Matfield: 'Boks beaten at breakdown'
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:30
The Wallabies' dominance at the breakdown was the key to their 16-9 Tri-Nations victory over the Springboks in Perth on Saturday.
Springbok captain Victor Matfield said afterwards: "We were taught a lesson at the breakdown.
"We lost too many balls there and without the ball you cannot play. They also put us under pressure on defence."
Matfield said that three Tri-Nations Tests in a row had been tough, but that this was no excuse for his team's poor performance.
"The set pieces were 50/50, but we are not happy and we need to do some work there.
"We were not happy with very much from this performance. We have to look at the video and see where we can improve.
"It is still a long Tri-Nations and we will only get better from here," Matfield added.
Wallabies stand-in skipper George Smith, who took over the reins after captain Stirling Mortlock left the field with apparent concussion in the second half, agreed that his team had been better at the breakdown.
"It was a good effort form the forwards, especially in the rucks," said Smith, the most-capped Test forward in Wallaby history.
"The breakdown is always difficult to judge because of the different interpretations by referees, but it worked well for us on the night."
Smith commended the Wallabies' effort, especially in the second half, saying: "[In the second half] we had to show composure and patience to open up the opportunities out wide.
"It was a great effort from the boys, they worked throughout the game. The intensity was great."
