Aus 25 -17 Boks

Australia won against South Africa 25-17 to move top of the Tri nations table.

The Wallabies, who trailed 17-0 after 15 minutes at Sydney's Stadium, scored 25 unanswered points including tries to Mark Gerrard, Stephen Hoiles and Matt Giteau.

Yesterdays victory, which followed last week's come from behind win over New Zealand, lifted Australia four points clear atop the standings with two matches remaining. The All Blacks would seal a third straight title by winning both home games.

South Africa, missing 20 of its top players, took a 14-0 lead within 10 minutes through converted tries by flanker Wikus Van Heerden and a 50-meter intercept by winger Breyton Paulse nice back flip there breyton. Fly-half Derick Hougaard made it 17-0 before the Wallabies rallied with a Gerrard try and Stirling Mortlock penalty.

No. 8 Hoiles forced his way over at the start of the second half to tie the score before Springboks hooker Gary Botha was sin-binned in the 53rd minute for playing the ball when he was on the floor what a muppet. Two minutes later, Giteau collected Gerrard's chip ahead and the inside center's momentum carried him over the line to make it 25-17.

The match was the last international in Australia for scrum- half George Gregan, 34, and 33-year-old fly-half Stephen Larkham, who are quitting Australian rugby to play in Europe after the World Cup and make some nice cash.


Springboks captain Bob Skinstad will miss next week's game against New Zealand in Christchurch after fracturing a rib in today's match. White said he'll name a new skipper during the week.

We started well ,in the face of the Australians at the beggining but twenty minutes into the game we really lost posses ion and with the two sin bins we could have been slaughtered points wise.