Australia vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby Championship result and final score as Wallabies beat Springboks
The Wallabies and Springboks met in Adelaide looking to bounce back from defeats last time out
Australia bounced back from a humiliating loss in their last outing to beat world champions South Africa 25-17 at Adelaide Oval on Saturday to move to the top of the Rugby Championship standings.
Flanker Fraser McReight scored two tries and Man of the Match Marika Koroibete also crossed, with Noah Lolesio adding 10 points from the kicking tee in an assured performance at flyhalf.
The Springboks, looking for a first win over the Wallabies in Australia since 2013, besieged the home try line for lengthy periods, but Handre Pollard’s penalty was their only reward until Kwagga Smith scored two tries in the last five minutes.
Argentina, who topped the standings after thrashing Australia 48-17 in San Juan two weeks ago, take on the All Blacks in Christchurch in the second match of the round later on Saturday.
‘Very special moment’
Report as Argentina revel in historic win over struggling All Blacks:
‘Special moment’: Argentina revel in historic win over struggling All Blacks
New Zealand 18-25 Argentina: The Pumas secured a famous victory over the All Blacks in Christchurch to stay top of the Rugby Championship standings
New Zealand 18-25 Argentina
Four defeats already this year for New Zealand - the first time that has happened since 1998 - and three on the bounce at home.
Next week’s action
Another fine day in the Rugby Championship, an excellent win for Australia followed by that triumph for Argentina in Christchurch. These four sides will do it all again in seven days time - the All Blacks and Los Pumas will be on curtain-raising duties next Saturday, with New Zealand looking to get revenge in Hamilton, before rugby union is introduced to the newly-built Allianz Stadium in Sydney, which officially opens tomorrow.
Argentina secure historic win against the All Blacks
The initial statistics show Argentina as having missed just eight tackles, by the way. An incredible effort.
Argentina secure historic win against the All Blacks
The summer of historic away wins continue - Argentina join Ireland in breaking their New Zealand duck to go with Wales’ first ever triumph against the Springboks on South African soil.
More worries for the All Blacks a week after Ian Foster was backed through to the World Cup. They looked short of ideas against the Argentina defence and struggled to adapt to a game punctuated by the whistle of referee Nika Amashukeli. Their discipline remained short of where it need to be throughout and their accuracy let them down in some crucial moments.
F/T: New Zealand 18-25 Argentina
Who would have thunk it? Argentina go top of the Rugby Championship table after three rounds, a beaming Michael Cheika guiding Los Pumas to a brilliant win. Montoya, Pablo Matera and Marcos Kremer particularly led the way up front, while Emiliano Boffelli’s nerveless, booming right boot proved the difference.
And it was all masterminded by a New Zealander! Christchurch-born David Kidwell would have rather enjoyed his return to his home city as the Argentina defence coach, his side executing perfectly to seal an outstanding win.
Julian Montoya celebrates an historic win for his side
“First of all, thanks to all the Argentina fans who came here to visit with us or woke up at 4.30 in Argentina,” the talismanic skipper says. “Today, I am really proud of our team - we worked very hard for this. We must enjoy it but we have another game in seven days. I am very proud, very happy, there are lots of emotions.
“It is a really special moment for us.”
F/T: New Zealand 18-25 Argentina
Remarkable. An extraordinary win for Argentina, a defensive masterclass.
Sam Cane has some immediate reflections on the All Blacks’ defeat “It certainly felt particularly in the first half we were more dominant in areas than we managed to show on the scoreboard. A lot of credit must go to Argentina - they stuck in it and eventually turned the tables. They were good enough to get the win tonight. They are probably one of the better defensive sides in the world. We weren’t able to convert into points.
“It certainly felt like there wasn’t much rhythm or flow in the game, a lot of stop-start, but footy is always difficult. We will travel up to Hamilton tomorrow and give it another crack. We’ve got to be better than we were tonight.”
ARGENTINA BEAT THE ALL BLACKS IN NEW ZEALAND FOR THE FIRST TIME
THEY’VE DONE IT! The scrum is a grotesque thing, bodies everywhere, but the ball is in Pablo Matera’s huge right paw and safely away before the All Blacks can mount a proper challenge, and Argentina get with their number eight as he carries around the corner. A slow ruck, a joyous thump into the stands - history for Argentina!
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