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:
Team news - New Zealand
Captain Scott Barrett has been ruled out of the All Blacks’ first two fixtures of the Rugby Championship, with Ardie Savea stepping up to skipper in his stead. Barrett is joined in the treatment room by fellow lock Patrick Tuipulotu, prompting an opportunity for Sam Darry after a debut against Fiji, while Ethan Blackadder occupies the blindside. Stephen Perofeta is absent with a calf problem, making the return from shoulder surgery of Will Jordan timely — he bolsters the back three options on the bench.
New Zealand XV: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax; 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry; 6 Ethan Blackadder, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 8 Ardie Savea (captain); 9 TJ Perenara, 10 Damian McKenzie; 11 Mark Tele’a, 12 Jordan Barrett, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Sevu Reece; 15 Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi; 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Will Jordan.
On to New Zealand vs Argentina...
There’s little time to reflect on that opener - the second game of the opening day of the 2024 Rugby Championship is almost upon us, with New Zealand and Argentina preeparing to tangle in Wellington. Let’s check in on the two teams...
FT: Australia 7-33 South Africa
A commanding performance from the world champions, showing their class and flexing their muscles in a dominant victory in Brisbane. Some signs to encourage Joe Schmidt with the Wallabies’ defensive fight, but there is so much work to do on their kicking game, set piece and attacking accuracy.
FULL TIME! Australia 7-33 South Africa
Australia 7-33 South Africa, 81 minutes
That final go lasts less than 30 seconds. Luke Reimer drops the ball cold as he readies himself for a stern South African examination in contact, and that’s that!
Australia 7-33 South Africa, 80 minutes
Into the final moments with South Africa still putting their bodies on the line defensively. A crunching hit and pilfering fingers from Malcolm Marx ensure they survive a last goalline stand, and a brilliant kick chase draws a penalty up on their own ten-metre.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu fancies more, aiming for the corner...but missing. Australia gather and will have a last go.
YELLOW CARD! Jesse Kriel is sent to the sin bin! Australia 7-33 South Africa, 79 minutes
But the Springboks will finish with 13 men - Jesse Kriel thrusts up a pinching paw trying to intercept a wide pass, but can’t gather. Luke Pearce shows his fourth yellow card of the contest as Australia eye one more score.
Australia 7-33 South Africa, 78 minutes
Handre Pollard overcooks his restart, granting the hosts a midfield scrum back on halfway. Malcolm Marx returns from the sin bin to be part of the counter-shove.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 7-33 South Africa (Hunter Paisami, 76 minutes)
At last!
It had to come eventually. It’s taken 76 minutes and the Wallabies needed South Africa to be down two defenders, but space does finally open up for Hunter Paisami to slide in after Harry Wilson’s intelligent injection at the base with scrum half Tate McDermott tied up. Over goes the conversion, which matters little other than in the final accounting.
Australia 0-33 South Africa, 74 minutes
My oh my. It’s not Australia’s day, another careless carry into contact from Dylan Pietsch bringing another handling error inside the South Africa 22. That rather sums up a properly untidy performance in the opposition red area, which will infuriate Joe Schmidt and his staff.
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