Australia v South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as dominant Springboks rout Wallabies
Australia 7-33 South Africa: The world champions showed their superiority at Suncorp Stadium to open their Rugby Championship campaign with a win
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South Africa showed their strength in a dominant performance as they kicked off the Rugby Championship with a 33-7 win over Australia in Brisbane.
The Wallabies had been three wins from three under new head coach Joe Schmidt, but were comfortably second best at Suncorp Stadium, unable to match the world champions’ set-piece superiority and physical edge. The Springboks were in total control for the entire contest, scoring thrice before half time having won the territorial battle, and adding two more tries after the interval to make totally certain as hot-stepping wing Kurt-Lee Arendse capitalised with a couple of scores.
Australia had their chances in the second half, but will rue their profligacy inside the visitors’ 22, coughing up possession repeatedly in advanced areas. For a young side in rebuilding mode after Schmidt’s appointment, there were signs of encouragement defensively but the hosts’ kicking game and attacking accuracy was short of the standards required to match Rassie Erasmus’ fearsome side.
The pair will meet again in Perth next week with the Springboks seeking just a second Rugby Championship crown since Argentina’s addition to the competition as they look to unseat defending champions New Zealand.
Follow all the latest reaction from Suncorp Stadium below:
Australia 0-0 South Africa, 9 minutes
Another penalty against Australia allows South Africa to return to advanced territtory, and Harry Wilson is then pinged in the maul set-up. Discipline is becoming a bit of a problem for the Wallabies; Allan Alaalatoa lends an ear to Luke Pearce as the referee gives a short explanation, the skipper knowing hhis side need to clean up.
South Africa go to the corner.
Missed penalty! Australia 0-0 South Africa, 7 minutes
Yikes. Feinberg-Mngomezulu had been eight from eight in his young Test career, but that is an ugly duckling attempting a first flight, off line and pitching short of the posts anyway. Not the best start from the first-time Test fly half.
Australia 0-0 South Africa, 5 minutes
A shallow up-and-under from Noah Lolesio allows South Africa a chance to attack, Etzebeth sure of hand and foot this time as he makes elephantine progress up the right. Harry Wilson eventually snares him but a breakdown penalty will grant Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu a chance from the tee...
Australia 0-0 South Africa, 4 minutes
A fun tactical tweak from South Africa off that scrum, though it ultimately came to nought - Cheslin Kolbe was the man to retrieve it from the base with Cobus Reinach pushing out wide to add a distributing option. Toulouse did in the past use Kolbe as a stand-in number eight at times to create problems for defences with his speed, leaving a bigger carrier in midfield - one to monitor.
South Africa kick into the 22 and Bongi Mbonambi finds his jumper. But the attacking play thereafter is lacking in purpose, Eben Etzebeth not expecting Reinach’s pass and knocking it on. He clings on to it on the floor in desperation and is penalised. Another good defensive effort from the hosts.
Australia 0-0 South Africa, 2 minutes
Excellent intent from Australia in their initial defensive set, biffing Pieter-Steph du Toit and a couple of subsequent runners towards the touchline. A small knock-on from a Wallabies hand will lead to a first scrum skirmish - and the Springboks front row goes to work, drawing a penalty wide on the left.
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