Wallaby center Tevita Kuridrani scored with the last play of the match to give Australia a dramatic 24-20 win over South Africa in their Rugby Championship match in Brisbane yesterday.
South Africa looked like they would hang on to win a pulsating Test match as the Wallabies threw everything at the tiring Springboks, but with the 80 minutes of time up, the powerful Kuridrani crashed over in tackles of two Springboks.
Referee Nigel Owen sent the decision to television match official Ben Skeen, who ruled Kuridrani had just managed to ground the ball.
Photo: Reuters
The Wallabies had looked second best for three-quarters of the match as the South African forwards dominated their Australian counterparts.
The visitors led 20-10 with six minutes to go, but the longer the match went on, the more dangerous the Wallabies looked.
Flanker Michael Hooper scored in the 75th minute to narrow the gap to three points before Kuridrani’s heroics following captain Stephen Moore’s decision to take a line-out rather than a kickable penalty that would have tied the match.
South Africa shaded the first half and opened the scoring with two Handre Pollard penalties.
The Wallabies struck back six minutes before the break from a brilliantly worked move from a line-out that saw Matt Giteau playing first receiver and passing to Quade Cooper, who found Adam Ashley-Cooper on his inside, the right winger crossing for his 31st Test try. Cooper converted to make it 7-6 to the home side.
Soon after, South Africa were back in front when Eben Etzebeth crashed over in the corner after Brian Habana climbed high over Israel Folau to tap the ball to fullback Willie le Roux, who found the towering Springbok lock, opening the way for him to crash over in the corner.
The ’Boks went further ahead four minutes after the restart when outside center Jesse Kriel, playing his first Test, stormed onto the ball 20m out and beat three defenders to score. Pollard’s conversion made it 20-7 to the visitors.
Wallaby coach Michael Cheika brought on Queensland forwards Greg Holmes and James Horwill, and the Australia pack began to gain the upper hand.
A Cooper penalty from right in front made it 20-10 and he should have had another when the Wallabies won a rare scrum penalty, but he pulled it wide.
With time running out, the Wallabies were throwing everything at the line and they were rewarded when Hooper burrowed his way over from close range.
Cooper’s conversion made it 20-17 with five minutes left.
Just as it looked like the Springboks were safe, Moore opted for the line-out and Kuridrani ensured it was the right decision.
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