The Wallabies outplayed the Springboks in Adelaide on Saturday to hand the visitors a second successive defeat and continue South Africa’s horrific run of results in Australia.
With the 25-17 defeat, the Springboks failed to beat the Wallabies in Australia for the sixth straight game and it was Australia’s third consecutive Test win over South Africa, after back-to-back victories at home last year.
Given the Boks’ history Down Under, the result shouldn’t be a surprise, but it was the manner of the loss that should be very concerning for Jacques Nienaber and his coaching staff.
Once again, as they did against the All Blacks at Ellis Park and Wales at Loftus Versfeld, the Springboks started sluggishly and gave the Wallabies a 10-point lead in the first seven minutes.
In the opening nine minutes, the Wallabies had an overwhelming 97% of possession, played most of the game in South African territory and the Boks missed six tackles.
The Springboks did grow into the game as it went on, creating pressure with ball in hand mainly thanks to the once-again outstanding Lukhanyo Am, perhaps one of the few Boks who can raise their hand as having had a good game.
However, once again, they were far too reliant on their maul and scrum and, when not rewarded by the officials or when 50-50 calls went against them, South Africa was left without any ideas.
The Boks will be justifiably frustrated with referee Paul Williams and his team, with the major complaint likely to be the laughable decision to yellow-card Faf de Klerk for ‘striking a player’ towards the end of the first half after a fine bit of theatrics from Nic White that belonged on a football field.
Be that as it may, there is no question that the better team won and the Wallabies fully exploited their numerical advantage in the second half whereas the Springboks failed to do the same when Tom Wright was sent to the sin bin in the first half.
Australia flew out of the blocks after half time, while De Klerk watched from the sidlines, and extended their lead when Koroibete sidestepped Handre Pollard and powered over the tryline. Loose forward Fraser McReight was then on hand to finish a wonderfully worked move to score his second try of the match, before Noah Lolesio converted a penalty to put the game beyond the Boks.
While Kwagga Smith completed a brilliant bench cameo with a late brace of tries, it was too little, too late as the Springboks suffered another disappointing defeat in Australia.
😔 Strong finish, but it's not our day in Adelaide – well done @wallabies on the win, we go again next week in Sydney. #StrongerTogether #StrongerForever #AUSvRSA #CastleRugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/hQuZm9C03R
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 27, 2022
Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
