The Wallabies continued their impressive record against the Springboks in Australia as they sealed a 25-17 triumph in Adelaide on Saturday.
The home side were deserved winners as they dominated for long periods and eventually outscored the Boks by three tries to two with Fraser McReight leading the way with a brace, while Marika Koroibete also hit the target.
Their other points came via the boot of Noah Lolesio, who finished with 10 points after hitting two conversions and other penalties.
For South Africa, Kwagga Smith scored two tries while Handre Pollard kicked a penalty with Elton Jantjies and Jaden Hendrikse adding a conversion each.
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The result means the home side extend their unbeaten record in Australia against the Springboks to eight matches.
Australia started brightly and soon after kick-off found themselves on the attack deep inside South Africa’s 22 thanks to a strong sweep down the right by Rob Valetini. After he was brought down, the ball was quickly recycled and Folau Fainga’a did well to make contact before it was stopped near the try line. McReight ran onto a pass from Nic White before pouncing for a first try.
Five minutes later, the visitors were caught offside in defense and Lolesio made it 10-0 to the Wallabies when he kicked the resulting penalty. South Africa were struggling to settle into the game and had two chances to open their account thanks to Pollard’s penalty attempts in the first quarter, but both shots on target went wide.
He finally got it with one in the 24th minute after White was exploited by obstruction and with the points on the board they gradually gained the advantage. They spent most of the second quarter camped inside the Wallabies’ half but, despite dominating for the remainder of the half, failed to capitalize on that dominance.
On the half hour, the Springboks played quickly from a penalty near Australia’s tryline and Ox Nche crossed the line but was held up by the Wallabies defence. Tom Wright was the tackler but his efforts saw him yellow carded as he failed to pull away within 10 meters after the Boks took the penalty.
Just before the break, Makazole Mapimpi found himself in space outside the Wallabies’ 22 but was stopped near the tryline by a superb tackle from Koroibete.
Mapimpi struck in the process and from the resulting scrum, Faf de Klerk was booked for an arm in the Whites’ face and the Wallabies went into the sheds with a 10-3 half-time lead.
The Wallabies start the second half
Six minutes after the restart, Koroibete collected a pass from Lolesio inside the Boks’ 22 and hooked Pollard with quick feet before showing a superb turn of speed to slot over the try line.
Although Lolesio missed the conversion attempt, this score reinvigorated the home side and in the 56th minute they extended their lead when McReight crossed for his second try. This, after Lolesio collected an inside pass from James Slipper on the Boks’ 10m line and was soon inside their own 22 after a superb line break. He was dragged by the cover defense but did well to offload to McReight who had an easy roll over the try line.
The Boks looked rattled but had little to offer in response. In the 64th minute they conceded a penalty for a breakdown and Lolesio made no mistake from the shirt to give his team the deserved 25-3.
With the game in the bag, the Wallabies took their foot off the pedal and in the 74th minute Smith scored his first try after Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch laid the foundations with some deft offloads in the build-up. And just before the final whistle, Smith crossed from close range after meeting a pass from Hendrikse, who quickly took the penalty.
That try added some respectability to the scoreline, but the Boks will be sorely disappointed with the final result, leaving their Rugby Championship chances in the balance.
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