Your Man of the Match against the Springboks in Perth
July 23, 2008 - 5:12pm
Story by: ARU
New Qantas Wallabies captain George Smith was your Man of the Match in the Wallabies heroic 16 – 9 victory over the world champion Springboks in Perth.
The Brumbies flanker received just under 50% (49.9%) of the 1390 votes for his stunning performance at the breakdown where he played South African flankers Schalk Burger and Juan Smith off the park.
Time and time again Smith was in the middle of the ruck stopping yet another Bok charge by snaffling the ball and sending the Wallabies away on another counter-attack.
Second was the Fox Sports commentators pick for Man of the Match, Waratahs flanker Rocky Elsom (19.9%), showing just how impressive the Wallaby backrow was on Saturday night.
Third was Waratahs winger Lote Tuqiri (17.6%) who had one of his best games for the Wallabies in attack and defence, scoring one try and putting a number of huge hits on Bok runners. His massive tackle on Jean de Villiers late in the game shook the Subiaco Oval grand stands.
In 4th place was inside centre Berrick Barnes (7.6%) who was enterprising in attack and pugnacious in defence and rounding out our top 5 was Waratahs No.8 Wycliff Palu (5.0%) who put in another strong all round game.
Our new poll is up and running – What will the result be against the All Blacks this Saturday in Sydney ? – so make sure to lodge your vote now and let us know who you think will strike first in the battle for this year’s Bledisloe Cup.
