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.
Australia 25-10 South Africa, 78 minutes
Australia are awarded a penalty inside the South Africa half, and go in search of a try that would regain them the bonus point lost due to that Smith score. Hunter Paisami is stood up in a firm double tackle, a relatively rare occurrence, but one that allows South Africa to win a penalty.
Can the Springboks finish with a flourish?
Australia 25-10 South Africa, 76 minutes
Oddly, we spend a couple of minutes checking a potential deliberate knock on from Noah Lolesio far in advance of the scoring of the try. Lolesio’s slap back had been ruled not to have gone forward on the field, and there’s no evidence otherwise on any of the replays. On we go!
TRY! Australia 25-10 SOUTH AFRICA (Kwagga Smith try, 75 minutes)
At last South Africa score! Australia never quite settled things down, and there are spaces apparent as South Africa win back the ball inside the Australian half.
The two replacement props combine, Steven Kitshoff pivoting delightfully to send Vincent Koch stomping into space, Koch popping for Kwagga Smith, who grounds underneath the posts.
Australia 25-3 South Africa, 74 minutes
Lukhanyo Am shakes free of two tacklers as he angles back against the grain, stepping out of another as he enters the 22. But Australia scramble bodies back and just about survive.
Australia 25-3 South Africa, 73 minutes
A rare glimpse of Makazole Mapimpi in space as he rounds a stumbling Tom Wright on the left wing, but his chip ahead is too far infield.
Australia are soon penalised at a ruck, though, and Jaden Hendrikse wastes little time restarting play.
Australia 25-3 South Africa, 71 minutes
Yet more approving applause for a departing Australian as the fit-again Andrew Kellaway replaces Marika Koroibete.
Australia 25-3 South Africa, 70 minutes
Another bounce of the ball nearly favours Australia! Reece Hodge claims a high hoist out of the sun very well, and Tate McDermott directs a looping box kick into space behind Makazole Mapimpi.
It hops up over Mapimpi’s head, and there are two Australians in close attention hoping to profit. Lukhanyo Am, who has had his quietest game for a long while, somehow emerges with the ball in his clutches.
Australia 25-3 South Africa, 68 minutes
But the lineout fails to function. Knocked on, South Africa scrum.
Australia 25-3 South Africa, 67 minutes
South Africa are twice pinged, the second eminently kickable, but such is the size Australia’s lead that they can go for a more telling blow. Reece Hodge finds the corner...
Australia 25-3 South Africa, 66 minutes
James Slipper and Fraser McReight, who have both produced excellent performances, take leave, McReight saluting the crowd as he walks off. Scott Sio is on at looesehead with Pete Samu into the back row. Tate McDemott is on, too, with Nic White off to polish his Oscar.
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