Springboks Collapse in Second Half as Australia Secures 38-22 Rugby Championship Win
- Australia overturned a 22-0 deficit to claim a thrilling 38-22 victory over South Africa in their Rugby Championship opener
- The Wallabies recorded their first win at Ellis Park since 1963, ending a 62-year drought on South African soil
- Captain Harry Wilson scored two tries, while Dylan Pietsch, Joseph Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, and Tom Wright also crossed for the visitors in a remarkable second-half fightback
The Springboks suffered a heartbreaking 38-22 defeat to Australia in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
Despite leading 22-5 at halftime, their second-half performance faltered, allowing the Wallabies to stage a remarkable comeback and claim victory.
This was a game which was of sentimental value to the Boks lockman Eben Etzebeth as he was playing his 134th Test match, which made him the most capped Springbok of all time and among the top ten in world rugby.
Source: Original
The Australians make history on South African soil
This was the Wallabies' victory at Ellis Park for the first time since 1963, and they had never beaten the Springboks in their backyard for 12 years.
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The Springboks had a commanding start to the game with captain Siya Kolisi playing the number 8 role,Kurt-Lee Arendse and Andre Esterhuizen leading from the front, but their second-half display was woeful as their vulnerabilities were heavily exposed in the breakdowns.
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The visitors produced an extraordinary display, scoring six unanswered tries to deliver the defining moment of Joe Schmidt’s 18-month tenure as head coach.
Watch the video below:
Trailing 22-5 at halftime, the Wallabies found their rhythm in the second half, absorbing pressure and punishing South Africa with lightning-fast breaks. Their relentless effort saw them claim a landmark win on South African soil for the first time in 14 years.
Alongside Wilson, Dylan Pietsch, Joseph Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, and Tom Wright all crossed for the visitors, cementing one of the most memorable Test victories in recent Australian rugby history.
See the tweet below:
The Springboks lose their top ranking after the loss
The defeat not only marked a rare home loss but also triggered a dramatic shift in the global rankings. Following the result, the Springboks dropped from first to third place, slipping behind New Zealand and Ireland despite neither side taking to the field.
The All Blacks surged to the top, while Ireland leapfrogged South Africa into second, highlighting how a single poor performance can have far-reaching consequences in the rankings system.
The loss was especially costly given that Australia, ranked sixth, handed South Africa a 16-point defeat at home. The Springboks’ total now stands at 89.78 points, leaving a narrow margin between themselves and the new leaders.
New Zealand will have an opportunity to extend its lead further in its upcoming clash against Argentina.
See the tweet below:
The two teams will meet again next weekend on 23 August, at Cape Town Stadium.
Eddie Jones praises Springbok player
Briefly News previously reported that Japanese rugby head coach Eddie Jones has thrown his weight behind Springboks scrum-half Grant Williams, boldly claiming the 29-year-old is the fastest player in world rugby.
Writing in his latest Planet Rugby column, the former England gaffer said Williams’ speed is unmatched.
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Source: Briefly News
