defeat in three Tests.
After beating England, Scotland and Ireland, New Zealand can claim a third Grand Slam of the home unions in five years by topping Wales next weekend. It would be the All Blacks’ fourth Grand Slam overall, matching the Springboks. Australia have done it only once, in 1984.
The fireworks England produced in their 35-18 win over Australia last weekend were not on show against Samoa, but their 26-13 win at Twickenham was never really in doubt.
Martin Johnson’s side lacked the cutting edge and fluency that marked the victory against the Wallabies and had only a 6-3 halftime lead against the islanders.
England, boosted by a dominant scrum, pulled clear after the break and tries by winger-turned-center Matt Banahan and replacement flanker Tom Croft saw them home. Toby Flood hauled in 16 points off his boot.
After back-to-back defeats — to England and then Munster in midweek — Australia got their tour back on track with a 34-12 win over Italy.
Winger Drew Mitchell and captain Rocky Elsom scored the Wallabies’ tries, while Berrick Barnes kicked flawlessly, knocking over six penalties and two conversions for 22 points. Barnes booted Australia clear only after the hour mark, though.
In Montpellier, Morgan Parra kicked four penalties and Damien Traille landed a drop-goal in France’s hard-fought 15-9 victory over Argentina.
Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi booted all of his side’s points, but France avenged a 41-13 loss to the Pumas in the summer.
In a match between World Cup teams, Georgia defeated Canada 22-15 in Tbilisi.
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