Rugby-Australia's Slipper, Pietsch out of second test against Springboks
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -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.
(Reporting by Nick SaidEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Australia's Slipper, Pietsch out of second test against Springboks
Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - South Africa v Australia - Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa - August 16, 2025 Australia's Dylan Pietsch scores their first try REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -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. (Reporting by Nick SaidEditing by Christian Radnedge)
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Furious Erasmus hints at change in plans for second test against Australia
Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - South Africa v Australia - Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa - August 16, 2025 South Africa players look dejected after the match REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -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." (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
All Blacks reclaim top rugby ranking with 41-24 win over Argentina
NEW ZEALAND secured a dominant 41-24 victory over Argentina in the Rugby Championship on Saturday. The All Blacks reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings for the first time since 2021. Samisoni Taukei'aho scored two late tries to seal the win for the visitors. New Zealand led 31-10 at halftime but faced a spirited second-half fightback from the Pumas. The All Blacks scored six tries to Argentina's three in a high-scoring encounter. Winger Sevu Reece contributed with a double, while Beauden Barrett added 11 points with the boot. Argentina's Tomas Albornoz managed 14 points, including a try, but it wasn't enough. The Pumas remain winless at home against New Zealand, extending their streak to 15 matches. All Blacks captain Scott Barrett acknowledged his team's patchy performance despite the win. 'We started well and finished strong, but the second half was slower,' Barrett said. Discipline lapses allowed Argentina to rally, energising the home crowd. Reece opened the scoring after an early Barrett penalty before Rodrigo Isgro replied for Argentina. A yellow card for Pumas prop Mayco Vivas proved costly as New Zealand exploited their numerical advantage. Will Jordan set up Cortez Ratima for a brilliant try, extending the lead to 17-7. Ardie Savea and Reece added further tries before halftime, putting New Zealand in control. Albornoz sparked Argentina's second-half resurgence with a powerful solo try. A yellow card for Billy Proctor saw the Pumas close within seven points through Joaquin Oviedo. Taukei'aho's late double dashed Argentina's hopes, securing the win for New Zealand. The teams will meet again next week in Buenos Aires. - AFP
