Springboks (South Africa) vs Wallabies (Australia)
By Sello Masilo
The Springboks outplayed the Wallabies by 30-12 in a scrappy match at Optus Stadium in Perth to keep their winning start in the 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship going. Despite challenging conditions, the Boks’ dominance, particularly in the second half, ensured they secured the Mandela Challenge Plate and maintained their position at the top of the tournament log.
The four-try-to-nil bonus point victory not only kept the Boks in the lead but also highlighted their defensive solidity. They led 11-9 at halftime and, barring a fourth penalty goal from Australia, never allowed the Wallabies a chance to reclaim control. The South Africans pulled away decisively in the second half, scoring three times from driving mauls, which once again proved to be their most potent weapon in the difficult conditions.
A Test of Resilience and Strategy
The match was far from a classic display of rugby, as the inclement weather and slippery underfoot conditions made handling extremely difficult. This was particularly evident early on when the Boks were forced into uncontested scrums following injuries to several Australian front-rankers. The Boks would have preferred “real” scrums, where they could exert their usual dominance, but instead, they had to adapt to the uncontested scenarios, which arguably benefited the Wallabies.
Adding to the Boks’ challenges was the early loss of their captain, Salmaan Moerat, who left the field due to a head-knock. His departure was a significant blow, but his replacement, Eben Etzebeth, stepped up to the plate admirably, both in leadership and performance.
“We wanted this win, it does not happen that often that you get two in a row in Australia,” said Etzebeth after the match. “We will take a lot of positives from this win, especially since we started with 10 changes from the Brisbane game, and those players would have gained valuable experience as well.”
The Match Unfolds
The match started in the worst possible way for the Springboks, with the Wallabies taking an early 3-0 lead after Johan Grobbelaar conceded a penalty that Noah Lolesio successfully converted. However, despite the wet and slippery conditions, the Boks managed to put together some promising attacks in the opening 20 minutes. Unfortunately, they squandered two clear scoring opportunities in quick succession.
First, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu dropped the ball with the tryline beckoning after Cheslin Kolbe had created a beautiful opening in the Wallabies’ defence. Barely a minute later, Makazole Mapimpi lost the ball as he was about to cross the line, dislodged by a well-timed tackle from an Australian defender.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu redeemed himself 15 minutes into the game by slotting a penalty goal after the Wallabies were penalised for not rolling away at a breakdown. Shortly afterward, Mapimpi also found redemption, setting up Aphelele Fassi for a brilliant try. The Boks created a turnover near their own 22, swiftly moved the ball wide, and Mapimpi kicked ahead for Fassi, who dotted down for the game’s first try. Although the conversion was missed, the Springboks had taken an 8-3 lead.
However, the game remained tightly contested. The Wallabies responded with another penalty goal from Lolesio after the Boks were penalised for holding on at a ruck. The Boks, though, extended their lead to 11-6 when Feinberg-Mngomezulu added his second penalty after a scrum infringement by Australia. The Wallabies closed the gap to 11-9 with another successful long-range penalty from Lolesio, but he missed a relatively easy kick just before halftime.
Pulling Away in the Second Half
The Springboks began the second half with renewed energy. They forced an attacking lineout, and from the ensuing driving maul, Marco van Staden emerged with the ball to score his second Test try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the conversion, pushing the Boks ahead to 18-9. Although Lolesio kept the Wallabies in touch with a fourth penalty goal, the Springboks never looked back.
Injuries among the Wallaby front-rankers led to uncontested scrums, limiting the impact of the Boks’ powerful pack. Nonetheless, South Africa continued to exert pressure, particularly through their lineout drives. A well-executed maul saw Malcolm Marx cross the line for his first try of the match, with Pollard’s conversion attempt striking the crossbar.
Marx was not done yet. With 15 minutes left to play, he scored a second try, again from a rolling maul, which put the game beyond the Wallabies’ reach. Pollard added the extras, and the Boks were comfortably ahead at 30-12.
The Boks had one final opportunity to score in the dying moments of the match, but Pieter-Steph du Toit’s pop-pass to Jesse Kriel went forward, ending the play. Nevertheless, the Springboks had done enough to secure a significant victory and claim the Mandela Challenge Plate for South Africa.
A Historic Achievement
This victory marked the first time since 1971 that the Springboks had won back-to-back Tests on Australian soil, an achievement that adds to the significance of their triumph. The Boks’ defensive resilience was also noteworthy, as they have conceded only one try in 160 minutes of Test rugby Down Under in the last two weeks.
The match statistics underline the Springboks’ dominance, particularly in the set-pieces and driving mauls, which were crucial in the slippery conditions. The Boks’ ability to adapt to the challenges posed by the uncontested scrums and their clinical execution in the mauls ultimately secured the victory.
As the Castle Lager Rugby Championship progresses, the Springboks will be buoyed by this win and the confidence it brings. With the Mandela Challenge Plate now safely back in South Africa, the Boks have their sights set firmly on maintaining their top spot in the tournament and continuing their winning streak.
Scorers:
Australia 12 (9): Penalty goals: Noah Lolesio (4).
Springboks 30 (11): Tries: Aphelele Fassi, Marco van Staden, Malcolm Marx (2). Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard. Penalty goals: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2).
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