Six-try Australia produce remarkable comeback to beat South Africa and win at Ellis Park for first time since 1963

Lawrence Nolan
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Rugby Championship

Australia's Len Ikitau (centre) is tackled by South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit (left) at Ellis Park

Australia’s bold ambition to build on their series-ending Sydney win over the British and Irish Lions a fortnight ago was dramatically followed by a first win in South Africa in 12 years and a first win at Ellis Park since 1963.

The 38-22 result was remarkable as they had been obliterated in the opening 18 minutes, falling 22-0 behind and looking as if they were set to be steamrolled.

Altitude was a factor in their slow start, as was the three-try onslaught sparked by the kicking of Grant Williams and the passing of Manie Libbok, but they doggedly managed to make it to the interval having reduced the margin to 22-5.

For whatever reason, South Africa had become illegally sloppy at the breakdown, and a continuation of this malaise in the second half was brutally punished as the Wallabies went on to score five more tries to leave them convincing 16-point winners against hosts who, incredibly, failed to score in the last 62 minutes of play.

Wallabies were deserving winners

It was an amazing outcome. The defending champions had come into the Championship round one on the back of an eight-match Test-winning sequence that stretched back to round six of last year’s tournament.

However, while they were unplayable in the opening stages in Johannesburg, they inexplicably lost their way, and the Wallabies were deserving winners.

South Africa needed just 93 seconds to strike first, profiting off a poor tactical kick from Tom Wright. In a sweeping move, the ball reached Edwill van der Merwe down the right and then Siya Kolisi down the left to get them from one 22 to the other.

Scenting a kill, the Boks increased the tempo and the space opened with a Libbok pass. This allowed Aphelele Fassi to comfortably provide the assist for Kurt-Lee Arendse to race in unopposed. Libbok added the extras, and the hosts were up and running.

Further points followed on nine minutes when Australia were again careless in possession, this time Harry Wilson carrying poorly and Malcolm Marx executing a textbook penalty-winning poach to allow Libbok to kick the points.

It quickly got worse for the Wallabies as they leaked a second try four minutes later. They were unable to shut down an Eben Etzebeth offload in contact, and then when the play went right, Nic White, fresh from arguably the shortest Test rugby retirement ever, completely missed a tackle on Jesse Kriel and the wound was painful.

Pieter-Steph du Toit drew the cover and then offloaded on the 22, allowing Andre Esterhuizen a clear run to score a try that would have been converted but for an upright blocking Libbok’s kick.

That miss was only a temporary let-off for the visitors. Pounding forward in the 22 after a penalty advantage was signalled for a high tackle on Arendse, Etzebeth showed great ruck ball presentation technique near the posts.

That proved perfect for Kolisi to collect and exhibit sweet footwork to dance his way to the line for a try that was converted for a 22-0 lead after just 18 ruthless minutes.

The result looked to all intents and purposes to be decided at his early juncture, but it wasn’t as Bok breakdown infringements finally got them on the board on 29 minutes.

Playing with a penalty advantage, a probe down the left resulted in Len Ikitau inviting Dylan Pietsch to dash to the line for an unconverted score. Pietsch wasn’t around for much longer, though, collapsing to the floor a few minutes later with a jaw issue after getting clattered by Kolisi.

The half ended with South Africa failing to finish a few chances, and that inaccuracy was costly as we suddenly had a lice contest three minutes into the second when the flattest of flat passes from sub Angus Bell caught out the defence and Wilson galloped to the line from about 25 metres out.

James O’Connor converted, and suddenly, with just 10 points now between the teams and nearly a whole half still to play, the result was hanging in the balance. This jeopardy prompted Rassie Erasmus to dip into his replacements, but the alterations didn’t ignite a momentum change.

Tom Hooper effected a brilliant penalty turnover near his own line, but Australia then erred with their decision making, spurning a penalty kick in front of the posts that would have cut the margin to just seven points, in preference of a kick to the corner that wasn’t followed by an immediate reward.

That came on 58 minutes, however, when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii stole an ill-advised loopy pass from Libbok near halfway line and O’Connor’s conversion left the score at 22-19. A fascinating final quarter was now in store.

This plot intrigue was fantastic for the Wallabies, as they punished the Springboks with a pair of super converted tries in two minutes. Wright left multiple defenders grasping air on a run from his own 22 that was finished off by the skipper Wilson.

Then Max Jorgenson danced around the flat-footed Libbok to race in for the second on 66 minutes and a 33-22 lead that was unimaginable 48 minutes earlier.

The Springboks now became desperate and ball lost in attack was returned with interest by the marauding Wright, who dashed down the line to add his team’s sixth try with four minutes to play. The visitors were in dreamland.

The teams

South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Reps: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse

Wallabies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper. Reps: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)

READ MORE: Siya Kolisi: Springboks’ mindset has changed, we want to win everything and be the best all the time

Australia