Australia started their Tri-Nations campaign on a winning note when they outmuscled South Africa to record a 16-9 victory in a bruising encounter at Subiaco Oval, Perth, on Saturday.
Showing greater determination at the breakdown the Wallabies managed to score two unanswered tries, but it was a late drop-goal by Berrick Barnes that sealed the deal against a somewhat lethargic Bok side.
The Tri-Nations 2008 is wide open. The Wallabies opened and they opened it wide with a dominating performance. They won the possession, won the territory won the points - won the match. They scored two tries to nil. They certainly deserved to win.
It was a scrappy match in many ways and a great contest in others. There was not the fluency, speed and intensity of the first two Tri-Nations matches but it was certainly a contest. The second half was better and that was the half the Wallabies dominated.
