Tuqiri and Mortlock lead Australia to victory

By Ken Borland

PERTH (Reuters) - A pair of tries by Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock carried Australia to a 16-9 victory over South Africa in their Tri-nations match on Saturday.

The Springboks, who ended New Zealand's five-year unbeaten run at home last weekend in Dunedin, were tormented by a host of errors and a failure to convert the chances they created.

The top-class Australian loose trio, led by Rocky Elsom, gave a commanding display at the breakdown, where the Wallabies won a steady supply of quick ball.

South Africa won an early penalty, converted by centre Francois Steyn, but Australia led from the 35th minute after a try by wing Tuqiri.

Captain Mortlock scored five minutes after halftime, flyhalf Matt Giteau kicked a penalty and centre Berrick Barnes added the finishing touches with a late drop goal.

Steyn added another penalty for South Africa, as did flyhalf Butch James.

The Springboks let Australia off the hook three times in the first half when they wasted clear try-scoring chances and the world champions lurched from error to error throughout the match.

The Wallabies also had a high error count in the first half, but scored after lock Nathan Sharpe stole a lineout. Flank George Smith took a deep lineout throw and put wing Peter Hynes through a gap. After recycling the ball, it was just a matter of shipping it to Tuqiri on the left wing.