Springboks put Wallabies in their place in Rugby Championship reality check

The Wallabies’ have been handed a reality check about their place in World Rugby’s hierarchy in the Joe Schmidt era.

The Wallabies have crashed back to earth. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

South Africa once again overpowered Australia in the Rugby Championship on Saturday with a 30-12 victory in wet and slippery conditions at Optus Stadium.

The two-time reigning World Cup champions scored the game’s only four tries in front of 58,197 fans, many supporting the Springboks, with Perth home to a strong South African community.

South Africa made 10 changes after a 33-7 triumph last week in Brisbane and overcame a grittier Wallabies in a ferocious contest with several players forced off due to head injuries.

Neither team was comfortable claiming the ball in either the air or on the ground, which had noticeable damp spots after torrential rains.

The Springboks, who boasted 14 World Cup winners, struggled initially to handle the slippery conditions and only led 11-9 at halftime, before overwhelming the Wallabies with three second-half tries.

Despite running out of gas, it was an improvement from the Wallabies, who played with a harder edge after their physicality had been questioned.

They made five changes, with powerful winger Marika Koroibete proving an inspired inclusion in his first Test since last year’s World Cup.

But Australia’s record slipped to 3-2 under new coach Joe Schmidt, who had given his team a dressing down after the first Test defeat.

“Comprehensively beaten in the end on the score,” Justin Harrison said on Stan Sport after the match.

“A much improved performance from the Wallabies for the majority of the first half, second half, back-to-back mistakes. The weight of pressure and energy and that bench of the Springboks coming on and taking control.”

The Wallabies still have a long way to go. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

But Schmidt was seeing the positives as the world champions only led by two points at halftime.

“This is the best team in the world,” Schmidt said.

“This is no easy side to play against at the moment and we want to be mixing it with those teams. You know, that was one of the positives about the first half. We mixed it, scrambled really well.

“We knew that we had to move them around. We couldn’t just have a toe-to-toe battle with them. In our effort to do that, we undid ourselves a little bit. Maybe over-kicking or trying too heard to get the ball into some space. Not only are they very physical upfront, but very tough with their speed.”

After a slow start in Brisbane, a pumped-up Australia hit the ground running and a breakout penalty was calmly converted by fly-half Noah Lolesio.

The Springboks were sloppy in the early exchanges, making uncharacteristic errors.

They were ignited by a dashing Cheslin Kolbe, but his pass was fumbled by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as a certain try went begging.

South Africa have claimed the Nelson Mandela Plate. Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images

South Africa were rewarded for a period of dominance when fullback Aphelele Fassi finished off a chain of slick passes from transition in a spectacular opening try.

The Springboks threatened to pull away but failed to capitalise on several fast break chances.

They also suffered a blow when stand-in captain Salmaan Moerat was forced off the field with a head injury.

The Wallabies hit back and could have led at the interval only for Lolesio to spray a penalty from 25 metres to the right.

South Africa came out aggressively after halftime with Marco van Staden barrelling over the line to extend their lead.

After heavy rain lashed the ground, the game went into a lull before reserve Max Jorgensen ignited the home team on debut.

But South Africa proved formidable in the maul leading to Malcolm Marx barging over the line for two late tries as their bid to end a five-year title drought in the competition started strongly.

With AFP

Originally published as Springboks put Wallabies in their place in Rugby Championship reality check