Perfect timing

Wallabies win in extra time 27-21

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Posted: Sunday October 31, 1999 12:02 PM

Australia's Tim Horan runs past a couple of South African defenders during their Rugby World Cup semifinal. AP

TWICKENHAM, England (CNN/SI) -- South Africa's streak of 10 World Cup wins ended in a 27-21 loss against rivals Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

In the final moments of regular time, last week's golden boy Springbok Jannie de Beer's boot forced the game into extra time. However, it was not to be as Stephen Larkham with his first drop goal in international rugby sent Australia through to the finals of the World Cup.

South Africa will no doubt be feeling the sting twice over, after drawing its Cricket World Cup match against Australia, which resulted in its elimination.

Larkham's 48-meter drop goal and eight Matt Burke penalties ended South Africa's reign as World Cup holders.

The Wallabies will meet the winner of Sunday's second semifinal between New Zealand and France in the November 6 final at Cardiff's Millennium stadium.

Larkham, who was limping from early in the match, broke a 21-21 deadlock in the 14th of 20 minutes of extra time, to settle the first tryless game in 42 contests between the countries.

Larkham's wobbly right-foot shot from just a few steps inside South African territory was followed up by fullback Matt Burke's Australian record eighth penalty as the Wallabies won a kicking duel with South Africa's quarterfinal hero Jannie de Beer.

"Larkham is an extraordinary player," said Australian coach Rod Macqueen. "He's very unusual and very different and manages to do some very special things."

Captain John Eales knew Larkham did not hit his shot properly, but hit it well enough.

"Even though it was a bit wonky, you could see it was going to go through as soon as it left the boot," said Eales.

South African coach Nick Mallett was also full of praise for Larkham and center Tim Horan, who was Australia's outstanding player.

"Stephen struck it really well -- it's something I don't think he practices much but he's a lovely rugby player," Mallett said.

De Beer, who kicked a world record five drop goals against England, had the same number of attempts Saturday. But he landed just one to go with six penalties in the World Cup's first tryless match since the Springboks beat New Zealand 15-12 in the 1995 final.

"The players are very disappointed," said Mallett. "I thought it was a fantastic game, it was hard and fast and both sides had opportunities. Our team didn't let themselves down, they tried their absolute best and they have nothing to be ashamed of."

South Africa, which had won all of its previous 10 World Cup matches, might have lost in normal time, only for Welsh referee Derek Bevan to play 7 minutes, 22 seconds of injury time to hand it a lifeline.

The Wallabies were ahead 18-12 after 79 minutes before de Beer landed one penalty from in front and then his second from 37 meters out and kicking into a strong wind from the right of the posts to make it 18-all at the fulltime whistle.

The Twickenham ground announcer had told the crowd there would be two minutes of time added on and there were no major stoppages during the half.

"We were getting quite emotional about it," said Macqueen of the added time. "There were times up there when we thought we'd won it and it was over."

Australia also was denied two tries in the final 15 minutes of normal time, the first because of a lineout infringement and the second a try saving tackle from Joost van der Westhuizen as George Gregan finished centimeters (inches) short.

Australia led 12-6 at the halftime break with four penalties to Burke and two to de Beer, who also missed two drop goal shots in the half.

Burke missed his first attempted penalty but set himself up for a successful shot on 13 minutes after a brilliant straight run through the South African defense.

Horan, who spent the eve before the match suffering vomiting spells from a stomach virus, was also in awesome running form. But the Springboks, blown apart by Horan in a test in Brisbane earlier this year and again during Saturday's match, were able to hang on and restrict the Australians to shots at goal.

Burke got a second for 6-0 before de Beer's first and then made it 9-3 before the South African kicked his second for 9-6 on 38 minutes.

Burke took his chance to push the margin out to six points again when he scored his fourth penalty in first half injury time.

After soaking up some strong pressure from Australia's imposing backline, the South Africans came out with much more attacking purpose in the second half.

The Springboks stretched the Wallaby defense and were able to wipe out the deficit inside 12 minutes of the restart as de Beer got a penalty and then finally landed his first drop goal on his fourth attempt as the Springboks seized the initiative.

It was time for Australia's defense, which had conceded just one try in the tournament, to stand up and they managed to quell several waves of rolling play from the Springboks.

Burke got a fifth penalty after South Africa was penalized inside its quarter and in front of its posts on 66 minutes.

Australia thought it had grabbed the first try less than two minutes later when Eales picked up a ball spilled by Springbok No.8 Bobby Skinstad and flew across the line. But Bevan called a free kick against the Wallabies for an earlier infringement, possibly having too many players in a lineout shortened by the Springboks.

Australia then had another great chance to break through, controlling possession within 10 meters of the Springbok line for almost five minutes.

Their ball control cost them a penalty in front and the chance of a try was wasted when scrumhalf George Gregan was tackled just centimeters from the Springbok line.

Once again Horan soared through South Africa's centers on a 40 meter run which put Australia back in try scoring range but again the Springboks scrambled, only to give up a sixth penalty goal to Burke.

De Beer's next two sent the game into extra time and he kicked South Africa to a lead for the first time in the match with a penalty just after the restart only for Burke's seventh penalty to make it 21-all.

Larkham had missed an easy drop goal attempt from in front early in the game and no member of this Australian team had ever landed one in a test.

But chancing his aim from a slight angle, Larkham sent over the crucial kick and was mobbed by his ecstatic teammates.

South Africa

Australia

 

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Australia's Tim Horan knew that striking early would be a key to success. (76 K) Australia's coach Rod Macqueen gave his squad a pep talk before the extra time period. (98 K) Van der Westhuizen says losing is simply part of the game. (53 K) Joost Van der Westhuizen is philosophical about South Africa's loss. (58 K) Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.