Lucky Maree
With ten minutes to go before the match, question time is about to become answer time.
Question. Giving Joseph Dweba another chance? Haibo! Can’t he just be on the bench?
Question. Duane Vermeulen and his heavily strapped knee starting the match?
Question. Elton Jantjies? If Handré Pollard comes off, the magnificent Springbok backline will be left in his hands.
And finally, who will win? It’s hard to imagine Australia winning – but then South Africa haven’t beaten the Wallabies on Australian soil since 2013.
It was expected that Australia would start hard and fast – but their seven-pointer in the first two minutes without the Boks touching the ball once? A wake-up call for the Boks.
After four minutes, the Boks have had possession for about ten seconds – before kicking possession away. Not the best start, but not time to panic – not yet. Even though the Wallabies, after six minutes, are 10 points in the lead.
Dweba has his first throw in after minutes – and probably provides the first answer. The throw-in is skew. He goes off immediately with a knee injury and Malcolm Marx comes on. An intervention by the rugby gods?
Pollard’s missed penalty in a very kickable position, may prove to be very expensive.
After 15 minutes, the Boks are still kicking away possession.
Lukhanyo Am, as he does, provides magic with a beautiful chip kick that Ox Nche picks up and the forwards do excellent work – but concede a penalty.
Pollard’s second attempt at an easy penalty – easier than the first – swings left.
Third time lucky from right in front. South Africa are on the board but still trailing by seven points.
Dweba is back on the field. His second throw in works, his third doesn’t. Dweba throw-ins: bad, good, bad. Dweba dwanga, again!
First comedy break: Vermeulen takes a tap kick as the ref calls, “no, no, no” – then allows play to continue. Strange. Then he awards a yellow card against Tom Wright for offside. Stranger still.
Heading towards halftime, the Boks have now let no fewer than four very kickable penalties go begging and still have only three points on the board.
Marika Koroibete makes a try saving tackle on Makazole Mapimpi.
Second comedy break: When Faf de Klerk touches (not slaps) Nic White’s cheek comedy ensues. White steps back, thinks about it, then collapses to the ground. Yellow card for White? Nope. Yellow card for De Klerk … stranger and stranger still. As Nick Mallet says: “An absolute disgrace to rugby,” and he’s not wrong – but then, as halftime arrives, the total Springbok performance is a disgrace.
The second half starts without De Klerk with the wings playing scrumhalf! Marx comes on and, as against the All Blacks, he shows that he is an excellent player, but not a miracle worker.
After ten minutes Koroibete scores a brilliant team try. The Wallabies have a 12 point lead after eight minutes of the second half.
Kwagga Smith comes on for Vermeulen but whether he will make a difference to this lacklustre Springbok side remains to be seen.
Another kickable penalty goes a-begging – and the lineout results in a scrum for Australia.
With 20 minutes to go, James Slipper sets up Noah Lolesio for a clear break and Fraser Mcreight gets a second. Australia lead by 19 points.
Comedy break three: Frans Steyn drops the ball, fumbles the ball, slips, and concedes a scrum. And, yes, Elton Jantjies comes on and immediately concedes a penalty that Lolesio gratefully converts, giving the Wallabies a 22 point lead.
With ten minutes to go Elton Jantjies kicks away possession and only a great effort from Lukhanyo Am prevents a fourth Wallaby try.
Five minutes of good Springbok pressure gives Kwagga Smith a try under the posts. A good try, but too little too late.
Question answered. Please, Nienaber, stop starting with the “B” team.
Australia 25-17 South Africa
Australia: Tries: Fraser Mcreight, Marika Koroibete, Fraser Mcreight
Conversions: two
Penalties: two
Drop goals: none
South Africa: Tries: Kwagga Smith, Kwagga Smith
Conversions: two
Penalties: one
Drop goals: none
Image source: @WorldRugby
