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! NEW ZEALAND 8-6 Argentina (Richie Mo’unga penalty, 29 minutes)
After two misses from the tee, the first points of the night for Richie Mo’unga.
New Zealand 5-6 Argentina, 27 minutes
A threatening period of attack from New Zealand, switching direction regularly and asking probing questions of the Argentina defence. Richie Mo’unga jinks between two would-be tacklers, with Caleb Clarke injecting his muscular athleticism off his wing. Then the approach is a more direct one, mixing up the carrier archetype with forwards and backwards off the shoulder of Aaron Smith. Ardie Savea pulsates free of another tackle, and a penalty comes for New Zealand.
Richie Mo’unga will go for goal.
New Zealand 5-6 Argentina, 25 minutes
New Zealand win a penalty at the scrum and attempt to attack from just outside the Argentina 22. A long throw from Samisoni Taukei’aho requires the full reach of a retreating Shannon Frizell at the tail, but the slight lineout misfire means New Zealand are short of intent and energy as they attack. Argentina force a holding on penalty.
New Zealand 5-6 Argentina, 23 minutes
What a tackle from Matias Alemanno! Extraordinary pursuit from the long-limbed lock, seemingly beaten to the outside by a counter-attacking Richie Mo’unga, but throwing out the lasso to snag the fly-half’s shorts and prevent him sprinting away.
Mo’unga can’t combine with Caleb Clarke, who over-runs the offload and leaves the tackled player isolated. Santiago Carreras nicks the ball, and looks to find space with a threaded dab on the angle. Emiliano Boffelli somehow hurls the bouncing ball back into play but can’t quite find his fly-half.
New Zealand 5-6 Argentina, 22 minutes
Argentina are controlling the flow nicely, again kicking into space after New Zealand stall their attack. The All Blacks lineout works effectively, and the maul gets moving again, though without the sort of purpose or drive as for the score earlier.
That’s another excellent kick from Argentina, Jordie Barrett having to hurry to prevent a 50:22.
New Zealand 5-6 Argentina, 20 minutes
Sam Whitelock and Matias Alemanno collide in the air and each claim the ball, like two giraffes reaching for the same acacia branch. Their forward colleagues pile on top of them, with referee Nika Amashukeli eventually deciding it will be an Argentina scrum - for somewhat unclear reasons.
New Zealand 5-6 Argentina, 19 minutes
The All Blacks are just struggling to settle. Another penalty against them, this time for a high tackle as Ethan de Groot catches a dipping Pablo Matera slightly high.
PENALTY! New Zealand 5-6 ARGENTINA (Emiliano Boffelli penalty, 18 minutes)
Emiliano Boffelli puts Argentina back in front.
New Zealand 5-3 Argentina, 17 minutes
New Zealand are up quickly to shut down Argentina’s backs having got their maul defence spot on - too quickly, in fact. That’s a third offside penalty inside the first 17 minutes, and referee Nika Amashukeli calls Sam Cane in for a word. The New Zealand captain is duly warned.
Argentina’s captain, meanwhile, has a little too much claret on his shirt - Julian Montoya appears to have a bit of a gash to the side of his head and will go off for some treatment after indicating his desire to kick at goal.
New Zealand 5-3 Argentina, 15 minutes
This time New Zealand play away from the maul, Aaron Smith bringing Caleb Clarke into the game on a switch, the dynamic wing well held by the Argentina defensive line. Rieko Ioane is the next chosen carrier, trying to use his fancy feet to shift the point of contract but failing to take secure enough hold of the ball.
Argentina clear and pour forward in good number to win a penalty. Emiliano Boffelli’s right boot goes unused - Santiago Carreras opts instead to kick deep into the New Zealand 22.
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