The Springboks outmuscled the Wallabies to claim a bonus-point victory in the Perth rain and win back-to-back Tests in Australia for the first time in 53 years on Saturday.
A second-half double from Malcolm Marx and Marco van Staden’s first Test try saw the Springboks power to a 30-12 win in torrential rain at the Optus Stadium.
Following up their hoodoo-banishing bonus-point victory in the opening round in Brisbane, the Springboks have now won back-to-back Tests in Australia for the first time since 1971.
While conditions made it a scrappy contest for a side featuring 10 changes, it was job done as South Africa continued their perfect start to the Rugby Championship and remained top of the table ahead of their home Tests against New Zealand.
Making the win even more impressive was that the Springboks had to do it without the power of their formidable scrum for most of the second half, as the Wallabies lost a couple of props to concussions to bring on uncontested scrums.
A nervy and error-filled first half saw South Africa go into the break with a 11-9 lead, thanks mainly to Aphelele Fassi’s breakaway try and a missed penalty from Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio in the final play of the half.
The Springboks did let a couple of tries go in the first half, as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu knocked the ball on after a break from Cheslin Kolbe, before Makazole Mapimpi was tackled just short of the tryline after gathering a crazy crossfield kick by the Wallabies inside their own 22.
Rassie Erasmus didn’t take long to call on his World Cup-winning bench in the second half and the experience counted as the Boks turned to the driving maul and it paid off, with Van Staden going over to extend the lead.
While Australia threatened to pull the game back after winning a few soft penalties, the Boks effectively put the game to bed through Marx’s first try, before the hooker secured the bonus point by completing his brace with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
Photo: Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
