Springbok sniping exposes chinks in Australian composure

By WYNNE GRAY

Somehow the Wallabies continue to get away with it. On Saturday, they produced their patented last-minute try and then dodged more bullets with the assistance of several New Zealand rugby officials.

When the hot air from a week's worth of Tri-Nations sniping subsided, the Wallabies walked from the famous Gabba ground in Brisbane 38-27 winners against the Springboks.

Awarded a penalty near the Springbok posts, Wallaby captain George Gregan could have ordered a kick that would have simply eliminated one of the Boks' bonus points for being close losers.

Instead Gregan was out to wring maximum points from the test so he chose a scrum that led to a fourth try and an extra point for his side. Mission one accomplished.

Mission two looked a little more complex - at least three Wallabies were preparing for the judiciary after their part in a mid-match brawl involving most of the players.

But, after all sorts of deliberation, accusation and counter-threats, it was decided Ben Tune and Jeremy Paul had no case to answer, although lock Justin Harrison and Springbok prop Faan Rautenbach were cited. Neither got worse than a yellow card.

After the fracas subsided just before halftime, touch judge Paddy O'Brien nearly recommended Harrison be sent from the field for persistent punching.

It was a close decision, O'Brien pondering his judgment after questions from referee Steve Lander. The result was a yellow card and, after the judiciary ruled there be no further action, Harrison joined Tune and Paul as starters for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup decider in Sydney.

The Wallabies have named the same 22-man squad plus David Croft and Wendell Sailor, and Andrew Walker as cover for Matthew Burke, who strained a thigh muscle.

The All Blacks will announce their side tomorrow when they assemble in Christchurch before flying to Sydney on Thursday.

After a week of snarling words in Brisbane, Wallaby coach Eddie Jones optimistically hoped that observations this week would be more about the Bledisloe Cup decider than other issues.

It would not hurt the All Blacks to revive some topics because they have obviously stung the Australians.

Tune bookended the week after revelations there had been a cover-up last season about him using the banned substance probenecid before he was accused of belting Springbok captain Corne Krige.

"I said yesterday he might be thinking it was going to be his last game," Krige said after the test. "The way he let rip in the fight I think he must have been thinking it was his last game," he added with a grin.

The Wallaby wing has escaped without any damage so far on either charge. But a call to front a drugs inquiry after the Bledisloe Cup has done nothing to quell criticism of the Australian and Queensland Rugby Unions.

Commentators have asked what else is being covered up in Australian rugby in an episode as embarrassing as the New Zealand Rugby Union's handling of the Eichelbaum report into the loss of the World Cup.

The Tune incident was a "medical oversight", said ARU boss John O'Neill. There had been nothing wrong, he claimed as the authorities took the high moral ground.

Then why, asked many, was the case kept secret for 18 months?

As that issue boiled, Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli stoked up more heat when he claimed the Wallaby forwards were soft and only a couple had any great sting.

His provocation discovered the pair - Harrison and Paul slugged it out in a scrap begun when Werner Greef took out his opposite Chris Latham as he waited for a high ball.

At that stage the Wallabies were leading 24-3, they were in command, they were travelling strongly. From there they staggered, and the Boks closed to 23-30, before regrouping for a late spurt to victory.

However, the week and the game showed some chips in the Wallaby composure. Their defence sagged against some strident Springbok attack, they looked anxious, they did not have all the smooth harmony which has been touted as one of their major weapons.