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          The Rugby Championship 2024
          AustraliaAustraliaAUS
          12
          17/08FT
          30
          South AfricaSouth AfricaSOU
          • Noah Lolesio(3', 21', 36', 47')
          • Aphelele Fassi(17')
          • Marco van Staden(43')
          • Malcolm Marx(63', 73')
          • Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu(44')
          • Handre Pollard(74')
          • Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu(16', 26')
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          Springboks 'rain' supreme to drown Wallabies' hopes

          • AAP
          Multiple Authors
          Aug 18, 2024, 08:46 AM
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          South Africa's B team have come up trumps in Perth's big wet, with the world champions scoring four tries to nil to secure a 30-12 win over the injury-hit Wallabies.

          In a Rugby Championship match blighted by periods of driving rain, the Wallabies only trailed 11-9 at halftime in front of 58,197 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

          But the Springboks piled on three tries from rolling mauls in the second half to secure the bonus-point victory.

          South Africa achieved the comprehensive win despite making 10 changes to their starting line-up from last week's 33-7 win over the Wallabies in Brisbane.

          The Wallabies lost captain Allan Alaalatoa and fellow prop Angus Bell at half-time due to head knocks, and replacement prop James Slipper lasted just eight minutes in the second half before also succumbing to concussion.

          Inside centre Hunter Paisami limped off early in the second half with a leg injury.

          "I was really proud of the way we hung in through to half time," Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said.

          "And then right at the start of the second half, we lost Slips and we got a little bit dishevelled in the pack, because we were down in numbers.

          "I was also proud that we didn't die wondering. We chanced our arm a few times, in pretty tough conditions."

          Heavy rain in Perth throughout Saturday meant smart rugby was needed on the slippery surface, and the Wallabies largely failed the test during the opening 20 minutes.

          The Springboks celebrate after scoring a try Will Russell/Getty Images

          Noah Lolesio's third-minute penalty got the Wallabies on the board early.

          But they gave up field position a minute later when Andrew Kellaway tried to catch a bullet kick, only for it to slip through his fingers and go into touch.

          Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete's attempted chip and chase would have led to a South Africa try if not for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's fumble with the try line in sight.

          And Lolesio's audacious cross-field kick in defence that was picked off by Springboks winger Makazole Mapimpi almost proved disastrous, with only a try-saving tackle from Tom Wright keeping South Africa at bay.

          A Wallabies fumble in attack led to South Africa's first try in the 17th minute, with the Springboks racing the ball forward before a dribble kick allowed fullback Aphelele Fassi to dive over.

          Two Lolesio penalties - including a tough 45m effort from near the touch line - reduced the deficit to 11-9 late in the half.

          And the Wallabies would have entered the break with a one-point lead if not for Lolesio missing a straightforward penalty after the siren.

          South Africa extended their lead to 18-9 early in the second half when flanker Marco van Staden crashed over from a rolling maul, before Lolesio's fourth penalty closed the margin back to six points.

          Max Jorgensen replaced Paisami in the 48th minute for his Test debut.

          It meant Jorgensen and his father Peter became the 14th father-son pairing to feature for the Wallabies.

          Jorgensen had one electric run in the second half to showcase his potential, but overall the Wallabies' chances were limited due to the conditions and South Africa's strong defence.

          The Springboks opened up a 23-12 lead in the 63rd minute courtesy of another rolling maul from a line-out, with substitute Malcolm Marx touching down this time.

          Any hopes of an Australian victory evaporated in the 73rd minute when Seru Uru was sin-binned and Marx scored his second try from the next play - again from a rolling maul.

          "Overall, I would say very satisfying," South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said of the win.

          "It wasn't beautiful in this weather. It's tough to play beautiful rugby, but it was a satisfying victory."

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          Standings

          Rugby Championship
          RTeamGPPDP
          1SOU6+5719
          2NZL6+819
          3AUS6-1311
          4ARG6-5210
          Full Table

          The Rugby Championship 2024 News

          • Springboks in box seat after thumping Pumas

            South Africa are poised to retain the Rugby Championship title after a thumping 67-30 victory over Argentina in Durban.

          • Wallabies blow Bledisloe hopes with Auckland defeat

            The Wallabies' wait to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup will continue for another year after they failed to end their winless drought at Eden Park, falling to the All Blacks in heartbreaking fashion 33-24.

          • Springboks inflict All Blacks' record defeat

            New Zealand suffered their heaviest ever defeat as they were beaten 43-10 by South Africa in Wellington.

          • Ill-disciplined Wallabies fall to Pumas in Championship

            The Wallabies' Rugby Championship hopes have been brought crashing back down to earth as Argentina survived a late fightback from an ill-disciplined Australia side to claim a 28-26 victory.

          • 'Didn't want to draw': Wallabies in 86th-minute thriller

            The Wallabies have turned down three opportunities to kick a match-tying penalty and instead scored an 86th-minute winner in their latest Houdini Test act.

          • All Blacks down error-prone Boks to stay top of Rugby Championship

            New Zealand scored two early tries and kept an error-prone South Africa at bay to win a rugged arm-wrestle 24-17 Saturday and stay top of the Rugby Championship.