Schmidt hails courageous Australia after famous win over S Africa
It ended a 62-year wait for Australia to claim victory at the Springboks' spiritual home, one that had looked unlikely following an excellent first quarter from the home side in their Rugby Championship opener.
Schmidt admitted the first 20 minutes "was not good for the heart", but Australia then took control of the game for a win that will rank among their best in test rugby.
"At 22-0 down after the first quarter, there was real courage again from the players," Schmidt told SuperSport. "We were forced to play catch-up and take a few risks, and there were a few lucky bounces for us, so we are not going to get too carried away.
"But at the same time I am incredibly proud of the group. I am realistic about getting a little bit of luck, but delighted we came back. 1963 was a long time ago, to the players are delighted."
Australia took the lead around the hour-mark, but that is usually when the Springboks come into their own with their powerful replacement forwards off the bench.
But the buoyant visitors kept coming and Schmidt saw no repeat of a previous loss to the Springboks in similar circumstances.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots
Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23
Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing
Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok
Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA
Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite
Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students
Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want
"This win is right up there, I came here with an Irish team and I think we were 26-10 up with 20 minutes to go and got steamrolled and beaten," he said. "So to get what we did tonight at Ellis Park is testament to the character of the group."
Australia will be sweating over two players who left the field injured ahead of another Rugby Championship clash with the Springboks in Cape Town next Saturday.
Dylan Pietsch injured his jaw and captain Harry Wilson, who scored two tries, pulled up lame as the number eight crossed for his second score. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Australia's Slipper, Pietsch out of second test against Springboks
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox JOHANNESBURG - Australia are counting the cost of their epic 38-22 Rugby Championship victory over South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday after wing Dylan Pietsch and experienced prop James Slipper were ruled out of Saturday's second test in Cape Town. Australia rallied from 22 points down to win in Johannesburg for the first time since 1963 in a scintillating second half display that rocked the world champions. Pietsch broke his jaw in the first half and Slipper failed a concussion test after the match. Both will return to Australia, along with flyhalf Ben Donaldson (abductor strain), who was injured in training ahead of the game. Wing Filipo Daugunu, prop Rhys van Nek and centre Hamish Stewart will link up with the squad this week ahead of the clash in Cape Town. Australia are also sweating on the fitness of captain Harry Wilson, who pulled up lame after scoring the second of two tries at Ellis Park. REUTERS
CNA
6 hours ago
- CNA
Australia's Slipper, Pietsch out of second test against Springboks
JOHANNESBURG :Australia are counting the cost of their epic 38-22 Rugby Championship victory over South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday after wing Dylan Pietsch and experienced prop James Slipper were ruled out of Saturday's second test in Cape Town. Australia rallied from 22 points down to win in Johannesburg for the first time since 1963 in a scintillating second half display that rocked the world champions. Pietsch broke his jaw in the first half and Slipper failed a concussion test after the match. Both will return to Australia, along with flyhalf Ben Donaldson (abductor strain), who was injured in training ahead of the game. Wing Filipo Daugunu, prop Rhys van Nek and centre Hamish Stewart will link up with the squad this week ahead of the clash in Cape Town.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Furious Erasmus hints at change in plans for second test against Australia
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox JOHANNESBURG - Rassie Erasmus pulled no punches as he laid into his South Africa side following their second half capitulation in the stunning 38-22 loss to Australia in their Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday. The Springboks were cruising as they led 22-0 inside the first quarter, but while Australia grew into the game and began to win the individual contests, the home side wilted in the second half as the visitors scored 38 unanswered points. "I can try to butter it up and bottle it up to sound cool and respectful. The effort was maybe there but the accuracy or precision wasn't," Erasmus told reporters. "It was a bad loss in a bad way. Not against a bad team, we just didn't have fight right until the end, and that's not what we want to give South Africa. "There was a stage where I felt our heads were dropping and shoulders were slumping, and that was part of the disappointment." Australia dominated at the breakdown, an area that has troubled the Springboks this season as they try to move to a more expansive, running style of play, which makes for a looser contest on the floor. "We didn't scrum them and they beat us in the lineouts," Erasmus said. "In the first 25 minutes, I thought we were really good in the breakdown. After that, when Siya (Kolisi) got injured and Marco (van Staden) went for a (head-injury assessment), it slipped away. "They beat us in most departments. We as coaches got it terribly wrong and we must look firstly at ourselves." The two teams meet again in Cape Town on Saturday and Erasmus, who has already announced his side for the match to the players, says there may be a rethink. "We know from now until next Saturday we are going to take a lot of flak. We take the credit when we do well, now we must take the flak when we do badly. "We already picked next week's that will probably change. "We'll have to rethink it. They tactically outsmarted us and physically dominated us." REUTERS
