Final thoughts
It wasn’t especially pretty, and some of the same old mistakes were there for all to see, but a win is a win for a Wallabies side low on confidence, and it was a marked improvement from their performances against the All Blacks. True, the Springboks are hardly in the same class as their trans-Tasman rivals, but then who is?
More importantly, it will give Michael Cheika’s side a much-needed confidence boost heading into the rest of the championship and something to build on for the greater challenges to come. Are they the finished product? Nowhere near, but at least this performance points in the right direction. It also eases the pressure on Cheika, who had looked an increasingly forlorn and outspoken figure with each passing defeat. When a couple of key calls at the start of the second half went against the Wallabies, you could almost hear the excuses in his post-match press conference.
But full credit to Cheika for sticking with the team and backing the same players to bounce back after that last-up loss to the All Blacks. Despite a few tense moments, it was the right call.
Thanks for joining me tonight. I’ll catch you next time.
Full time: Australia 23-17 South Africa
And there’s the siren. Relief around the stadium as the Wallabies hold on. They should have put it to bed sooner, but a handful of mistakes kept the Springboks in it.
79 mins: Not long left for the Wallabies to defend. This would be a huge morale boost, and also lift some of the pressure on Cheika. They’ve been good for it, although the Springboks have fought all the way.
77 mins: Looks like more than a few fans aren’t particularly happy with the coverage on Tenplay, which apparently is having some broadcasting troubles...
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72 mins: Frustration for the Wallabies as Pocock looks to run the ball out of danger, then throws it into touch with a poor pass close to his own line. The Wallabies survive the lineout but the Springboks are looking as dangerous as they have all game.
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70 mins: A powerful rolling maul from the Springboks rumbles closer to the Australia line, collapsing with about 5m to go. They switch play to the left and just when it looks like they’re threatening to break through, Nigel Owens calls knock-on after a good tackle by Douglas. Wallabies scrum close to their own line.
68 mins: The Wallabies were in control of this up until about five minutes ago, but they’ve taken their foot off the throat and the Springboks are making inroads in Wallabies territory. A boot into the corner gives them a lineout 10m out from the Australia try line.
Australia 23-17 South Africa
65 mins: The Springboks have a chance to claw back some points with a penalty. Morne Steyn has only been on the field a couple of minutes but he’s about to boot the South Africans back into the game. Sure enough, the ball sails cleanly through the posts.
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TRY - Australia 23-14 South Africa
62 mins: The Wallabies grind their way to the line, battering the Boks defence backwards inch by inch until a gap appears for Foley to charge through after a dummy pass. Well deserved and finally the Wallabies have some breathing space. Foley adds the cherry with the boot.
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59 mins: The Wallabies scrum wins a penalty. Not very often I get to say that. Poloto-Nau with the lineout and the Wallabies win it. Not too often I say that either. Pressure building.
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59 mins: Etzebeth has only been back on the field for a few minutes, but he has to trudge off again to get a new shirt. It was ripped off Superman-style in a bit of push-and-shove with the Wallabies. The delay plays into the Springboks’ hands, slowing the game down. Again.
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56 mins: Strauss very nearly makes another key intercept. Foley just manages to redeem himself, turning sharply to tackle the Springbok before he can show him a clean pair of heels. That would have been a certain try.
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55 mins: The Wallabies earn a penalty to ease the pressure after a good spell of possession by the Springboks. Coleman comes off with blood pouring from his mouth after a couple of knocks and Cheika decides to bring Moore off too.
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52 mins: Lineout to the Boks deep in their own half - and they’re back to a full contingent of players. They’ve weathered the storm well. The visitors win the lineout and go through a few phases, finally breaking into the Wallabies half. This has been their best period of the second half.
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48 mins: A bit of tennis between kickers in both halves makes the crowd restless. Eventually the Wallabies try to play some rugby but the Springboks have defended well since that no-try ruling. Sio almost breaks through but the referee brings play back. Cheika isn’t happy upstairs, the replays suggest Sio should have been allowed to run all the way to the try line. That’s two key calls that have gone against the Wallabies since the start of the half.
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47 mins: A break in play as Goosen collapses to the ground with a “knee” injury from a challenge for a high ball. Some conjecture that the blow was actually a little higher than his knee...
NO TRY - Australia 16-14 South Africa
47 mins: That could have gone either way, but I think the referee made the right call in the end. A let off for the visitors, they’re under the pump.
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46 mins: Kerevi touches down in the corner... but did he get it down before his leg went out of play? It’s a tough call. Multiple replays don’t give a definitive answer, but Nigel Owens is erring towards no try. The crowd holds it breath...
45 mins: This is a big chance for the Wallabies. They’ve got the extra man and a spring in their step. The Springboks are standing firm but the hosts are in total control at the minute. Can the visitors hold out?
Second half: Australia 16-14 South Africa
Peeeep! Back we go. Foley with the deep kick to get things started. The Wallabies get the ball back and some great work from the backs drives the ball deep into Springboks territory. Etzabeth ends up in the bin for a challenge and Foley boots the resulting penalty through the sticks. What a difference to the start of the first half. Wallabies in front.
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Half-time: Australia 13-14 South Africa
40 mins: And that’s it for the half. A Springboks scrum comes to nothing and the sides head to the sheds with only the slimmest of margins separating them. See you in a few mins.
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39 mins: The Springboks get a penalty from that last move after a late hit by Folau is picked up by referee Nigel Owens. It’s a fair call, and Folau can’t have too many complaints as he could - potentially - have been given a spell in the bin. The kick sails harmlessly wide though, and the advantage stays at one point.
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36 mins: Offside against de Jager just when it looked like the Springboks were about to break. The visitors are on the attack again moments later but Foley is there to scoop up the kick over the top. Good defence but the Springboks are fighting hard to keep this slender lead against the run of play.
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PENALTY - Australia 13-14 South Africa
34 mins: Another penalty to Australia, it’s close to the line and right between the sticks. Credit to the Wallabies, they didn’t panic after falling behind to two tries and are upping the pressure on the Springboks. Moore sensibly decides to go for the three points this time. Foley obliges.
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33 mins: Bit of a break as de Jager receives some treatment on the field. He eventually hobbles off and the Springboks get the scrum about 25m from their own line.
31 mins: The Wallabies really needed - and deserved - that try. As well as the points, it also takes off some of the pressure. Now if they can just cut out the mistakes...
TRY - Australia 10-14 South Africa
28 mins: Finally the Wallabies get over the line as Moore’s decision to go for five points pays off (eventually). Genia finds Coleman with a high pass out wide and the big man dives over the line with little resistance. Foley lines up the conversion and it sails through the posts. Game on.
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25 mins: Some fierce attack from the Wallabies, with Habana getting a serious hammering, but the Springboks stay calm under pressure and find touch with the boot. Still Australia pressing though and they win a penalty within kicking distance. Moore has a bit of a discussion and they decide to go for the try.
23 mins: The Wallabies with another boot into touch, this time 5m out from the Springboks’ line. The lineout is secured by Mumm (he’s already made a difference at the set piece) but the Springboks defence is on song and holds up the maul. The visitors get the put-in close to their own line.
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22 mins: Nigel Owens has a word with the Springboks for holding on around the neck and the Wallabies find touch about 20m out.
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21 mins: How have the Wallabies allowed themselves to get into this position? They’ve had more of the ball and had the Springboks on the back foot, but they’re behind the eight-ball again.
TRY - Australia 3-14 South Africa
18 mins: Good work from Cooper with a charge down the field - but an intercept from Strauss and suddenly the Boks are back in control, working it all the way back to the Wallabies line. It’s Goosen who applies the finishing touch and the conversion from Jantjies is good.
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14 mins: Scrum for the Wallabies. They need to turn their possession into territory. The few times the Springboks have run with the ball, they’ve looked like they might break the line.
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PENALTY - Australia 3-7 South Africa
12 mins: A good kick from Foley and the Wallabies open their account. Apart from that early try they’ve arguably been the better side... just a few too many errors in the wet.
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10 mins: The Wallabies still pressing, Genia tries to break through down the line after the scrum but, after a wayward pass, it gets pulled back for a penalty against the Boks.
8 mins: Lot of slip-sliding out there in the wet, both sides not afraid to use the boot. Hooper almost picks up a loose ball after a Wallabies break but it just escapes his grip and the Springboks get the scrum.
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Might be the death knell of Australian rugby tonight - can’t sell out sydney for a NZ game and Brisbane has whole upper tier empty for South Africa. They are lacking for players and public interest. Sad times for the game.
Brent Lindsay, email
It’s not the players Brent. It’s the plonkers running the Australian game. They’re still thinking 20th century rugby.
Bernie Demuth, email
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5 mins: The Wallabies respond well with a surge of their own but they lose it at the breakdown and the danger passes. The sides exchange penalties and it’s as you were.
TRY - Australia 0-7 South Africa
3 mins: Disastrous start for the Wallabies! An early Boks surge is stopped by a try-saving tackle from Genia but it only delays the inevitable with Whiteley barging over to open the scoring. The conversion from Jantjies is good and the pressure mounts on the Wallabies.
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Kick-off
Peeeeeeeep! And we’re off. The Boks boot it deep and after a bit of a stilted run, the Wallabies kick it to the halfway line. Lineout South Africa.
Advance Australia Fair blaring out around the stadium, the players joining in with gusto. Either it’s chucking it down again or the players’ musical exertions are making them sweat profusely.
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Australia’s lineout might look as stable as Malcolm Turnbull’s grip on the Liberal leadership, but remember folks there’s always someone worse off.
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A lot of the talk before the game was about the Wallabies’ lineout woes against the All Blacks. Strangely, the most convincing argument in defence of the Wallabies came from Springboks assistant Matt Proudfoot, who pointed out they had no troubles during the series with England.
I don’t see a problem in the Australian lineout. I think they’ve got incredible jumpers, Moore’s one of the best throwers in World Rugby so I don’t think there’s an issue, I think it’s just they need to find their rhythm and they’re a good side. The All Blacks have backed themselves in that department and it paid off for them. The [Australian] jumper takes a different option and it works for them and there is no problem.
Team news
The Wallabies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Stephen Moore (c), 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Kane Douglas, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Dean Mumm, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 David Pocock, 9 Will Genia, 10. Quade Cooper, 11 Reece Hodge, 12 Bernard Foley, 13 Samu Kerevi, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 15 Israel Folau. Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper 18 Allan Ala’alatoa, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Tevita Kuridrani, 23 Drew Mitchell.
Springboks: 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 8. Warren Whiteley, 9. Faf de Klerk, 10. Elton Jantjies, 11. Francois Hougaard, 12. Juan de Jongh, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Bryan Habana, 15. Johan Goosen. Reserves: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Lionel Mapoe
So the All Blacks machine rumbles on with a 57-22 hammering of the Pumas. The scoreline might not be a huge surprise but it doesn’t really tell the whole tale as there were only two points in it after 50 minutes. In the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, that escalated quickly.
Preamble
Evening everyone, thanks for joining me for tonight’s clash between two teams desperate to stay in touch with the All Blacks before they vanish over the Rugby Championship horizon. We’ve only had two rounds this year but if this was the 100m Olympic final, Steve Hansen would already be looking to his left and doing a big cheesy grin for the cameras, such is the gulf between his side and their rivals.
But while the All Blacks have flown out of the blocks Usain Bolt-style, someone seems to have tied both the Wallabies’ and the Springboks’ shoelaces together Wacky Races-style, such has been their stumbling start to the campaign. And with Argentina improving every year, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll end up with the silver medal this year.
But slightly dated Olympics metaphors aside, tonight’s game is crucial for all sorts of other reasons – mainly revolving around the pressure mounting on Michael Cheika. A win tonight and the previous run of losses will seem a tiny bit more palatable – the result of playing against the All Blacks and one of the strongest England teams in years. A loss at a home to a Springboks team in transition, however, and more serious questions will be raised.
There’s not quite the same amount of pressure on Allister Coetzee’s visitors, although a narrow defeat to Argentina in their previous clash will still hurt and they will be desperate to avoid the wooden spoon again. As we hit the halfway stage, this match should go a big way to answering some of the questions hovering over both sides.
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Richard will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s some team news ahead of kick-off.
