World champions South Africa beat Australia 30-12 in Perth on Saturday morning as they returned to the top of the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies were looking to avenge a disappointing 33-7 defeat to the Springboks in their opening game last week, and South Africa had made 10 changes to the side that blew Australia away.
And a close first half ended with just two points in it as South Africa went into the break at 11-9, with Aphelele Fassi’s brilliant try the highlight, though the Wallabies were unlucky not to have had the lead after Noah Lolesio narrowly missed a penalty on half-time.
But the second half was an altogether different affair in wet conditions in Perth, as the South Africa pack took hold of the match and converted three mauls into three tries.
It finished 30-12 to the world champions as they continue their hunt for a first Rugby Championship title since 2019, ahead of a trip to New Zealand on 31 August.
The Springboks' Dominance
South Africa’s dominance in the second half was evident in their ability to convert three mauls into tries. This highlighted the strength of their pack, which proved too much for the Wallabies to handle. The Springboks also maintained better discipline than their Australian counterparts, which ultimately contributed to their victory.
Wallabies Struggle to Find Rhythm
The Wallabies struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match, particularly in the second half. They were unable to match the Springboks’ physicality and intensity, and their handling errors proved costly. Their reliance on kicking away possession also limited their attacking options and made it difficult to build momentum.
Key Takeaways
There were several key takeaways from the match:
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South Africa’s pack remains a formidable force: The Springboks’ forward pack continues to be one of the most dominant in world rugby. Their ability to dominate the scrum and maul was crucial to their victory.
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The Wallabies need to improve their discipline: The Wallabies were penalized far too often, which gave South Africa several opportunities to score points.
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Australia’s reliance on kicking is a concern: The Wallabies’ heavy reliance on kicking away possession is a cause for concern. This strategy limits their attacking options and makes it difficult to build momentum.
The Road Ahead
The Rugby Championship will now take a two-week break before resuming on August 31. The Springboks will host the All Blacks in a rematch of the World Cup final, while the Wallabies will face Argentina in a double-header.
Player Performances
Springboks
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Eben Etzebeth: Etzebeth was a dominant force in the second row, leading the Springboks’ forward charge.
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Siya Kolisi: Kolisi captained the Springboks with authority and was a constant threat in the loose.
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Aphelele Fassi: Fassi scored a brilliant try in the first half and was a constant threat with ball in hand.
Wallabies
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Noah Lolesio: Lolesio had a mixed performance, kicking well but also making some handling errors.
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Harry Wilson: Wilson was a workhorse in the back row but was unable to make a significant impact on the game.
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Hunter Paisami: Paisami was a bright spot for the Wallabies but was forced off the field in the second half with an injury.
Quotes
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Eben Etzebeth: “It’s been an amazing two weeks coming down, getting two victories. It doesn’t happen a lot. The Wallabies are a quality outfit. I think the guys played well tonight and last week. Especially the first half. The shots were firing. We enjoyed it and knew they would come out hard tonight. That’s exactly what they did. Good result in the end.”
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Joe Schmidt: “Well, it was tough-going. I thought we almost got our nose in front at half-time which would have been a lift for the players. They were a little bit beaten up coming in at half-time, very physical as it always is against the Springboks. We’ve got a few guys who are walking wounded. We kind of just scrambled our way through the second half. Found it very hard to contain the maul with some of our bigger men out there. They capitalised on that. It made it pretty tough work. We had a couple of chances. Lukhan put one down in front of the posts we were close with. Those things really hurt us. On rebound, they made things very tough for us.”
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Harry Wilson: “They turned up, they played some good footy, they won the big moments tonight. I felt we weren’t far off, but we’ve got to win the big moments. We’re a new team, working hard together. Going to continue to work hard. We know if we keep working, improving, we will win those sort of moments. I guess just once we got a bit of front football, made a few silly errors, I guess we started to not do our fundamentals, what we pride ourselves on. That really hurt us in the second half.”
The Springboks' Dominance: A Tactical Masterclass
The Springboks’ dominance was not just about physicality but also about their tactical intelligence. They were able to exploit the Wallabies’ weaknesses, particularly their tendency to kick away possession and their lack of discipline. This allowed them to control the tempo of the game and create scoring opportunities.
What's Next for the Wallabies?
The Wallabies will need to make significant improvements if they want to compete at the top level of international rugby. They need to find a way to reduce their handling errors, improve their discipline, and develop a more cohesive attacking strategy. The upcoming fixtures against Argentina will provide them with an opportunity to do just that.
A Chance for Redemption?
The Wallabies will be hoping to bounce back from these two defeats against the Springboks. Their upcoming fixtures against Argentina will provide them with an opportunity to regain their confidence and show that they can still be a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. But they must make significant changes to their game if they want to be a contender for the Rugby Championship title.
