Wallabies fight back to stun South Africa at Ellis Park
South Africa raced into a commanding lead inside the first quarter through tries by wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, centre Andre Esterhuizen and number eight Siya Kolisi, but their Achilles heel this season has been the breakdown and it was there that Australia began to take control.
The Springboks led 22-5 at halftime but Australia came alive in the second period and were excellent in soaking up pressure and hitting the world champions with fast breaks as they won on South African soil for the first time in 14 years.
Winger Dylan Pietsch, centre Joseph Suaalii, winger Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright also crossed for the visitors in one of Australia's greatest Test wins.
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The Age
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David Campese said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt had ‘no idea'. What does he think now?
Wallabies great David Campese says he is 'eating humble pie' after declaring coach Joe Schmidt had 'no idea' on the eve of Australia's historic victory over South Africa. Campese also revealed he planned to quit social media after he and his family were subjected to a torrent of abuse following the Wallabies' 38-22 triumph at Ellis Park, which snapped a 62-year losing streak at the venue. In the lead-up to Australia's Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg, the outspoken former winger took a shot at Schmidt over his Wallabies selections, which included installing James O'Connor at No.10 after Tom Lynagh, who started in all three Lions Tests, was ruled out with concussion. 'I can see why Joe Schmidt has never won a RWC [Rugby World Cup]. He has no idea about rugby. Clueless. This shows us why,' Campese wrote on X to his 23,000 followers. 'Very happy for James, who should have been on the bench for the Lions. Ben [Donaldson] at 10. Under [incoming Wallabies coach Les] Kiss, it is not going to look any better.' Campese said he was not criticising the selection of O'Connor for the Springboks Test because he believed the 35-year-old should have been involved in the Lions series off the bench. With O'Connor playing his first Test in three years, Australia trailed 22-0 before pulling off a famous win at altitude. Former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons wrote on Sunday: 'Rugby Australia ought to put David Campese on retainer and get him to do what he now does best: bag the Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and say our blokes can't win – only for them to EXPLODE in most magnificent fashion.'
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
David Campese said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt had ‘no idea'. What does he think now?
Wallabies great David Campese says he is 'eating humble pie' after declaring coach Joe Schmidt had 'no idea' on the eve of Australia's historic victory over South Africa. Campese also revealed he planned to quit social media after he and his family were subjected to a torrent of abuse following the Wallabies' 38-22 triumph at Ellis Park, which snapped a 62-year losing streak at the venue. In the lead-up to Australia's Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg, the outspoken former winger took a shot at Schmidt over his Wallabies selections, which included installing James O'Connor at No.10 after Tom Lynagh, who started in all three Lions Tests, was ruled out with concussion. 'I can see why Joe Schmidt has never won a RWC [Rugby World Cup]. He has no idea about rugby. Clueless. This shows us why,' Campese wrote on X to his 23,000 followers. 'Very happy for James, who should have been on the bench for the Lions. Ben [Donaldson] at 10. Under [incoming Wallabies coach Les] Kiss, it is not going to look any better.' Campese said he was not criticising the selection of O'Connor for the Springboks Test because he believed the 35-year-old should have been involved in the Lions series off the bench. With O'Connor playing his first Test in three years, Australia trailed 22-0 before pulling off a famous win at altitude. Former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons wrote on Sunday: 'Rugby Australia ought to put David Campese on retainer and get him to do what he now does best: bag the Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and say our blokes can't win – only for them to EXPLODE in most magnificent fashion.'
ABC News
2 hours ago
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Wallabies braced for 'punch in the face' from South Africa after remarkable comeback
Under no illusions, Australia are bracing for some fierce backlash from South Africa in the two sides' return Rugby Championship stoush in Cape Town. While delighted with his side's resilience and growing belief shown in Saturday's colossal comeback win over the back-to-back world champions in Johannesburg, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is not getting carried away. He believes the Springboks took their foot off the pedal after motoring to a 22-0 lead inside 18 minutes before succumbing to the Wallabies at Ellis Park for the first time since 1963. "I've coached enough teams because I'm really old," the 60-year-old Kiwi said. "I've had teams who got a very, very rapid start. It can sometimes just cause a bit of a lapse in effort and concentration. I think they just gave us a little bit of belief. "As well as [man of the match] Fraser [McReight] did and the other players did, we were probably a little bit lucky because Pieter-Steph [du Toit] at one stage just went to pick and go and he just knocked it on." Schmidt said it was unlikely the Springboks would repeat such mistakes next weekend. "There were a couple of uncharacteristic errors from the Springboks where, I think next week, if they pick and go there, he [du Toit] is such a powerful, athletic man, he will be a handful," he said. "It was probably a mix of us and a little bit of inaccuracy from the Springboks because when they were accurate, you saw that first 20 minutes. "I saw wave after wave and even that very first drive was impressive. "We probably got a little bit lucky, even when Andre [Esterhuizen] went down the left-hand touch a couple of times. "One of the times, [Wallaby] Tom Wright went 70 metres and scored at the other end." Schmidt says the Wallabies cannot expect a repeat of the Springboks' second-half lapse when the two teams meet again next Sunday morning (AEST). "We know that pressure is coming," he said. "I've coached against the Boks with a few other international teams and come out second. "I know whether they're favourites or not, they're a heck of a team." Lock Will Skelton and veteran flyhalf James O'Connor revealed the Wallabies quietly celebrated while also reviewing the epic 38-22 triumph on laptops, knowing full well the Boks would likely respond in ruthless fashion. "A lot of the boys are already onto next week. The boys are reviewing, everyone's clipping stuff," Skelton said. "We know what's going to come. They're going to try and punch you in the face this week. "So we're going to have to have a good week of preparation again and really fight until the end." After playing a lead role in his first Test since 2022, 35-year-old O'Connor said the Wallabies "enjoyed each other's company" but were not getting carried away. "That's the thing about rugby — you're already on to next week. I know my mind went there," he said. "I thought straight away, 'What are they going to be coming with — 6-2 bench, back to basics, bomb squad, aerial contest? "They're going to meet us in the trenches there, so I'm already thinking about what's coming and then just focusing on recovery." With winger Dylan Pietsch (broken jaw), utility back Ben Donaldson (abductor muscle) and prop James Slipper (concussion) all returning home, Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart and Rhys van Nek will fly to South Africa to join the Wallabies. AAP
