Bob Simpson dead at 89: Cricket legend who captained and coached Australia passes away as tributes flood in
The former Baggy Greens skipper's passing, the cause of which is currently unknown, was announced early on Saturday morning.
The late Simpson was a pillar of Aussie cricket and, as such, received a slew of tributes from across the world.
A heartbreaking statement from Cricket Australia read: "RIP to a true cricket legend.
"A Test cricketer, captain, coach and national selector - Bob Simpson was a mighty figure in Australian cricket, giving everything to our game.
"Cricket Australia extends our thoughts and sympathies to Bob 's family and friends."
Steve Waugh said in a heartfelt tribute: "No one gave more to Australian cricket than Bob Simpson - coach, player, commentator, writer, selector, mentor and journalist.
"He was quite simply the best cricket coach with an unparalleled knowledge of the game, together with an insatiable appetite for learning and imparting his wisdom.
"He made me a better player and he made Australian cricket great. RIP Simmo."
Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, also paid tribute to the late Simpson: "Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations.
"As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest of standards for himself and the champions he led.
"He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace."
Cricket Australia Chairman Mark Baird said: "Bob Simpson was one of the greats of Australian cricket and this is a sad day for anyone fortunate to have watched him play or who benefited from his wisdom.
'As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach.
'Bob's decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series Cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket.
'On behalf of Cricket Australia, I would like to express my warmest condolences to Bob's family, friends, teammates and all those touched by his vast contribution to cricket.'
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Update: Date: 2025-08-16T17:24:52.000Z Title: I'm sorry folks. I can't find any reaction from the players or coaches. Content: A Harry Wilson double inspires an Australian comeback with 38 unanswered points from 0-22 down to win in Johannesburg for the first time since 1963 . Daniel Gallan Sat 16 Aug 2025 13.19 EDT First published on Sat 16 Aug 2025 10.20 EDT 1.19pm EDT 13:19 Daniel Gallan Maybe that'll be a relief to Springboks fans. Those in the ground looked shell shocked. They saw their team take a 22-0 lead on 18 minutes and, like me, must have expected a romp. They got one alright, just not the sort that was promised on the tin. Australia were brilliant. Totally and utterly brilliant. They deserve to celebrate long into the night having secure victory in Johannesburg for the first time in the professional era. Where do the Boks go from here? We'll find out next week if they've righted the many wrongs as the two teams once again square up in Cape Town. I'll be there to call it live. Hope you'll join me. Here's the match report from the wire. Keep an eye out for some analysis from yours truly. See you next week! 1.10pm EDT 13:10 The live feed from Sky has just cut out. I'll try get some reaction quotes from the players elsewhere before I close shop. If you've got any thoughts on this stunning upset I'd love to read them. 1.07pm EDT 13:07 HenryC has written in adding to the theme: 'Thanks to the Boks for putting the Lions victory in perspective!!' 1.02pm EDT 13:02 'Maybe puts the Lions' achievements into perspective!' That's a to-the-point email from Iain Moore. 12.55pm EDT 12:55 Australia have done it! Totally deserve this. They kept South Africa scoreless for more than an hour and absolutely hammered them. Six tries to three. Complete dominance at the breakdown, some blistering scores, resolute defence, just brilliant. Well done Australia. 12.54pm EDT 12:54 80 min: The Springboks fans are utterly stunned. I don't think one of them saw this coming. Not in their darkest nightmares…. 12.53pm EDT 12:53 79 min: One last chance for more? The Wallabies have the line-out within touching distance after another penalty call goes their way. They set the maul then go through the hands. McDermott snipes. Five out… 12.50pm EDT 12:50 GAME OVER! The fans are shocked! Stunned silence at Ellis Park as Wright counters after an Esterhuizen fumble in Australia's half. The fullback runs upfield, easily beats Willemse's weak tackle and slides over. Unbelieveble. O'Connor slams home the conversion from the right tram. This is a hiding for the world champions on their own patch. 12.48pm EDT 12:48 75 min: Frost plucks the line-out and Gleeson, on off the pine, canters upfield. 12.46pm EDT 12:46 73 min: McReight has won yet another penalty on the ground inside his 22. That is the game. That is why Australia are going to win in Johannesburg for the first time since 1963. Unbelievable effort from the Wallabies. 12.45pm EDT 12:45 71 min: Australia steal another line-out. We knew they'd be a handful at the breakdown but did we foresee their presence at the set piece? They fully deserve their lead. South Africa are now back on halfway. Reinach kicks. Moodie wins it but there's a South African knock-on. Wright kicks it but it goes straight out so South Africa have a line-out just beyond Australia's 22. They have to score from here or it'll be game over. 12.43pm EDT 12:43 70 min: Australia win the ball, yet again, inside their own 22. This followed a Reinach burst around the fringe. They now have an 11 point lead and have 11 minutes to defend it. 12.42pm EDT 12:42 68 min: The camera cuts to Erasmus and he looks utterly shocked. His team need to pull this out of the fire and they need to do it quick fast. 12.40pm EDT 12:40 NO WAY!!! I cannot believe what I'm seeing. 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They are growing in this and you wouldn't bet against them from here. Anyone have a baker who serves humble pie? I might have to put an order in. 12.31pm EDT 12:31 56 min: Again slick handling and passing, as well as strong carries through the phases, take South Africa to within touching distance of the Australian try line. Again they leave empty handed. This time it's a knock-on from Williams as he cantered upfield to offer support for Willemse and van der Merwe. Earlier du Toit showed great work in the left tram with Mostert also carrying well. But close is not good enough. Australia are still in this. 12.27pm EDT 12:27 54 min: What a let off for South Africa. The Aussies have their line-out pinched. The Springboks go down the line and get the ball to Willemse, on the field, but the pass is wayward so Australia have a line-out. The Wallabies can't keep it tidy themselves and knock on soon after. It all ends with the Boks having the scrum feed about 10 metres inside their own half. 12.25pm EDT 12:25 52 min: Jorgense plucks a bouncing ball from a kick ahead and he's tearing upfield! Now Australia have a penalty advantage. They're going through the hands as the ball spirals from left to right. They're swarming forward until the move is stifled by van Staden who is pinged for being off-side. All Australia now. Can they get the ball bacl down the left. They can, but the pass to Jorgensen isn't accurate and Arendse catches it. No matter, they have the penalty which is nudged to the corner. O'Keefe gives a team warning. One more indiscretion and he'll bring out the yellow card. 12.23pm EDT 12:23 50 min: Another penalty on the ground for Australia! Hooper with the steal about two metres from his own line. That is massive. First the Wallabies line-out maul held firm which forced Williams to go down the line. Marx and Etzebeth had charges but couldn't make the ground before Hooper swooped in to nick the ball on the deck. Wonderful from the Aussies who have held on in this fight. 12.21pm EDT 12:21 49 min: Water is wet. South Africa win a scrum penalty. Libbok nudges it to the corner. But we'll wait while Ikitau receives treatment for a 'serious injury,' as O'Keefe calls it. 12.20pm EDT 12:20 47 min: Wright almost plucks a worldie grab that would have seen him score upfield! Libbok unfurled a cross-kick, looking for van der Merwe on the right wing, but Wright beat the Bok winger to the ball and almost held on inside his own 22. If he had, my money was him going the distance. As it is we'll have a South African scrum all the way on the right inside Australia's patch. 12.18pm EDT 12:18 47 min: White hoofs a box kick after the Aussie scrum held firm. White is having a great game. 12.17pm EDT 12:17 45 min: Pieter-Steph du Toit knocks on at the base of a ruck about five metres short of the Wallabies line! That was really good from the Boks before then. Williams and Libbok sniped through gaps around the fringe. Du Toit had the ball in the left tram and made good ground. They kept coming and Williams was fizzing passes, but when du Toit came in to keep the move alive and possible go for a dart himself, he spilled it. Australia scrum with Wilson's heels touching his own line. 12.15pm EDT 12:15 What a line from the skipper! Excellent from Wilson who hit the line to perfection, collecting Bell's short pass that totally flummoxed the Boks defence. Earlier Bell, on at half-time, muscled Marx with a strong carry to give the Wallabies go forward after the line-out. O'Connor hits the conversion and we have a game on. Can Australia continue to boss the breakdown and cause trouble at the line-out? 12.13pm EDT 12:13 42 min: I asked how the Wallabies can get a way back into this and we've just seen the roadmap. South Africa lose another line-out – their fourth of the game – and give away a penalty on the ground having lost the ball in the air. Add all three of those variables together and you have Australia with a line-out in the Boks 22. They have to make this count. 12.11pm EDT 12:11 And we're back! 12.09pm EDT 12:09 I'm not sure how the Wallabies get back in this. They've won the breakdown battle but they've not managed to dominate the gainline either with their carries or through finding an edge. The Boks look more imposing either side of the ball. Perhaps the introduction of Gleeson and a switch to a higher tempo might help? But then where does the punch in the tight channels come from? Skelton hasn't been as imposing as he was against the Lions. Different gravy against South African meat. 11.58am EDT 11:58 The ball is spilled in the line-out and White kicks it out. That brings an end to a one-sided half that looked like being a lot worse for the Wallabies when Kolisi scored his team's third try after just 18 minutes. The Springboks were imperious before the Wallabies fought back and bagged a try of their own. The tourists have a mountain to climb, but thanks to swift work at the breakdown and some fight in patches, they can at least see the summit. Back in a bit. 11.56am EDT 11:56 40 min: South Africa's pack consumes the Wallabies in the scrum. They get the advantage and spiral the ball down the line. Fassi joins from fullback and stands up a tackler before off-loading. He can't stitch the move together. Kriel mops up and straightens the attack but it goes nowhere. They come back for the penalty which Libbok nudges a little closer to the corner. 11.55am EDT 11:55 38 min: Frost nips in and wins a South African throw. O'Connor then gathers and launches a monster kick. It bounces. And keeps bouncing. And keeps bouncing until it goes out of play at the far end of the pitch. That's so unlucky because it means South Africa will get the scrum from where O'Connor kicked it, which is just beyond the Aussie 22 with a short blind on the right.
