Austin owns up

Leicester motormouth Austin Healey has promised to pay the fine he has ducked since the 2001 British Lions tour of Australia. Soon.

Despite the penalty being only £2,000, Healey has so far refused to stump up the full amount - declaring he will reach 'an appropriate settlement' with the Lions committee.

As revealed in Sportsmail last week, Healey came within a whisker of being sued by the Lions over the money earlier this year.

He was fined after the tour over a controversial newspaper column that appeared on the morning of the decisive third Test in Sydney in July 2001, in which he branded Australia lock Justin Harrison a 'plod' and 'an ape'.

But nearly two years on and with no sign of the money, disquiet grew within the four home unions over Healey's snub and the muted response from English representatives.

Healey said in a statement: 'I regret the incident that led to the fine and I have spoken to the new chairman of the British Lions, Bill Beaumont, about it.

'We have reached a verbal agreement on how the matter can be taken forward and a proposal will be put to members of the British Lions Committee, who will meet on July 24. The aim is to reach an amicable agreement for all parties.'

Healey's pledge has been met with caution, however, with some Lions insiders feeling anything but a £2,000 cheque bearing his signature sets a bad example.

The England utility back said his ghostwriter (former Wales captain Eddie Butler)had erred in not checking the article with him for approval.

Though tongue-in-cheek, Healey's columns were seized upon in Australia and earned him the tag of public enemy number one. Harrison went on to play a key role in Australia's series-clinching win in the third Test.

That series win is now a distant memory for the Wallabies after another loss at the weekend - 26-22 to South Africa - which casts further doubt about them retaining the World Cup at home in November.

The typically rugged Springbok victory in Cape Town also sent a stark warning to Clive Woodward's England that their opening round World Cup clash in Perth on October 18 will be a tougher encounter than the 53-3 triumph at Twickenham last November.

Exercising similar aggression as in that infamous match, but with more brains, the Springboks defended like demons against the Wallabies - none more so than centre De Wet Barry.

Barry's scything defence in the midfield shut Australia down time after time, and, unable to string phases together, the visitors rarely threatened. It was Australia's seventh loss in their last nine trips to South Africa.

Australia coach Eddie Jones said: 'We had opportunities to score but we were not precise enough. Our execution was poor. It is frustrating when you take one step forward and two steps back.'

Springbok skipper Corne Krige said Press criticism had spurred his team on: 'You guys were writing us off but we had a quiet confidence. However, it's not about one win here, it's about a consistency of performance.'

The boot of South African fly half Louis Koen proved the difference with six goals despite Australia scoring three tries to two - although one Springbok score featuring the electric substitute full back Brent Russell was a real gem.

Australia wing Lote Tuqiri will face a judiciary panel this week after being given an off-field yellow card for striking Robbie Kempson.