Sublime Springboks wallop Wallabies

South Africa smashed Australia 8-24 in a fiery 2022 Rugby Championship clash at Allianz Stadium, Sydney.

South Africa gained revenge on Australia for last weekend’s contentious defeat in Adelaide by smashing the Wallabies four tries to one.

This hard-fought victory was only the World Champions’ sixth down under since readmission in 1992, and first in nine years and nine Test matches.

Dave Rennie’s men were no match for the wounded Springboks, who wore the Wallabies down before pouncing.

Makazole Mapimpi scored the winning try with less than nine minutes remaining before getting sent to the sin bin for pushing Marika Koroibete after he ran over the Aussie winger.

A massive scuffle broke out between all players as Eben Etzebeth and Allan Alaalatoa went toe-to-toe.

Mapimpi, still smarting from Koroibete’s unpunished – and distastefully celebrated down under – dangerous no arms hit last on him by the Wallaby, got his revenge.

It was a horrible day at the office for Koroibete, who cost his side two tries. He dropped three passes in a day to forget as he left the field bloodied and bruised.

Pete Samu scored at the death, but South Africa had their first win down under since 2013; their first in Sydney since 1993 (29 long years).

To ice the cake, the Boks left with a bonus point to stay in contention for this year’s Rugby Championship.

South Africa scored two first-half tries to lead 12-3 at the break.

Tries from Damian de Allende and Canan Moodie – on debut – put the Springboks two scores ahead.

Noah Lolesio kicked a 32nd-minute penalty to put the Aussies on the board.

Franco Mostert scored after the restart to increase the tourist’s lead to 14, but some stubborn defending kept die Bokke at bay.

Damian Willemse, playing his first Test at flyhalf, had a terrible day with the boot, both out of hand and from the tee.

Willemse kicked just one of three conversions, which kept the home team in with a shout.

Mapimpi finished the opposition with a barnstorming score before Samu’s late try added to the Aussies’ tally.

Australia dominated both territory and possession, but South Africa strike twice to lead by nine points at the interval.

Jacques Nienaber’s men were frenetic as they tried to play up-tempo from the kickoff.

Had his charges kept their cool and cut out schoolboy errors, the tourists might have had more than a nine-point halftime advantage.

The Boks’ handling was poor; Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx, and Moodie all knocked on. Steven Kitshoff passed behind to nobody.

Willemse’s kicking out of hand was not good, he kicked a cross-kick behind Moodie, and an up-and-under went straight up in the air, killing an attack.

The 24-year-old also missed a penalty touch-finder, which was returned with interest, and put his team under pressure inside their 22.

De Allende kicked away possession outside the Wallabies’ 22 with an overlap.

The try scorer also tried to trap Nic White’s clearance with his foot à la Ronaldo, but the ball shot forward before he knocked on trying to pick up the rolling ball.

Willie le Roux had a kick charged down as well, and he also gave away a silly penalty at the side of a ruck with the Boks on the attack near the Aussies’ try line.

Somehow, Rennie’s men did not make the visitors pay for their profligacy, but the hosts struggled themselves despite all the possession and territory.

The Springboks started well, with lots of intent, although their play was frantic as they tried to go up-tempo.

A sustained attack saw the Boks pummel the goal line before opening the scoring in the ninth minute.

Australia kept giving away penalties, three in a row in eight phases before De Allende took Etzebeth’s pop-pass to score under the poles.

Matt Philip went in the bin for not going back 10 metres and tackling Jaden Hendrikse before the line. Hendrikse would have scored had Philip not made the illegal tackle.

There was no scoring until Etzebeth tackled Rob Valetini around the neck to gift Australia a kickable penalty in front of the posts. Lolesio could not miss.

Springboks go ‘bang, bang’ as they strike on either side of the interval to pull away from the Wallabies.

With minutes remaining, the Boks struck again.

Moodie – the Springboks’ second youngest debutant (19 years 302 days) in the professional era – outjumped Koroibete to win Hendrikse’s pin-point box-kick, and raced away for his maiden Test try.

Willemse shanked his conversion attempt well wide, but the Boks led.

The Springboks came out firing, scoring the third try, but the Wallabies’ defence stifled multiple attacks to keep the score 3-17 going into the last quarter.

South Africa came out firing after halftime. Whatever Nienaber said to his charges, it worked a treat as the Boks scored a sublime team try three minutes after the restart.

Slick handling and running saw Siya Kolisi keep the ball in play before going out. It was wonderful awareness by the skipper to keep the attack going.

Kolisi had a superb day at the breakdown, pilfering three steals while his defending was solid. He made 11 tackles, while beating three defenders on 22 metres gained.

The ball was recycled quickly, with Marx and Jasper Wiese carrying it into the 22. Wiese offloaded to De Allende, who played Willemse.

The standoff passed to Le Roux, who drew the last defender before sending Mostert away for his first try against the Wallabies. Again, Willemse botched his conversion attempt, but the tourists led 17-3.

Some sustained pressure by the hosts ends with Kolisi getting a warning for multiple penalties inside the Boks’ 22.

Alaalatoa hit De Allende around the head at the ruck, and the penalty was turned over for foul play.

Etzebeth won the opposition’s lineout to kick-start an attack. A quick lineout throw led to the Boks winning a penalty outside the opposition’s 22. Willemse kicked to the corner after a deliberate knockdown.

De Allende got held up over the line, but the Boks had an advantage; however, the Wallabies stopped the Boks at the source again.

South Africa kept coming, but Australia kept them at bay. Le Roux’s drop-kick attempt from halfway did not reach the poles.

Crazy scenes at the end as Mapimpi lays out Koroibete and gets payback for last weekend.

Australia got back into the contest, they began to find their rhythm.

Darcy Swain won a throw against the head, but the Wallabies make a handling error to let the Boks off the hook. Koroibete knocking on again.

As the clock ticked down, Mapimpi claimed his revenge on Koroibete by running over the winger to score. Take that! Payback for last week’s dangerous hit on Mapimpi by Koroibete, which went unpunished.

The score came from a scrum penalty advantage. The Boks went through the hands of the backs where Le Roux sent Mapimpi charging down the sideline.

The 32-year-old flyer beat two defenders before bouncing his opposite winger near the flag.

It sparked scenes, both teams pushing and shoving. Mapimpi went to the bin for his reaction to scoring.

It was harsh as the officials botched another call; they needed a scapegoat, and the winger was it.

Australia looked for a consolation. Le Roux went to the bin for a knockdown. Samu scored afterwards, but the Boks had a famous win in Sydney.

Final Score: Australia 8 (3) South Africa 24 (12)

Scorers

Australia
Tries – Samu
Pen – Lolesio
Con –
Drop –
Cards – Philip (Yellow, 10′)

South Africa
Tries – De Allende, Moodie, Mostert, Mapimpi
Pen –
Con – Willemse, Steyn
Drop –
Cards – Mapimpi (Yellow, 72′), Le Roux (Yellow, 79′)

Match Officials
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe [NZL]
Assistant Ref: Paul Williams [NZL]
Assistant Ref 2: Tual Trainini [FRA]
TMO: Brendon Pickerill [NZL]

Teams

Australia

15 Reece Hodge, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper (captain)

Replacements: 16 David Porecki, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Jack Gordon, 23 Andrew Kellaway

South Africa 

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siyamthanda (Siya) Kolisi (captain), 5 Lodewyk (Lood) de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Retshegofaditswe (Ox) Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Albertus (Kwagga) Smith, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Jacobus Reinach, 22 Francois Steyn, 23 Warrick Gelant