South Africa have returned home after their now famous win over the All Blacks in New Zealand and will be aiming to keep their winning momentum so that they face the All Blacks next weekend full of confidence.
Australia on the other hand have had a difficult year and will be desperate to put deliver a good showing this weekend in order to put their home loss to Argentina behind them.
- South Africa have won just one of their last six games against Australia (D2, L3), despite leading at half-time on four occasions in that time.
- South Africa are undefeated in five consecutive games at home against Australia (W4, D1) and have kept the Wallabies to 10 points or fewer in all these games except the most recent encounter (27-27).
- South Africa are undefeated in five games at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (W4, D1) and have never conceded more than 15 points in a match here –this is the first time Australia will play South Africa at this venue.
- Australia have lost their last three games on the road, a loss this weekend will equal their longest losing streak in away matches since 2008-2009, when they lost four games against Wales, New Zealand (x2) and South Africa.
- South Africa will be out to win back-to back games against two different opponents in The Rugby Championship for the first time since 2014, after downing New Zealand 36-34 in the previous round.
- South Africa have a goal kicking rate of just 57% in this edition of The Rugby Championship, the worst rate of any side, missing an average of 2.3 kicks per game.
- South Africa have conceded 35 second-half points this tournament, the fewest of any team in The Rugby Championship; while Australia (23) have scored the fewest second half points this tournament.
- South Africa (8) have averaged the most turnovers won per game so far in this tournament, winning nine against the All Blacks in the last round; Australia (6) have averaged the fewest turnover wins per match, winning just five last round.
- South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit (61) has made the most tackles in this tournament, including 24 in Round 4 against New Zealand which was a career best tally for him in a Springboks shirt, he also leads his team for carries (39).
- Australia’s David Pocock (8) has won the most turnovers of any player this tournament; despite playing just three games, he has made more than double that of Australia’s next best player in this category (Bernard Foley, three).
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off. The anthems are being sung.
The whistle blows and Handre Pollard kicks off. The match is underway.
0.25 The Wallabies try to run the ball out of their half but Kurtley Beale’s wide pass is intercepted by Aphiwe Dyantyi who races away and scores the opening try in the first minute. TRY!!
2.00: Pollard slots the conversion.
4.00: Penalty to Australia. Matt Toomua takes the kick but misses the shot.
6.00: Australia kick to the corner and set up a line out. South Africa throw the ball in but Adam Coleman beats Etzebeth to the ball and the Wallabies clear the ball into touch.
10.00: Penalty to South Africa following an illegal tackle on Faf de Klerk. Pollard kicks for touch and sets up the line out.
11.00: South Africa win the line out and go wide. Willie le Roux gets the ball to Dyanti but he loses the ball and it goes into touch. South Africa are however called back for a penalty. Pollard takes the line out option and kicks for touch again.
12.00: South Africa win the ball but it goes to ground and they concede a penalty for not releasing. Australia kick for touch. They win the line out but then lose it forward.
16.00; The Springboks turn the ball over in their 22 and run it to the half way line. Siya Kolisi runs for the line but he is tackled from behind and knocks on.
19.00: After a short break for injury South Africa resume the match with a scrum which they win. Pollard kicks wide for Cheslin Kolbe but the Wallabies shut down the attack.
20.00: South Africa keep the ball moving through the hands after a line out. Pollard slips through a gap and offloads to De Klerk who zips ahead and scores the TRY!
22.00: Pollard slots the conversion. South Africa have scored twice before Australia are even on the board.
25.00:The Wallabies work the ball into the Springboks 22. They change sides but Dane Haylett-Petty is caught. The Wallabies keep the ball alive, change sides again and this time after a clever pas from Will Genia Reece Hodge gets the ball and although he is tackled on the line he reaches and scores in the corner. TRY!
27.00: Matt Toomua lines up the conversion kick from outwide but he misses.
29.00: The Wallabies catch South Africa napping and Will Genia snipes down the touchline after a break from Marika Koroibete, and Genia scores. TRY !
30.00:Toomua takes the conversion from outwide from the opposite side but this one he nails. Australia trail by just two.
32.00; South Africa try to hit back and get the ball to the Wallabies try line. They go wide but knock on. South Africa had the advantage so they are called back for the penalty.
33.00: South Africa take the penalty kick option. Pollard nails it and extends the lead.
36.00: Penalty to Australia. Hodge lines up the kick from almost the half way line but he misses.
38.00: South Africa concede a penalty inside the Wallabies 22. They kick for touch and take the line out.
40.00: Penalty to South Africa from the ruck. Pollard will have a shot at the posts. He nails it and again extends the lead.
The half time score was South Africa 20 Australia 12
Matt Toomua kicks off and the second half is underway.
43.00: South Africa try to chip the ball ahead for Dyanti, he gets to the ball but can’t control it so he kicks it but it goes into touch.
44.00: Penalty to South Africa after Dyanti is tackled late – Pocock was coming down from a charge down kick. Pollard lines up the posts and nails it.
46.00: South Africa go wide to Dyanti again. He gets the ball and passes back inside – a little early and Pieter Steph du Toit knocks on.
50.00: Penalty to Australia for SA tackling the player without the ball. Toomua kicks for touch.
53.00: Australia are trying to move the ball around more. They are making ground slowly. Penalty to Australia for playing the No.9. Hooper tells Toomua to kick for the corner. He sets up a near perfect line out position.
55.00: Australia win the ball but they are dragged down illegally. Penalty to Australia. They take the scrum.
57.00: Penalty to Australia again. Tackler not releasing. Australia take the scrum. Bernard Foley has come on for Jack Maddocks.
61.00: Australia continue to pin South Africa in their 22. It’s wave after wave of attack until Foley knocks the ball on.
64.00: Another penalty to Australia. Aphiwe Dyantyi is yellow carded as South Africa have given a number of penalties away and some one had to go.
65.00: Australia take the line out but South Africa snatch the ball. They eventually boot the ball upfield to Folau but he is stopped and South Africa turn the ball over.
69.00: South Africa get some quick ball and Cheslin Kolbe runs down the wing but is tackled high by Israel Folau. Penalty to SA. Pollard boots the ball straight into touch in the dead goal area so they are called back for a scrum where the penalty was.
72.00; Australia have had just over 60% of the possession in this match and the top five tacklers so far are all South African players which indicates how much attacking Australia have done.
75.00: Aphiwe Dyantyi returns to the field from his yellow card.
78.00: The game is really winding down now. Dyanti goes for another intercept but is not as sharp this time and knocks on.
80.00: The scrum is set, South Africa win the scrum and kick the ball out to end the match. SA have won.
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The full time score is South Africa 23 (20) Australia 12 (12)
Scorers
South Africa
Tries – A.Dyantyi, K.de Klerk
Pen – H.Pollard 3
Con – H.Pollard 2
Drop –
Cards -A. Dyantyi (64th min yellow)
Australia
Tries – R.Hodge, W.Genia
Pen –
Con – M.Toomua
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Jerome Garces (FFR)
Assistant Ref 1:Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Ref 2: Matthew Carley (RFU)
TMO : Graham Hughes (RFU)
Teams
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damian Willemse
Australia
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Adam Coleman, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements:16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 Rob Simmons, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Bernard Foley, 23 Jack Maddocks
