South Africa 22-38 Australia: Rugby Championship Test

The Guardian

18 hours ago

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. South Africa kick-off and the Wallabies just scream up field with slick hands and accurate passing and there Jorgensen is, on the right wing, beating his man and running clear through for a try. How on earth has this happened!? Australia have simply been immense! South Africa are falling apart. O'Connor ignores the boos and slots the conversion from out wide.
12.39pm EDT
12:39
WHAT IS GOING ON!? My word, who saw this coming? This is remarkable. Australia are rampant. Wright wriggled past three tacklers from his own half and just kept going. He had Wilson in support to his right and the skipper was away, holding off challengers with a hand-off before sliding under the poles. O'Connor can't miss from there and Australia are 15 minutes away from a very famous win.
Updated
at 12.47pm EDT
12.37pm EDT
12:37
63 min: The world champions have to dig deep here. They've not had it their own way and haven't scored a point since the 18th minute. Libbok lifts a cross kick which Arendse spills in the air. Australia have another knock-on advantage and are countering…
12.34pm EDT
12:34
60 min: That try is a result of the Boks' growing frustrations. Libbok tried to force the issue. They know they should be well clear and have left plenty of points on the cutting room floor. Full credit to the Wallabies. Other teams would have folded after going 22-0 down in Johannesburg.
Momentum is with them now as South Africa cough up more possession as Mbonambi, on for Marx, chucks a line-out skew so the Wallabies have the scrum on halfway.
12.33pm EDT
12:33
Joseph picks Manie's pocket! The young superstar has plucked an intercept and sprinted clear of the chasing Boks. He had Williams and van der Merwe, two of the quickest South Africans around, cashing him. But he breezed clear. O'Connor slots the conversion and we have a game on! Wow, the Wallabies have shown immense spirit. 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.