Wallabies left to rue missed chances against Springboks

Two blown tries and a controversial yellow card meant the Wallabies again left Ellis Park empty-handed after a loss to South Africa in their Rugby Championship opener.

Samu Kerevi of Australia tackled by Eben Etzebeth of the Springboks. Picture: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

A dubious yellow card on Taniela Tupou has been jeered as a mistake yet the Wallabies are the ones guilty of stamping coach Michael Cheika’s passport: “Never a winner in South Africa.”

There were some green shots of promise to the 35-17 loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg yesterday but the same old butchering of tries.

Centre Samu Kerevi (one-handed forward pass) and winger Dane Haylett-Petty (kick-chase fumble on the tryline) were the culprits this time when World Cup year had to start with far more of a bang.

Michael Hooper never stopped trying for Australia. Picture: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Cheika’s record of three losses and a draw on South African soil includes too many of the same themes from a Test which should never have been lost in Pretoria in 2016, a draw from in front in 2017 and the dopey intercept try conceded after 23 seconds last year.

You never win from behind in South Africa which was the real killer punch to the two “no tries” from 61 per cent of possession in the 10-14 first half.

Eben Etzebeth of the Springboks fights for possession with Tom Banks of Australia off a high kick. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images

No buffer meant the Tupou incident finished the Wallabies when he cleaned out Springboks flanker Rynhardt Elstadt like a charging water buffalo.

Even in a game of such physical collisions, prop Tupou’s velocity was something else when he got low and hit Elstadt in the chest with a shoulder and arms ready to wrap.

Being after the whistle condemned him with Kiwi referee Paul Williams who called “shoulder, hit him in the chest, away you go” before captain Michael Hooper queried: “How’s it dangerous?”

Nic White was impressive in his return to the Wallabies. Picture: Christiaan Kotze/AFP

Fox Sports commentator Phil Kearns called it a “disgraceful” decision and two more former Wallabies, David Campese and Matt Burke, both said it was never a yellow card.

The Springboks’ 14-0 surge against 14 men turned the game and Cheika later rued the moment.

“I make it as the wrong call. The other guy (Elstadt) should have been sent to the sin bin,” Cheika said.

“The fourth official said he focused on the green (Boks) player who came in with a shoulder charge. Taniela then came in after that to get him, with his arms wrapped at the right height.

“I’m not sure if big contact is a penalty these days but that’s a wrong decision.”

Lukhan Salakaia of Australia on the way to score a disallowed try. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images

The Wallabies must now regroup to beat Argentina on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium because losing to the Pumas on the Gold Coast was the most wasteful of last year’s nine losses.

“I believe we showed a lot of good signs with new things we’ve been working on (even though) I know that people may not see that in the result,” Cheika said.

“We’ve got a great opportunity to build on what we did at our home ground in Brisbane this weekend and perhaps (we’ll) not give away the simple opportunities and convert more of our own.”

Australia's Dane Haylett-Petty (C) is tackled by South Africa's Warrick Gelant (L) and South Africa's Jesse Kriel (R). Picture: Christiaan Kotze/AFP

Will Genia will be brought in as halfback and a second playmaker will be fitted somewhere so flyhalf Bernard Foley isn’t the solo target he was for rushing Boks hitmen.

That move at halfback is a rotation call because Nic White was excellent with a 60m box kick, sharp passing and organising in his first Test for four years.

“I thought White was very good, he marshalled the troops well and I really rated the way he played the game,” Cheika said.

Bench utility Kurtley Beale, as a second creator, enlivened everything when he came on and simply can still be best as was his hole-running off a flat Genia ball and fine pass for a fine Foley try.

Australia's Dane Haylett-Petty scores a try. Picture: Christiaan Kotze/AFP

The ragged lineout of last year turned into a slick seven-from-seven source of ball in the first half as a huge upside.

The Wallabies work at the breakdown when in possession was too often poor as when hooker Folau Faingaa, with slow back-up, was fleeced by impressive Francois Louw for the first Springboks’ try.

South African coach Rassie Erasmus said his team was still beaten in the air, with no Israel Folau, by Haylett-Petty and Reece Hodge contesting well for kicks.

Australia's Isi Naisarani grabs the ball of a lineout. Picture: Christiaan Kotze/AFP

Cheika was right to praise the defence because it had taken a much-needed step up in general play from 2018 even allowing for the five tries.

Strong, direct, successive runs by debutant Isi Naisarani, James Slipper and Hooper punched forward strongly at one stage but rarely was it re-enacted at the right end of the field.

There were good parts to the Wallabies’ game but piecing it all together is still the key.

SCORECARD

SOUTH AFRICA 35 (H Jantjes 2, C Reinach, L de Jager, S Nkosi tries; E Jantjes 5 con) bt AUSTRALIA 17 (D Haylett-Petty, B Foley tries; B Foley 2 conv, pen goal)