By Lucky Vince Pienaar
➤ With 10 minutes to go predictions come thick and fast. David Campese warns that ‘Wallabies could wither on the vine against brutal Springboks’. ‘Wallabies set for a walloping’ blares Jared Wright. Experts predict a Bok victory by anything from 10 to 30 points.
But the match is not won in the studio. It’s won between the white lines of a rugby field. And don’t think that Joe Schmidt has not created in his team a national pride and a desire to win.
As all the talk changes to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and the blindingly fast backline it’s almost hard to remember that a few months ago all the talk was about the bomb squad.
It doesn’t seem to matter that RG Smith fails a medical test and Pieter-Steph du Toit moves to lock and Ben-Jason Dixon gets to start at flank.
A loud blast on referee Luke Pearce’s whistle starts the match on the hard and fast surface of Suncorp stadium in Brisbane.
➤ First half.
Pieter-Steph, with number five on his back, forces a knock-on and Cheslin Kolbe (yes, really!) puts the ball into the scrum with Cobus Reinach standing off.
The kickable scrum penalty is not taken.
Eben Etzebeth runs in midfield like a centre and forces the penalty right in front of the poles . . . that Sacha shanks, missing the poles by ten metres.
Another penalty for South Africa, but the Boks need to settle down!
But then comes the maul try. Siya gets up with the ball and Sacha converts from the sideline, no doubt settling his nerves. (Aus 0-7 SA 10min)
The Wallabies do themselves no favours by kicking too far ahead and giving away possession. The Boks also win the aerial contest. Australia will have to rethink their strategy.
A brilliant line break by Sacha brings the Boks to within five metres of a score. Between Le Roux and Pieter-Steph a certain try is wasted.
The inevitable try goes to Pieter-Steph du Toit but it is a team try from relentless pressure. (Aus 0-14 SA 21min)
From bad to worse go the Wallabies as Andrew Kellaway stupidly dumps Cobus Reinach on his head. He is yellow-carded after an appeal from captain Siya Kolisi. (30min)
If anything proves the Boks’ dominance it’s the way Kurt-Lee Arendse dances through half the Wallabies team to score under the posts. (Aus 0-21 SA 34min)
It’s all Springboks as the halftime whistle goes.
➤ Second half.
Brave Australia come out fighting and get a scoring opportunity, but get punished when the Boks run out of trouble taking play into Australian territory.
Australia have an attacking opportunity after an intercept, but come away empty handed.
For fully 20 minutes they attack, testing the Springboks defence as the Boks lose two of their own lineouts.
Ex-pats in Springboks jerseys are going crazy. Wallaby fans, understandably, are looking just a little glum. Siya comes off the field to a cheer louder than if he was at Loftus Versveld. You don’t want to be a Wallabies supporter, right at the moment.
Kwagga Smith comes on and his hard work is rewarded with a try. (Aus 0-28 SA 61min)
One minute later Kurt-Lee Arendse gets his second. Sacha misses a tough conversion. (Aus 0-33 SA 63min)
When South Africa get two yellow cards and go down to 13 players, Australia finally get a try. (Aus 7-33 SA 76min)
As Malcolm Marx comes back, Jesse Kriel is yellow-carded. Boks down to 13 again. (79min)
Australia 7-33 South Africa
Springboks tries: Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse (2), Kwagga Smith.
Australia tries: Hunter Paisami
Image: Springboks rampant
Source: SA Rugby.
