South Africa’s third loss in as many weeks in the Tri-Nations means they now sit only 0.70 points above Australia in second place in the latest IRB world rankings.
The defending Tri-Nations champions fell to a 30-13 loss against Australia at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday – their eighth loss in a row in Brisbane – and as a result their rating points fell by 1.46 to 86.76.
This means that the Springboks have now dropped 2.7 rating points since the Tri-Nations began on July 10 and they return to South Africa some 5.98 points behind top-ranked side, New Zealand.
Tries from wing Drew Mitchell and scrumhalf Will Genia, along with 15 points from the boot of centre Matt Giteau and five from wing James O’Connor, gave Australia a winning start in their quest for a first Tri-Nations title since 2001.
The win also increases the cushion that Robbie Deans’s side enjoy over France, the highest ranked of the northern hemisphere nations in fourth, to 3.31 rating points.
Australia now welcome the All Blacks to Melbourne on Saturday for the first Bledisloe Cup encounter of 2010.
IRB Top 10 rankings:
1. New Zealand 92.74
2. South Africa 86.76
3. Australia 86.06
4. France 82.75
5. Ireland 82.03
6. England 81.82
7. Scotland 79.81
8. Argentina 79.70
9. Wales 78.58
10. Fiji 74.39
Coutesy of sport24
And rightfully so…
Demmit….alles so onnidig. Like dit nie baie dat die verdomde wise-ass Ausies so kort op ons hakke is nie.
By the time Oz gets here to play we might be sitting at 3rd.
Still think everyone is in a panic for nothing right now. These players are TIRED OUT mentally and physically. That is our biggest problem right now. Once rested they will be a lot better.
What we do need though is to know how the ref will blow. All NH refs reffing our games. We need to adapt, also our discipline has to be 100%. Selection is key too. I know most of the team are Bulls and live up at altitude but 6 or 7 of the players are based at sea level. We have been away for a few weeks too so need to get that altitude conditioning back into our lungs. One week will never ever do it. Need really 3 weeks to be training at altitude to be altitude conditioned. We don’t have that time. Players need to rest for 10 days AT LEAST by doing nothing just relaxing, but watching their diet. Then the next week head up to the highveld and start training. That should give us almost 2 weeks at altitude to train. Altitude is our advantage and we must use it wisely. We win all our home games we will stay 2nd. Though at this stage it really means nothing. Just a figure really.
See Soccer City is sold out for the ABs/Bok game. Awesome that. Now go Bokke that is one game you need to win. Just on 89 000 going to be there watching at that brilliant stadium.
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