Springboks record back-to-back wins against Australia

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks recorded back-to-back wins in the Rugby Championship when they beat Australia 30-12 in the second Test in the Rugby Championship in Perth on Saturday.

It was not pretty in the rain and muddy conditions but ugly wins are also wins and the so-called ‘second stringers’ got the job done, with the help of the impressive Bomb Squad in the second half.

The Springboks didn’t have the perfect start as they dropped the ball from the kick-off in the rain.

The Wallabies had a strong scrum and launched their attack, followed by a penalty afforded them in front of the Springboks’ poles.

Noah Lolesio knocked it over and the home side took an early lead.

Johan Grobbelaar’s first throw in the line-out was hopelessly overthrown and things seemed to start shaky for the Boks.

The second line-out was also not ideal and Ruan Nortje had to rescue it.

Finally, after five minutes the Springboks had possession but Sacha Feinberg-Mngomeluzu kicked it straight into touch.

Then another penalty against Jan-Hendrik Wessels signaled a long day could be ahead for the prop.

Kolbe started the first attack for South Africa, and it was try time but Feinberg-Mngomezulu dropped the ball he received from the wing.

Magazole Mapimpi almost got over after receiving a crosskick but he was tackled a metre from the tryline. He was naughty when he moved the ball to his right hand and the tackler knocked it out.

After 14 minutes the Springboks got their first penalty and opted to go for posts after they got some go-forward.

The kick was good and the score was 3-3.

The first try came one minute later as the Springboks went from defence to attack.

Lukhanyo Am quickly spread the ball to the outside backs, and Aphele Fassi dived on a well-weighted kick by Mapimpi.

A scrum penalty against the Wallabies’ Angus Bell in front of the hosts’ uprights, gave Feinberg-Mngomezulu an easy three-pointer.

After 25 minutes it was South Africa’s 11 to Australia’s 6.

Five minutes before half-time, another successful penalty kick by Lolesio closed the gap to 9-11 for Australia; that was the break score.

Looking back at the first half, South Africa allowed Australia into the game and offered them the points through penalties.

Unfortunately, the weather conditions hurt this second Test causing it to be an uncomfortable watch.

As the Wallabies emerged from the tunnel for the second half, their captain Alan Alaalatoa was replaced by James Slipper.

The Springboks started out the second half kicking a number of high up and unders as a new tactic emerged by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.

It immediately paid dividends and resulted in a try by Marco van Staden coming off a line-out and a maul sent him over.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to take the Springboks to a nine-point lead.

After 44 minutes Malcolm Marx replaced Grobbelaar and Eben Etzebeth replaced an injured Salmaan Moerat.

With this Etzebeth became the second most capped Springbok in history with 124 caps.

A fourth penalty by Lolesio closed the gap to 12-18 for the Wallabies.

Then Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, and Grant Williams also entered the fray as the rain came pelting down again.

After an hour Feinberg-Mngomezulu was replaced by Handre Pollard, three minutes after Kwagga Smith replaced Elrigh Louw.

Then Marx got over, his 18th in Test rugby, to stretch their lead to 23-12.

In the 72nd minute, Seru Uru got his marching orders for a cynical collapse and seconds later Marx went over for his second try on the night as the big men up front did the job to help him over.

Pollard converted to take the Springboks to 30-12.

Moments later Jesse Kriel almost got over after a high kick by Pollard to Pieter-Steph du Toit at wing but the pop to the centre was forward.

The Springboks will return home with a full house of 10 log points where they face New Zealand at Ellis Park on August 31.

Man of the match: Malcolm Marx with his two tries after he replaced Johan Grobbelaar in the 44th minute. The line-outs were more crisp even in the rain and his two strong tries just underlined the skill and value of the Boks’ Hulk.

Moment of the match: The moment the bomb squad took to the field, the dynamics of the game changed completely. The big men did the job, and bullied the Wallabies as the Springboks went to score three tries in the second half.

Villain of the match: With open space and a fantastic break by Cheslin Kolbe, all flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu had to do was catch the ball to go and score. Sadly the normally trustworthy No. 10’s hand let him down in the rain.

Scorers:

Australia:
Pens: Lolesio 4

South Africa:
Tries: Fassi, Van Staden, Marx 2
Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Pollard
Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2

Yellow cards: Seru Uru (Australia, 72 – for cynical collapse)

Teams:

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Seru Uru, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen.

South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Handré Pollard.

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)