Wallabies seek rare win in South Africa

Two wins from 10 visits, and just one of those victories coming in the Tri-Nations. These are the cold facts facing the Wallabies as they face up to the Springboks in a winner-takes-all Tri-Nations Test in Durban on Saturday.

Jou beauty: Will the Boks celebrate again?

Add to this the current trend favouring the home teams in the 2004 Vodacom Tri-Nations series and it appears as if the Boks would be starting with a major psychological advantage this week.

South Africa could clinch the showpiece SANZAR championship for just the second time since inception in 1996 - their previous triumph coming under Nick Mallett in 1998 - after the Jake White's side thumped the All Blacks 40-26 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg last Saturday.

If the manner of that win was not already enough to cause Eddie Jones' team some sleepless nights, the statistics concerning past Wallaby visits to South Africa paint an even bleaker picture.

Should South Africa win on Saturday, it will be the first time in the nine-year history of the tournament that all six games were won by the home team. The closest to that was in 1999, when South Africa's 34-18 loss to New Zealand in Pretoria was the only away win, and 2002, when the All Blacks beat the Boks 30-23 in Durban for the only away win.

In 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003 there were two away victories, while 1998 and 2000 both produced three away wins. Ironically, two of the three away wins in 1998 came when the Boks beat the Wallabies (14-13 in Perth) and All Blacks (13-3 in Wellington).

But it is the statistics of matches between the Springboks and the Wallabies on South African soil which will most please the Bok fans.

In eight previous Tri-Nations encounters between the Wallabies and Boks in SA, the Wallabies have won only once - 19-18 in 2000 in ... Durban! Could this be a good omen for the Wallabies?

It is worth noting that the Boks and Wallabies have met on four occasions in Durban since 1933 and the overall score stands at two matches each.

Since South Africa's return from isolation in 1992 the Boks and Aussies have met on SA soil in only two matches outside of the Tri-Nations competition - the first match at Newlands in '92 (which the Aussies won by a then record margin of 26-3) and the opening match of the 1995 Rugby World Cup (which the Boks won 27-18).

After that, the Tri-Nations kicked in - but the Wallabies woes have continued on SA soil, with that rare victory in 2000 standing out.

In is also worth noting that in all Tri-Nations matches between the two countries, 17, the score is level -  eight wins each and a draw.

A look at the South Africa against Australia, on SA soil, since 1992:

SA v Aus - All matches in Durban:

2000: Australia won 19-18
1969: South Africa won 16-9
1953: South Africa won 18-8
1933: Australia won 21-6

SA v Aus - Tri-Nations in SA:

2003: In Cape Town: South Africa won 26-22
2002: In Johannesburg: South Africa won 33-31
2001: In Pretoria: South Africa won 20-15
2000: In Durban: Australia won 19-18
1999: In Cape Town: South Africa won 10-9
1998: In Johannesburg: South Africa won 29-15
1997: In Pretoria: South Africa won 61-22
1996: In Bloemfontein: South Africa won 25-19

SA v Aus - all Tests in SA:

2003: In Cape Town: South Africa won 26-22
2002: In Johannesburg: South Africa won 33-31
2001: In Pretoria: South Africa won 20-15
2000: In Durban: Australia won 19-18
1999: In Cape Town: South Africa won 10-9
1998: In Johannesburg: South Africa won 29-15
1997: In Pretoria: South Africa won 61-22
1996: In Bloemfontein: South Africa won 25-19
1995: In Cape Town: South Africa won 27-18 (RWC)
1992: In Cape Town: Australia won 26-3

SA v Aus - All Tri-Nations Test:

2004: In Perth: Australia won 30-26
2003: In Brisbane: Australia won 29-9
2003: In Cape Town: South Africa won 26-22
2002: In Johannesburg: South Africa won 33-31
2002: In Brisbane: Australia won 38-27
2001: In Perth: SA and Aus drew 14-14
2001: In Pretoria: South Africa won 20-15
2000: In Durban: Australia won 19-18
2000: In Sydney: Australia won 26-6
1999: In Cape Town: South Africa won 10-9
1999: In Brisbane: Australia won 32-6
1998: In Johannesburg: South Africa won 29-15
1998: In Perth: South Africa won 14-13
1997: In Pretoria: South Africa won 61-22
1997: In Brisbane: Australia won 32-20
1996: In Bloemfontein: South Africa won 25-19
1996: In Sydney: Australia won 21-16
1995: In Cape Town: South Africa won 27-18 (RWC)
1992: In Cape Town: Australia won 26-3
 
SA v Aus - all matches since '92:

2004: In Perth: Australia won 30-26
2003: In Brisbane: Australia won 29-9
2003: In Cape Town: South Africa won 26-22
2002: In Johannesburg: South Africa won 33-31
2002: In Brisbane: Australia won 38-27
2001: In Perth: SA and Aus drew 14-14
2001: In Pretoria: South Africa won 20-15
2000: In Durban: Australia won 19-18
2000: In Sydney: Australia won 26-6
2000: In Melbourne: Australia won 44-23 (Mandela Cup)
1999: In London: Australia won 27-21 (RWC semi-final)
1999: In Cape Town: South Africa won 10-9
1999: In Brisbane: Australia won 32-6
1998: In Johannesburg: South Africa won 29-15
1998: In Perth: South Africa won 14-13
1997: In Pretoria: South Africa won 61-22
1997: In Brisbane: Australia won 32-20
1996: In Bloemfontein: South Africa won 25-19
1996: In Sydney: Australia won 21-16
1995: In Cape Town: South Africa won 27-18 (RWC)
1993: In Sydney: Australia won 19-12 (tour match)
1993: In Brisbane: Australia won 28-20 (tour match)
1993: In Sydney: South Africa won 19-12 (tour match)
1992: In Cape Town: Australia won 26-3

By Jan de Koning