Australia v South Africa LIVE: Result and reaction as Springboks put in dominant second half display
The Wallabies were unable to bounce back from their opening day defeat as the world champions produced a dominant second half to win 30-12
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World champions South Africa beat Australia 30-12 in Perth on Saturday morning as they returned to the top of the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies were looking to avenge a disappointing 33-7 defeat to the Springboks in their openeing game last week, and South Africa had made 10 changes to the side that blew Australia away.
And a close first half ended with just two points in it as South Africa went into the break at 11-9, with Aphelele Fassi’s brilliant try the highlight, though the Wallabies were unlucky not to have had the lead after Noah Lolesio narrowly missed a penalty on half-time.
But the second half was an altogether different affair in wet conditions in Perth, as the South Africa pack took hold of the match and converted three mauls into three tries.
It finished 30-12 to the world champions as they continue their hunt for a first Rugby Championship title since 2019, ahead of a trip to New Zealand on 31 August.
Follow all of the live updates and reaction to the clash in Perth below:
Australia v South Africa LIVE
Just a few minutes until kick-off in Perth. A reminder, if you’re looking on your TV, that coverage of the match actually begins 10.45am in the UK (on Sky Sports Action).
A win for the Springboks takes them back into first in the tournament table, but a surprise win for the Wallabies would really throw a spanner in the works ahead of the All Blacks travelling to South Africa at the end of the month.
Both sides’ Rugby Championship history
The first Rugby Championship tournament – then known as the Tri-Nations – launched in 1996, and was won at a canter by New Zealand.
The All Blacks have since dominated the competition, winning 20 times. They have won seven of the last eight, dating back to 2016.
South Africa, despite being the most successful side in World Cup history, have only won this tournament four times – the same amount of times as they’ve won the World Cup!
Australia have also won the competition four times, but with the Wallabies looking out of sorts and New Zealand falling to defeat against Argentina in their opener, the scene is certainly set for a first Springboks win since 2019.
Head-to-head
Matches between these two sides date back to 1933, with this morning’s meeting being the 95th overall (though the Australian Rugby Board now count three matches between New South Wales and South Africa in 1921 as Tests).
Overall, South Africa have won 51 matches between the two, with Australia winning 40 and three ending as draws.
The majority of recent matches have taken place as part of the Tri-Nations or Rugby Championship, though the two sides have met twice at the World Cup.
Australia beat the Springboks 27-21 at the semi-final stage in 1999, while in 2011, the Wallabies won 11-9 in the quarter-finals. In 1995, South Africa won 27-18 in the opening match of the tournament on their way to their maiden World Cup win.
Rugby Championship standings
That result at Eden Park leaves the table looking like this heading into the final match of round two.
1 - South Africa - P1, W1, 5pts
2 - Argentina - P2, W1, L1, 4pts
3 - New Zealand - P2, W1, L1, 4pts
4 - Australia - P1, L1, 0pts
Rugby Championships result: NEW ZEALAND 42-10 ARGENTINA
New Zealand have immediately bounced back from their surprising loss to Argentina last week by hammering the visitors 42-10.
Tries from McKenzieMallia, Savea, Beauden Barrett and Jordan (2) give the All Blacks the victory at Eden Park.
Their next matches take them to South Africa to face the world champions in Johannesburg (31 August) and Cape Town (7 September).
Rugby Championship 2024 schedule: Fixtures for South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina
Here’s a reminder of the full schedule for the Rugby Championship, with the next round of fixtures beginning on Saturday, 31 August.
Saturday 31 August
South Africa vs New Zealand, 4pm (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Argentina vs Australia, 11pm (Estadio Uno, La Plata)
Saturday 7 September
South Africa vs New Zealand, 4pm (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town)
Argentina vs Australia, 8pm (Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez, Santa Fe)
Saturday 21 September
Australia vs New Zealand, 6.45am (Accor Stadium, Sydney)
Argentina vs South Africa, 10pm (Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero)
Saturday 28 September
New Zealand vs Australia, 8.05am (Sky Stadium, Wellington)
South Africa vs Argentina, 4pm (Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela)
Rugby Championship 2024 schedule and fixtures
The world champion Springboks battle the All Blacks, Wallabies and Pumas in another gripping series of matches
Rassie Erasmus defends making sweeping South Africa changes against Australia: ‘This is not disrespectful’
And below are those comments from Rassie Erasmus in full...
South Africa rugby coach Rassie Erasmus has defended making 10 changes to his side for this weekend’s rematch with Australia, insisting that they are showing no “disrespect” towards the Wallabies.
The Springboks got their Rugby Championship campaign off to an excellent start in Brisbane last Saturday, powering to a 33-7 victory.
The world champions have left out several key names, including captain Siya Kolisi, for the second encounter between the two sides in Perth as Erasmus assesses the depth of his squad.
Erasmus defends Springboks changes vs Australia: ‘This is not disrespectful’
Erasmus has made ten changes to his starting side for the second of back-to-back Rugby Championship meetings
South Africa romp past Australia in Rugby Championship opener as Springboks show superiority
Here’s the report from the last match, if you needed reminding...
Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse scored two tries as South Africa matched their biggest ever win over the Wallabies on Australian soil with a 33-7 victory over their error-strewn hosts in the Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane on Saturday.
The world champions have added New Zealand attack coach Tony Brownto their technical team in a bid to instil a more ball-in-hand style and it was on full display as they ran in five tries with Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kwagga Smith also crossing for scores.
An inexperienced Australia battled to get a foothold in the game and were dominated in the scrum and at the breakdown as they succumbed to a first defeat under new coach Joe Schmidt.
South Africa romp past Australia in Rugby Championship opener
Australia 7-33 South Africa: Kurt-Lee Arendse scored twice in Brisbane as the Springboks opened with a win on the road
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