Following South Africa’s devastating 33-7 demolition of Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies in the opening Test of the Rugby Championship in front of 52,019 spectators at Suncorp Stadium, Australian rugby is once again starting from scratch.
The youthful Australians hardly made a shot against the world champion Springboks. The Wallabies were willing in the first few minutes, but their well-known weaknesses poor discipline, poor execution, and disorganised tactics were soon exposed to a barrage of hard-charging South African forwards and brilliantly inventive backline play.
Even though Australia had made three starts this year without losing, they were unable to generate any pressure of their own against the bullying Boks. The decision to leave winger Marike Koroibete out of the matchday 23 and his tactic to kick the ball away when in control will undoubtedly be closely examined. The hosts were outplayed in every aspect of the game, and Schmidt was outcoached.
On the other hand, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus’s cunning led to his team’s opening attempt. In the ninth minute, South Africa exposed Australia on the blindside by winning a lineout five meters from Australia’s line, catching the ball at the back and throwing it to the front in one fluid motion. This allowed captain Siya Kolisi to smash over from a rolling maul.
Australia was in need of a reaction, but whenever they had the ball, the Wallabies would either kick it away or give it back with absurd penalties. They attempted to puncture the green line with their bodies, but were unable. Box kicks by Jake Gordon did not connect with opponents, and kicks by Noah Lolesio were not precise. News for The Daily Rugby
Despite their imperfections, South Africa’s strength and experience forced Australia out of the contest. They drag the Australians left and right over eight phases in the twenty-third minute, and then Pieter-Steph du Toit tears apart a crowded Wallabies defence to make it 14-0. Australia was still 25 meters outside of South Africa’s queue after 30 minutes.
South Africa Beat Australia 33-7 in Rugby Match
With three penalties in a single minute, Australia completed a horrific thirty minutes. Hunter Paisami first failed to establish contact. In the scrum, Allan Alaalatoa then stood. Then, for a lifting tackle, Andrew Kellaway received a yellow card. Kurt-Lee Arendse, tiptoeing in and out and around the gold men who waited for someone, dutifully provided South Africa with the punchline to the comedy of errors.
With the largest halftime advantage against Australia in their history, South Africa went into the half. They had outrun Australia by 74 metres to 271 metres, broken seven tackles to seven by Australia, and made five breaks to one by Australia. In contrast to the Springboks, who only missed four tackles, the Wallabies led in all the wrong ways, handing up eight penalties, which is twice as much as their opponents.
Australia had a great start to the second half, but South Africa steadily reloaded their heavy weapons. After playing back and forth with Australia’s runners for twenty minutes, they introduced the Bomb Squad, who in the 61st minute tore down the swaying gold wall, winning three penalty advantages before Grant Williams spat the pip to Kwagga Smith, who broke two tackles and scored beneath the posts.
Australia was already in chaos once the levee collapsed a minute later, down 28 to 0. South Africa quickly twisted the ball after the restart, allowing Jesse Kriel to straighten, step, and charge upfield before winger Arendse scored his second try with a masterful long pass. With a fourth conversion, Feinberg-Mngomezulu made it 33-0.
After a last stand in the Springbok 22-yard line, Hunter Paisami crossed in the corner to give the Wallabies a 75-minute lead. An optimist would view it as a warning shot before the rematch in Perth next week, but it was a fitting reward for the center’s valiant rear guard performance of thundering tackles and strong running. But nobody was comforted by the attempt at consolation. Australia hardly managed a peep as South Africa triumphed.
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