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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
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:
South Africa 0-0 Australia, 1 minute
Willie le Roux punts safely to touch off his left peg, his clearance kick nicely flighted and drifting out beyond halfway.
Bosh! An early involvement from Reece Hodge, bashing into Bongi Mbonambi and leaving the hooker sprawled on the carpet. Powerful stuff from the centre.
South Africa 0-0 Australia, 2 minutes
Superb from Marco van Staden. The flanker is standing in for Siya Kolisi on the openside with the Springboks skipper still some weeks away from a return from injury, and that’s picture perfect turnover technique, limpeting over the top as Australia get their ruck detail wrong.
Manie Libbok fancies an early sighter - 55m from right of centre. The ball will carry at altitude...
Missed penalty! South Africa 0-0 Australia, 4 minutes
But not far enough! It looked a clean strike from Libbok, but it tumbles down a couple of metres shy of the crossbar.
A useful gauge of range, though, for the first-time starter.
Willie le Roux chips out on the full as South Africa try to work a move up the blindside, but atones for his error immediately, tracking a Reece Hodge spiral bomb perfectly to defuse it after the inside centre had launched a skier off first phase ball.
South Africa 0-0 Australia, 6 minutes
The Pretoria skies get a peppering as both sides settle into their kicking patterns. Duane Vermeulen chases well and collects smartly as a box kick comes down.
That’ll annoy Eddie Jones - Tom Wright saunters up a blind alley, leaving himself trapped against the touchline with nowhere to go. He’s a little lucky that a stray Springboks mitt knocks the ball from his hands into touch, granting hooker Dave Porecki the throw.
TRY! South Africa 0-5 AUSTRALIA (Marika Koroibete try, 8 minutes)
Australia strike early!
Out of nowhere, the Wallabies lead. South African hands disrupt an Australia lineout but Allan Alaalatoa reacts sharpest, hustling through on to the loose ball. The Springboks are scrambling, space apparent out wide and found brilliantly by Quade Cooper’s rainbow pass.
From there, it’s just pure gas - Marika Koroibete presses pedal to the metal and few can match his top speed. Andre Esterhuizen dives desperately but can’t claw him back.
Reece Hodge misses his first attempt from the tee.
South Africa 0-5 Australia, 12 minutes
That was just a little loose on the right edge defensively from South Africa, not adjusting quickly enough after Jean Kleyn had got his paws on Dave Porecki’s lineout throw.
Can they hit back? They earn good possession near the Australia 22, working through the phases and drawing penalty advantage. Canan Moodie puts some footwork on...ooh, that looks a little bit nasty from Marika Koroibete, dropping a tucked arm into the Springboks wing as he’s tackled.
The officials are content Koroibete’s challenge is legal. Back for the penalty, for offside. This should be a simple three for Manie Libbok.
PENALTY! SOUTH AFRICA 3-5 Australia (Manie Libbok, 14 minutes)
Manine Libbok is on the board as a test starter. Tucked through with little fuss from 25 metres out.
South Africa 3-5 Australia, 15 minutes
Clelver from Lukhanyo Am, releasing and going again after Australia initally bring the centre to ground. A deft offload to Bongi Mbonambi keeps things moving as South Africa show some ambition inside their own half.
And here they come! Marco van Staden brushes off a couple of would-be tacklers before Canan Moodie makes a break...
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 10-5 Australia (Kurt-Lee Arendse try, 16 minutes)
And Kurt-Lee Arendse ambles in!
South Africa have come to play. They get a little bit of luck after Canan Moodie is hauled down on the right, a pull-back pass from Bongi Mbonambi shuffling in and out of Manie Libbok’s hands, but it’s clearly backwards, and there are still numbers there to capitalise. Andre Esterhuizen tosses to Arendse, who makes it eight tries in eight tests - and Libbok adds the extras.
South Africa 10-5 Australia, 18 minutes
Australia are carved open again! The Wallabies’ wide defence is all over the place so far, Manie Libbok unable to believe his eyes as a great chasm opens up in front of him, a little shimmy as he scurries into it. Libbok looks for Canan Moodie on the outside but the passing lane is blocked, and a fumble on the floor from the fly-half ends another promising position.
Clear intent to attack from the Springboks, though - and it’s working so far.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments