Australia host South Africa in Perth on Saturday morning as they look to avenge a disappointing 33-7 defeat to the Springboks in their Rugby Championship opener.
The Wallabies were blown away by the world champions in Brisbane, with Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse among the scorers as the Springboks ran in five tries.
Coach Joe Schmidt will look for an improved performance in Perth as he continues to build on his young, much-changed side, who had beaten Wales and Georgia in summer tests as a warm up for the Championship.
And the Wallabies may face slightly easier opposition too, as South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed he had made 10 changes to the side that won last week, with Kolisi and Arendse among those sitting out today’s match.
Whether Australia can take advantage of a supposedly ‘weaker’ South Africa starting fifteen remains to be seen, but there’ll be no respite from the Springboks as they chase their first Rugby Championship title since 2019.
Follow all of the build-up to the clash in Perth below:
Australia 12-18 South Africa, 50 mins
For the Wallabies, Max Jorgensen has replaced Paisami, and the 19-year-old makes his debut. James Slipper also leaves the pitch, but for an HIA. He had come on for Allan Alaalatoa, and Billy Pollard replaces him.
South Africa replace scrum-half Morne van den Berg with Grant Williams.
Slipper comes back after a long break in play there, and it ends with an Aussie scrum – they win it, and a few phases end when White puts a grubber out for a lineout.
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 12:10
Australia 12-18 South Africa, 46 mins
A couple of changes for South Africa as Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx come on for Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
The Wallabies go on the attack and despite it being a little lacking in invention, it wins a penalty 40m out. Lolesio steps up and it looks good – it bounces off the inside of the right-hand post for three points!
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 12:02
Australia 9-18 South Africa, 43 mins
TRY! South Africa extend the lead.
Lolesio is penalised for holding on and the Springboks knock it out for a lineout on the 5m line. They drive the maul forward, quickly gaining ground, before Marco van Staden sneaks through to touch down.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu sinks the conversion and South Africa take all seven points.
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 11:59
KICK-OFF! Australia 9-11 South Africa
The second half begins with the Springboks on the attack.
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 11:56
HALF-TIME! Australia 9-11 South Africa
Will the second half be as close an affair as the first, or will South Africa break away and score the points they’ve been threatening to?
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 11:53
HALF-TIME! Australia 9-11 South Africa
It’s been a tight contest in Perth with the conditions playing a large part in a sometimes scrappy game.
The Wallabies will be happy that they’re in the match at the break, and even slightly disappointed that they aren’t leading now.
South Africa had the best of the scoring opportunities, but the Wallabies have been equally as disciplined as their opponents in the ruck and scrum.
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 11:47
HALF-TIME! Australia 9-11 South Africa
Australia win the 50/22 after they disguise their run from the scrum and get some joy down the opposite side.
They keep possession and run through six phases before the up-and-under, but it’s collected by the ‘Boks and Australia cash in a penalty advantage that Wilson won on the ground.
This will be the last play of the first half as Lolesio lines up another kick, and we’re into the red.
30m away as the siren goes – and he drags it wide! Hard to see how he did that after a much more difficult kick earlier. The Wallabies should have the lead at the break, but they head down the tunnel trailing 9-11.
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 11:41
Australia 9-11 South Africa, 36 mins
Lolesio and Feinberg-Mngomezulu exchange kicks, and the former looks like he’s won a penalty after he’s deliberately impeded when trying to collect his own chipped kick.
He does win the penalty, and he chooses to kick from around 45m. It’s a favourable angle though – and it’s good! It just about has the legs, creeping over the horizontal bar for 9-11.
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 11:34
Australia 6-11 South Africa, 33 mins
South Africa go through the phases as they look for more points, but their possession ends with a sloppy over-the-top kick that is picked up and cleared by Hunter Paisami. From the lineout, South Africa are penalised for the throw not being straight, and the Wallabies take a scrum, which they win a free-kick from.
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 11:31
Australia 6-11 South Africa, 28 mins
Australia get away with one once again.
They’re on the advance towards the Springboks’ 22 before Kolbe intercepts the pass from Nic White. He’s isolated and he has a lot to do, and is eventually taken down by Tom Wright. The advancing South Africa pack then knock it on as they try to reach the ruck, and Australia have a scrum.
Chris Wilson17 August 2024 11:27