Boks escape creating two unwanted records in Perth defeat

The 1999 Rugby World Cup-winning Wallabies famously lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Cardiff having only conceded a now unthinkable one try all tournament, with the United States surprisingly the team to deny them a complete shut-out.

Back then the mantra of defence wins championships rung true, but not any more. “I remember coaching a team in Wales who went five games without conceding one try, and that’s impossible now. It is for the better of the game,” acknowledged defence coach guru Shaun Edwards earlier this year.

Even so, to score five tries and 38 points and still lose a Test match is rare, especially for a team of the calibre of world champions South Africa. But that is what happened at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, with the much-changed Springboks falling to a 42-38 defeat to the Wallabies.

Only once before have the Springboks scored more points and not ended up winning the match, and there is only one other Test where the Springboks have scored a nap hand of tries in defeat.

In the 2010 Tri-Nations, it finished South Africa 39-41 Australia in Bloefontein, the Springboks falling just short despite 24 points from the boot of Morne Steyn, who converted all three of his side’s tries as well as slotting six penalties.

Meanwhile, in 1997, the Springboks scored five tries in a 55-35 defeat to the All Blacks in their Eden Park fortress.

Ruben Kruger, Gary Teichmann, Percy Montgomery, Joost van der Westhuizen and Pieter Rossouw crossed the whitewash in a match where Andre Venter was sent off.

Springboks – most points scored without winning:

1. 39 (39-41 v New Zealand, 2010)
2. 38 (38-42 v Australia, 2026)
3. 35 (35-55 v New Zealand, 1997)
4= 32 (32-34 v Japan, 2015)
4= 32 (32-35 v New Zealand, 1997)
6= 30 (30-32 v New Zealand, 2018)
6= 30 (30-30 v France, 2005)