Springboks Thrash Wallabies By 31 Points

July 08, 2023
1059
Ultimate Rugby

The Springboks brushed aside the Wallabies with an emphatic 43-12 to remain unbeaten at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria in the opening fixture of the Rugby Championship.

The home side attempted to draw first blood in the second minute after an attempted steal by van Staden turned into a penalty against the Wallabies for not releasing. A miss at goal by Springbok Fly-half Mannie Libbok kept the game open for the next five minutes.

After stealing a lineout and losing it immediately, the Springboks were punished by the Australian backline as they spread the ball wide finding find Koroibete in the wing, who dotted down in the corner. A conversion miss by Hodge left the score at 5-0.

The game seemed to open up a bit with back and forth action, with Springbok back tro of Moodie, Le Roux and Arendse holding their own. After a 9 phase onslaught by the homeside, a penalty was eventually given their way. Up stepped Libbok to cut the deficit to two points following his penalty. The Springboks were eventually rewarded for their resillience through a try from Kurt-Lee Arendse after a frantic scrmble in the Wallabies five. Libbok added the extra two points, to give South Africa a 10-5 lead.

A penalty miss by Reece Hodge in the 24th minute would come back to haunt the Aussies, as they were made to pay through another Arensde try with ten minutes left in the half. Libbok made it two kicks from three as the homes side went up 17-5.

The Springboks came close to making it three tries in the in the 34 minute but failed to secure the ball at the breakdown and conceeded a turnover before later going into the half with a 12 point lead.

The Springboks picked up where they left off, as they continued to pile on the pressure, and again were rewarded this time through an Arendse hat-trick in the corner after quick hands from Lukhanyo Am, securing the bonus point. Libbok failed to add the extra two points, however South Africa would continue to pile the pressure, this time winning a penalty try off a maul. Dave Porecki wass sent to the sin bin for his involvement in the foul, with his side now trailing 29-5.

The Wallabies breathed a sigh of relief after Libbok was denied a try due to knock-on from Pieter-Steph du Toit. Both teams rang in the changes in the 63rd minute, however Australia would only have themseleves to blame, conceeded another penalty try from a deliberate knock-on by Aussie right-winger Suliasi Vunivalu as the score continues to climb to 36-5. The Springboks were awarded a penalty for illegal binding, with Mannie Libbok fiding touch. Two minutes later, it seemed the final nail was put in the coffin as du Toit dotted over the line with a pick up from the ruck.

The Aussies would not be kept scoreless in the second half however, as substitute Carter Gordon scored and converted a consolation try for the visitors in the 82nd minute. The Springboks now sit at the top of the Rugby Championship log with a bonus point win, with New Zealand and Argentina set to lock horns later this evening.