(Adds quotes, detail)
* Wallabies score two second half tries
* Habana gives Springboks first half advantage
PERTH, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Australia got their Rugby
Championship campaign back on track with a scrappy 26-19 victory
over South Africa on Saturday, coming back from a first half
deficit to register a fifth successive win over the Springboks.
Back-to-back losses to the All Blacks in their first two
matches of the inaugural competition had made this a must win
test for the Wallabies and their coach Robbie Deans.
After a poor first half where they fell behind to Springbok
winger Bryan Habana’s 42nd test try, scores from forwards Scott
Higginbotham and Ben Alexander and a perfect kicking display
from Berrick Barnes just about got them across the line.
South Africa, who drew 16-16 with Argentina in their last
outing, were still knocking at the door looking for a converted
try to tie the match at the end of the match but will rue a lack
of a spark in their backline.
“We went into the second half and felt that we hadn’t played
as much as we would have liked to,” Australia captain Will
Genia, on crutches after injuring his knee, said in a pitchside
interview.
“So we came out with a lot more enthusiasm and energy. We
have a lot of pride in what we do. We know we’re a good side and
just happy to get a good win against a quality opposition.”
Continued…
