Rugby Championship 2024 as it happened: Wallabies defeated by dominant Springboks in Brisbane

In his post-match comments on Stan Sport, Schmidt expressed his disappointment with the Wallabies’ set-piece namely the scrum that got dominated, a lineout that looked shaky and the breakdown where discipline was a problem for the Wallabies.

The effort could not be faulted, but the execution was woeful at times, both in attack and defence.

The Wallabies are a work in progress, and perhaps the close wins against Wales and Georgia slightly flattered to deceive ahead of far most testing fixtures in the Rugby Championship.

There are a few scant positives however. Tom Lynagh looked sharp when he came on at five-eighth and in spite of his late knock Dylan Pietsch got through a mountain of work every time he got the ball.

If the South African crowd was big in Suncorp Stadium, it is likely to be even bigger next week in Perth.

The Wallabies have had a shock treatment at the hands of the world champions both in attack and defence and are aware of the standards that have to be reached. With potential injuries to Nick Frost, Filipo Daugunu and Jeremy Williams, Schmidt’s deck of playing cards will be thinner than ever, what he would do for someone like Will Skelton in his back pocket..

“They’re an incredibly powerful side, an experienced side and, they won that physical battle today their break down was really strong and they dominated possession and territory in that first half, which saps the strength out of the boys a little bit,” Schmidt said.

“It would have been great to get a little bit more out of the game, but we’ve got a benchmark and it wasn’t a massive shock to us as to where the Springboks would be and it’s somewhere that we’re gonna have to build towards.”

On injuries

“We might have lost some troops, I’m not sure about Filipo Daugunu Nick Frost or Jeremy Williams, they all came off with knocks of one sort and another...but we’ve had a few guys to come in this week like Cory Toole and Max Jorgensen and Marika Koroibete.”

It’s over and that’s definitely not a bad thing for the Wallabies.

An absolutely brutal reality check for Australia after wins against Wales and Georgia. This was a huge step up in opposition and it showed all over the field.

The Wallabies were outmuscled in the forwards and the backline often looked narrow and clueless in attack.

It felt like a South African home game in Suncorp Stadium and the Springboks fed off the energy from their fans.

What had worked in July definitely with high, hanging box kicks from halfback Jake Gordon definitely didn’t work here.

The Springboks had quality all over the field and even when they were two men down due to ill-discipline they didn’t look at all concerned by the Wallabies’ attack.

The Springboks get their first victory at Suncorp Stadium since 2013 and Joe Schmidt will have a huge job on his hands to get his side competitive ahead of next week’s return fixture in Perth.

Full time: Wallabies 7 Springboks 33

Kurt-Lee Arendse of the Springboks celebrates his tryCredit: Getty Images

Centre Hunter Paisami stops the Wallabies from being zeroed on the scoreboard as his side finally take advantage of the man advantage.

Tate McDermott has made a difference to the pace of the Wallabies’ attack since coming on, and Rob Valetini as ever is courageous with his carries.

It’s been an extremely difficult day for the Wallabies, very little in attack, and smashed back in contact.

Wallabies 7 Springboks 33

Yellow card for Springboks’ hooker Malcolm Marx for a high shot on Wallabies breakaway Rob Valetini.

Perhaps an opportunity to put some sort of pride back into this performance.

There’s another yellow card for the Springboks with Marco van Standen leaving the field for not rolling away, surely the Wallabies can do something with a two man advantage?

Unfortunately not, as Dylan Pietsch knocks on the ball at the crucial moment in a rare attacking chance.

Wallabies 0 Springboks 33

Kwagga Smith scores for the SpringboksCredit: Getty Images

The Wallabies are now in survival mode as South Africa replacement Kwagga Smith crashes over.

Australia just cannot live with the Springboks’ power all over the field.

There is potential to attack all over the field.

There’s another from winger Kurt-Lee Arendse after Jesse Kriel dances through the Wallabies’ defence. This is going to get more difficult.

Wallabies 0 Springboks 33

Tom Wright goes for the ball for the WallabiesCredit: Getty Images

Second row Nick Frost’s face is battered and swollen and half back Jake Gordon’s head is bandaged.

The step up in physicality from July has been incredible, for all of their brilliance in attack, the Springboks are utterly dominant in defence.

The Wallabies look to have nothing in attack and unable to string together phases.

Joe Schmidt knew that he had a big job on his hands, it looks to have got even bigger in this Rugby Championship.

Wallabies 0 Springboks 21

The Wallabies cough up a crucial lineout inside the Springboks’ 22, with replacement hooker Josh Nasser missing his jumper Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

The Springboks’ run the ball up the field, and a high kick is barely fielded by fullback Tom Wright who runs into his five-eighth Noah Lolesio.

A few steps forward, many steps back.

It’s not looking good here.

Wallabies 0 Springboks 21

Hunter Paisami takes on the defenceCredit: Getty Images

It will take something pretty spectacular for the Wallabies to fight their way back into the game, but there are key work-ons.

Suncorp Stadium has played its role by getting Waltzing Matilda humming, but what about the Wallabies?

The kicking game needs to be sorted out quickly, the Wallabies have barely had the ball, so when they have it they need to ensure that the kicking from the halfbacks is absolutely spot on.

The Wallabies are getting bullied in the scrum and the breakdown, in a huge step up from their July Tests from Georgia and Wales. The pack can at least ensure they are more disciplined at the breakdown with 8 penalties compared to the Boks’ 4.

Wallabies 0 Springboks 21

Siya Kolisi talking to the refereeCredit: Getty Images