Rugby Championship: South Africa 22 Australia 38
Australia rallied from 22-0 down as captain Harry Wilson scored two tries in a stunning 38-22 bonus-point victory over South Africa in their Rugby Championship opener on Saturday, the Wallabies’ first victory at Ellis Park since 1963.
South Africa raced into a commanding lead through tries by winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, centre Andre Esterhuizen and number eight Siya Kolisi, but their Achilles heel has been the breakdown and it was there that Australia began to take control.
The Springboks led 22-5 at halftime but Australia came alive in the second period and were excellent in soaking up pressure and hitting the world champions with fast breaks as they won on South African soil for the first time in 14 years.
Winger Dylan Pietsch, centre Joseph Suaalii, winger Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright also crossed for the visitors in one of Australia’s greatest test wins.
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“This [victory] is right up there, it has been 60-odd years since the Wallabies have had success in Joburg. We worked hard and had confidence in ourselves,” Australia prop James Slipper said.
“We had a slow start, but credit to the boys, they stuck in there. It was a good squad effort tonight and one we can be proud of. It is a special moment for the group.”
South Africa did not score a point after the 18th minute in a performance that will provide much soul-searching as they could not handle Australia’s accuracy in the tight and broken play.
“We let ourselves down,” Springboks captain Kolisi said. “Things we worked on, discipline, the breakdown ... they won the breakdown battle. We have to take it on the chin, but it is unacceptable the way we performed.
“We would get into their 22 and they would steal the ball [at the breakdown]. Credit to Australia, they kept fighting and never gave up. They deserved it.”
Australia looked all at sea at the start, but thanks to several outstanding individual displays they clawed back to secure a comprehensive victory.
When Arendse, Esterhuizen with his first Springbok try, and Kolisi crossed, it was early one-way traffic but by the half-hour mark the momentum had swung Australia’s way.
They scored first in the second half to close the gap to 10 points when Wilson burst into a gap in the Springbok defence and flyhalf James O’Connor added the conversion on his return to test rugby after three years.
Australia then took control against the rattled home side, whose increasingly desperate attacks were countered with further tries by the visitors.
Australia coach Joe Schmidt hailed his side’s courage as they fought back from 22 points down to score five second-half tries.
Schmidt admitted the first 20 minutes “was not good for the heart”, but Australia then took control of the game for a win that will rank among their best in test rugby.
“At 22-0 down after the first quarter, there was real courage again from the players,” Schmidt told SuperSport. “We were forced to play catch-up and take a few risks, and there were a few lucky bounces for us, so we are not going to get too carried away.
“But at the same time I am incredibly proud of the group. I am realistic about getting a little bit of luck, but delighted we came back. 1963 was a long time ago, to the players are delighted.”
“This win is right up there, I came here with an Irish team and I think we were 26-10 up with 20 minutes to go and got steamrolled and beaten,” he said. “So to get what we did tonight at Ellis Park is testament to the character of the group.”
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