Australia defeated South Africa 23-18 at
the Suncorp Stadium to claim four vital log point in Saturday’s Rugby
Championship encounter in Brisbane.
Despite the result, the Springboks remain
in second-place on the overall standings, nine-points behind front-runners New
Zealand.
in second-place on the overall standings, nine-points behind front-runners New
Zealand.
The Wallabies had been dealt a major blow
in the lead-up to the Test match when, first David Pocock and then Israel Folau, were
ruled out through respective injuries after having initially been named in the
run-on side.
in the lead-up to the Test match when, first David Pocock and then Israel Folau, were
ruled out through respective injuries after having initially been named in the
run-on side.
The Aussies got off to the best possible
start when skipper Michael Hooper went over inside two-minutes for the hosts
after some poor defensive play by the Boks.
start when skipper Michael Hooper went over inside two-minutes for the hosts
after some poor defensive play by the Boks.
Elton Jantjies hit back with a penalty for
the South Africans before Bongi Mbonambi scored from a powerful lineout drive.
the South Africans before Bongi Mbonambi scored from a powerful lineout drive.
The Springboks were dominating both the
territory and possession stakes and would extend their lead through Makazole
Mapimpi, when the right winger went over in the corner.
territory and possession stakes and would extend their lead through Makazole
Mapimpi, when the right winger went over in the corner.
Former Western Province-man, Matt Toomua, capitalized on an awful decision inside the Boks’ 22, as he managed to gather
and dive under the sticks after a poor overthrow at lineout time.
and dive under the sticks after a poor overthrow at lineout time.
The decision-making and execution of both
sides was found sorely lacking at times, but Siya Kolisi’s men nevertheless headed
for the half-time oranges with a slender 18-17 lead after both Jantjies and Reece
Hodge traded penalties.
sides was found sorely lacking at times, but Siya Kolisi’s men nevertheless headed
for the half-time oranges with a slender 18-17 lead after both Jantjies and Reece
Hodge traded penalties.
As it turned out, defence would be the
order of the day with both the Wallabies (96) and South Africa (90) making for a
Test match fought mainly in the tight-loose.
order of the day with both the Wallabies (96) and South Africa (90) making for a
Test match fought mainly in the tight-loose.
Six-points off the boot of Toomua stretched
the hosts’ lead out to five as both sides began to display frustration at what
had become a proper battle of attrition in Brisbane.
the hosts’ lead out to five as both sides began to display frustration at what
had become a proper battle of attrition in Brisbane.
The Boks had one last chance to snatch a
win with an injury-time scum inside their opponents’ 22, but a knock on meant
the scores remained.
win with an injury-time scum inside their opponents’ 22, but a knock on meant
the scores remained.
The Australians will next host Argentina,
while South Africa cross the Tasman to take on New Zealand in Round Four.
while South Africa cross the Tasman to take on New Zealand in Round Four.
Scores
Australia:
Cons
– Toomua (2)
– Toomua (2)
Pens
– Hodge, Toomua (2)
– Hodge, Toomua (2)
South Africa:
Tries – Mbonambi, Mapimpi
Cons – Jantjies
Pens – Jantjies (2)
Teams
Australia:
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13
Reece Hodge, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will
Genia, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rory
Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio
Reece Hodge, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will
Genia, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rory
Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Tom
Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Joe Powell, 22
Bernard Foley, 23 Tom Banks
Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Joe Powell, 22
Bernard Foley, 23 Tom Banks
South Africa:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13
Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9
Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi
(c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi,
1 Steven Kitshoff
Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9
Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi
(c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi,
1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Tendai
Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Rudolph Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Embrose
Papier, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Cheslin Kolbe
Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Rudolph Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Embrose
Papier, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Cheslin Kolbe
