Horne sinks Boks as NZ cruises
Print Edition
A STUNNING late try from Australia’s Rob Horne ended South Africa’s stay at the top of the Rugby Championship table yesterday as New Zealand showed its class against Argentina.
Horne stepped off the left wing and inside the last defender to score with two minutes remaining, before Bernard Foley’s conversion gave the Wallabies a thrilling 24-23 victory in Perth.
Australia profited from the controversial late sin-binning of Bryan Habana in his 100th test, following a harsh high-tackle call, to scramble home by a point for its first win.
And it was a result which would have broadened the smiles in New Zealand after the All Blacks shrugged off wet conditions to run in four tries and beat Argentina 28-9 in Napier.
After the third round of games, the defending champions are three points clear of South Africa at the top of the table, before they meet in Wellington this weekend.
The Perth result was a surprise after the unbeaten Springboks won 38-12 on their last trip to Australia, which was coming off a 20-51 hiding in Auckland.
However, in eight games between the two sides at the Perth venue, it was the eighth settled by less than seven points.
“You’ve got to be happy to see your wing finish the game by scoring in the corner — lovely,” said Australia captain Michael Hooper, who also praised Foley’s ice-cool conversion.
In Napier, powerful wing Julian Savea increased his incredible try tally with a score in each half as the All Blacks totted up their second straight bonus-point win.
Savea finished off a memorable move involving two penetrating grubber kicks, and then arrowed through the defense off a Beauden Barrett pass to reach 26 tries from 25 tests.
Further scores from Liam Messam, also set up by Barrett, and Aaron Smith put paid to Argentina, which remains winless in the competition.
Coach Steve Hansen said he was pleased with the “intent and purpose” of the side, particularly the forwards.
One low point was the kicking of the otherwise impressive Barrett, on his first start at fly-half, who missed three penalties and a conversion before being replaced by Colin Slade mid-second half.
Nicolas Sanchez kicked all of Argentina’s points from penalties, and the visitors were aggrieved when Leonardo Senatore raced over from a charge-down which was judged a knock-on.
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