WATCH: Kurt-Lee Arendse scores THREE tries as Springboks cut loose
Springboks wing Kurt-Lee Arendse against Wallabies.
Kurt-Lee Arendse completed an impressive hat-trick for the Springboks in their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies on Saturday.
The flying winger was in dazzling form at Loftus Versfeld as he helped South Africa to a 43-12 victory to kick off their international campaign in style.
Arendse scored tries in the 15th, 29th and 50th minute as he caused the Wallabies a good deal of pain as Eddie Jones’ tenure began with a big defeat.
Try in seventh straight Test
The Springboks‘ first try of the contest came after Marika Koroibete had opened the scoring with a stunning try that saw him sprint down the sideline.
However, Arendse and South Africa struck back six minutes later as Andre Esterhuizen’s pass gave the Bok wing an easy run-in on his home patch.
🇿🇦 Kurt-Lee Arendse continues his incredible try-scoring run!
8⃣ Test caps
8⃣ Test tries#RSAvAUS #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/5UY7V3fcpf— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 8, 2023
His second came before the half-hour mark from a line-out that saw the Boks come back to the short side where Marco van Staden peeled off a maul.
The flanker then found hooker Bongi Mbonambi whose great pass put Arendse over for his brace, with the Springboks beginning to flex their muscles.
🤤 What a try!
🇿🇦 The Springboks have been have been ruthless, and Kurt-Lee Arendse gets his second.#RSAvAUS #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/sRiwCj7JTW
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 8, 2023
Those two crossings meant South Africa went into the break leading 17-5 and things wouldn’t improve for the Wallabies in Pretoria after the interval.
In fact it got a whole lot worse on 50 minutes and it was Arendse turning the screw, finishing strongly after collecting centre Lukhanyo Am’s late pass.
🔥 Try number three for Kurt-Lee Arendse. He's on fire! #RSAvAUSpic.twitter.com/MWDx5L8dSj
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 8, 2023
The Boks’ positive evening continued thereafter as a penalty try for a deliberate slap down from Suliasi Vunivalu cost his side another seven points.
Incredibly, Vunivalu’s yellow card moment denied Arendse his fourth try of the match as he had to settle with three out of South Africa’s six scores.
Arendse’s exploits leaves him on ten tries out of his eight appearances, with the Springboks starting their Rugby Championship campaign in style.
READ MORE: WATCH: Marika Koroibete opens Wallabies account with LETHAL finish
