South Africa vs Australia LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as Springboks thrash Wallabies
Australia seek a first win at Loftus Versfeld as Eddie Jones begins his second stint in charge of the Wallabies
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Your support makes all the difference.South Africa put Australia to the sword as Eddie Jones’s second stint in charge of the Wallabies got off to a disastrous start.
Kurt-Lee Arendse’s hat-trick powered the Springboks to a seven-try 43-12 victory in Pretoria as the hosts flexed their strength.
Jacques Nienaber had named a side short of several regular first-choice stars for the Rugby Championship opener, but it mattered not as Australia were blown away.
Showing early attacking ambition and then taking full control with their power game, South Africa produced a statement performance in their first fixture of this World Cup year.
Australia twice had players sent to the sin bin after conceding penalty tries, Dave Porecki shown a yellow card after hauling down a ball before Suliasi Vunivalu’s deliberate knock on denied Arendse a walk-in fourth score.
It leaves Jones with plenty of thinking to do as Australia prepare to host Argentina in Sydney next weekend.
Argentina welcome New Zealand to Mendoza later on Saturday in round one’s other fixture.
Follow all the live updates from the Rugby Championship below:
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 15 minutes
Argentina look a little unsure of what has hit them, the hosts so close to a score in the opening seconds but now rapidly slipping out of the contest. A knock-on in the air at the restart brings about a New Zealand scrum penalty, Ethan de Groot driving through Lucio Sordoni.
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 16 minutes
That’s just about New Zealand’s first error in possession, Caleb Clarke adding an extra pair of midfield hands off his blindside wing but Emoni Narawa too tight on the right. A pass flies into touch on the hop.
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 17 minutes
Josh Lord gets hands on the ball the Argentina lineout falters again, the lock’s fumble at least allowing the home side to set a scrum. Stable as the front rows hold parity, and Gonzalo Bertranou sweeps away.
A half-charged kick causes Caleb Clarke a couple of problems, but an attempted toe ahead from an Argentine boot flies out on the full.
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 19 minutes
Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell make a crunching double hit on Tomas Lavanini - the only issue being that the lock is not carrying the ball. Penalty for Argentina, which is poked up into the New Zealand 22. They rather need a score here.
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 21 minutes
Julian Montoya is a pretty skilful chariot rider, and likes what he sees initially. New Zealand infringe to ensure he does not progress all the way to the line.
Back into the corner.
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 22 minutes
New Zealand survive! Variation from Argentina, throwing to the tail and bringing Pablo Matera rampaging around, but Damian McKenzie retrieves his axe and chops him down. There’s still an excellent scoring opportunity as Argentina’s forwards win the race around the corner, but Rodrigo Bruni can’t cling on to a pass at his thighs with few fortifications in front of him.
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 23 minutes
Argentina are beginning to find their groove. Lovely interplay between backs and forwards as thehy work to the edge, a huge fend from Matias Moroni getting rid of Ardie Savea before Rodrigo Bruni ploughs a more direct path.
A try-saver from Damian McKenzie again! Superb scramble defence from the fly-half to save his Chiefs teammate, Emoni Narawa seemingly beaten by Moroni as the centre heads for the corner but McKenzie arriving just in the nick of time!
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 25 minutes
Here come New Zealand. Ardie Savea beats three to escape from his own territory and a penalty is then pounded down into the Argentina 22.
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 26 minutes
Every time the All Blacks attack it feels like Argentina are merely hanging on. New Zealand are winning the gainline virtually every carry, with Thomas Gallo’s tackle off the ball on Ethan de Groot gifting the visitors another penalty.
Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 28 minutes
Now then - this could be interesting. A crosskick from Damian McKenzie lands in Jordie Barrett’s hands, and Caleb Clarke then tries to flick an offload infield to Beauden Barrett, who looks sset to canter in.
An Argentina hand gets in the way - that looked deliberate on first view...
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