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.
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 25-3 South Africa (Noah Lolesio penalty, 64 minutes)
Over it goes, swelling Australia’s lead and confidence.
Australia 22-3 South Africa, 62 minutes
More theatrics from Nic White, again buying a penalty from the referee as Elton Jantjies fails to vacate the breakdown. Noah Lolesio calls for the tee, looking to push Australia more than three converted tries ahead.
Australia 22-3 South Africa, 60 minutes
South Africa reach again into their replacement well in a bid to get back in the game. Off go both half-backs - neither Faf de Klerk nor Handre Pollard has had an afternoon to remember. Jaden Hendrikse and Elton Jantjies come into the fray, as does Franco Mostert, replacing Pieter-Steph du Toit.
But that is messy from another replacement. A relatively tame kick in behind from Australia is fumbled by Frans Steyn. Australia scrum inside the opposition’s red area.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 22-3 South Africa (Fraser McReight try, 57 minutes)
A special score and Australia extend their lead! This is a brilliant play!
Nic White slows things down, setting a pair of forwards to his left. He pops up for James Slipper, who pauses and appears set to look back to his scrum-half, but instead fires a flat ball for an onrushing Noah Lolesio, hiding deep behind the ruck and knifing into the space beside it.
Fraser McReight goes with his fly-half, who squares up the last defender and releases an ambitious, but perfectly executed, flick out the back, McReight reaching to clutch it with only open space ahead of him. The flanker has his second, Australia their third, and the flow of Lolesio’s boot through the back of the ball widens the lead to 19 points.
Australia 15-3 South Africa, 56 minutes
Folau Fainga’a had been chuntering away at referee Paul Williams since being penalised five minutes ago, so perhaps sensibly Australia bring on Dave Porecki in his place.
Australia 15-3 South Africa, 55 minutes
The burly Steyn makes a dent as he returns a kick, but South Africa struggle to find significant thrust in the movement thereafter. Hunter Paisami shoots out in trademark style to cut down Handre Pollard, and Australia kick ahead to force a goalline drop out.
Australia 15-3 South Africa, 53 minutes
South Africa make another change, with Frans Steyn on in the backline as the forwards again explore the corner with hopes of a profitable rumble.
Australia detonate the maul, with questionable legality, but the officials are content it has gone down under South African mass - turnover ball, Australia scrum feed.
Australia 15-3 South Africa, 52 minutes
Faf de Klerk is back amongst things and picks his forward runners nicely as South Africa crash over the gainline twice, but Nic White reads the pull-back pass from Lood de Jager and catches the Springboks before they can work it wide.
Paul Williams’ whistle brings things to a halt - Folau Fainga’a failed to wrap as he dived at the knees of a carrier and he’s penalised.
Australia 15-3 South Africa, 50 minutes
Another change for South Africa, with Kwagga Smith’s more explosive stylings required at number eight in the place of Duane Vermeulen.
Australia look to their bench for the first time: Darcy Swain in, Rory Arnold out. The Wallabies have six extra forwards at their disposal of course; atypically the Springboks are out-numbered in that regard today.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 15-3 South Africa (Marika Koroibete try, 47 minutes)
Marika Koroibete breaks Handre Pollard’s ankles and Australia have their second! Clinical stuff from the Wallabies, making the opportunity count.
Len Ikitau ensures that the momentum is kept high as Australia play back infield, the centre straightening up with a sharp step. Noah Lolesio fires the ball into the hands of strike weapon Koroibete, who fixes Pollard with his hips, feints inside and then darts out, leaving a grasping Pollard on his knees as he beats the South African fly-half with a mean step to score.
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