Key events
43 mins: The scrum near halfway is repacked. The second effort ends in another penalty against Australia’s forward pack. One of those Wallabies, Frost, can barely see out of a badly damaged right eye.
41 mins: Lolesio gets the second half under way. Pietsch knocks-on the restart. Plus ca change.
What makes this all so striking is how ambitious South Africa have been. This is not the forward-focussed defensively brilliant version of the Springboks that have visited these shores. This is a version with lineout trick plays, flankers operating as outside centres, crossfield kicks, and a willingness to invite broken field footy and embrace the improvisation of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Arendse. It has been thrilling to watch.
That Australian checklist prematch is not looking good. Breakdown discipline: dreadful. Individual errors: plenty. Impact from the No 10: negative.
Half-time: Australia 0-21 South Africa
That was a chastening half for the Wallabies. The Springboks absolutely monstered them and the scoreline does not flatter the world champions.
40 mins: There’s still some rare momentum with the Wallabies through and an offside penalty is kicked to the 22 on the right. Valetini runs off the back and crashes over the gain line. The phases build but South Africa, with the extra man, regroup. Kolbe hammers Alaalatoa. The phases build, but they’re slow. Australia pick and go repeatedly 10m out in central areas… but there’s a knock-on and the half-time whistle blows.
37 mins: Lolesio with a rare dash. He’s hammered in contact and Australia concede another clear breakdown penalty.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 0-21 South Africa (Arendse, 35)
Another South African scrum rumbles inside 5m. There’s a penalty advantage. Dixon gets fortunate with an offload under pressure that ends in Arendse’s hands. In broken play with gold jerseys looking at each other waiting for someone to take responsibility, the quicksilver winger picks his way through the giant bodies like a cleaner wrasse surrounded by great whites until he’s skipped through the traffic and under the crossbar. This is scintillating from the visitors.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu with two more points.
34 mins: A powerful South African scrum ends with Alaalatoa conceding a penalty.
33 mins: Not for long though. Australia hold their own at the scrum 15m out but Paisami gets caught under the ball with supporting gold jerseys slow to engage and South Africa have another scoring opportunity.
32 mins: Another superb trick play from the lineout with one jumper winning the throw then passing it mid-lift to the other. Kolisi spins off the back and down the near side with a try in the corner on the cards. Australia scramble, then defend superbly at the breakdown, forcing a green knock-on. Huge let-off for the Wallabies.
31 mins: South Africa reject the gimme three points in favour of a kick to the left corner.
YELLOW CARD! Australia (Kellaway, 31)
Hang on. While the TMO was reviewing the footage he spotted a lifting tackle by Kellaway on Reinach. The Australian winger, supported by his fullback, lifts the South African scum-half off his feet, over horizontal, and wasn’t in control of his landing.
That’s a yellow card and 10 minutes in the bin for Kellaway.
30 mins: Brilliant from Feinberg-Mngomezulu with a big floating cutout pass inviting Arendse to cut inside off the left. He’s hauled down 5m short but the Springboks are in motion. Camped under the posts the phases are crisp and the Wallabies are being dragged from right to left like drunken sailors on a listing ship. Another try looks inevitable but Le Roux is tackled before he takes possession and the ball goes to ground. Pearce invites the TMO to review the incident. Is it a penalty, or more? Just a penalty. Lolesio gets away with one.
29 mins: A messy lineout but South Africa build momentum nonetheless thanks to the superb du Toit. Feinberg-Mngomezulu dabs a chip and chase over the defensive line and under the crossbar. Le Roux is desperate to win the race but he can’t ground the ball before it’s fractionally out of play. Australia drop-kick long and the green wave is soon back on golden shores.
27 mins: Australia get a decent look on halfway but Valetini knocks on in contact. This is not going according to plan for the Wallabies. In no time the Springboks are putting the Wallabies under pressure near their own line and the clearing kick only reaches the 22 on the left.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 0-14 South Africa (du Toit, 24)
A messy lineout somehow works Australia’s way but they can’t build from the scrappy afters with combinations on different wavelengths. The Wallabies kick possession away so the visitors get into some multiphase play. South Africa are using the second runner superbly, drawing in tacklers and finding space on the outside like State of Origin rugby league. Kolisi takes a tackle on the right wing 10m from the line. This is superb attacking rugby. Sixth, seventh, eighth phase quick ball and it’s just a question of whcih green jersey runs through the fractured defensive line – and the answer is du Toit!
Feinberg-Mngomezulu doesn’t make great contact but still slots his second conversion of the day.
23 mins: On the 22 South Africa win another easy lineout throw but instead of opening to the right they go down the blindside only to run into a blind alley where Gordon wins turnover ball. A series of kicks ends with an Australia throw on their own 22.
21 mins: Australia with the scrum feed on their own 5m line. South Africa inch forward after engagement but Gordon does well and Kellaway clears. The Springbok forwards are living up to their billing.
19 mins: Du Toit with another lineout grab that looks like the BFG picking an apple off a tree. But again South Africa attempt a crossfield kick to advance downfield. Daugunu deals with the aerial threat and Australia can work through some phases on halfway. It’s slow ball though and the box kick is an inevitability. The Wallabies work hard at the breakdown but can’t force the turnover. They do force the Springboks to box kick through, after which there’s errors on both sides creating broken play.
With the field spread Feinberg-Mngomezulu shimmys his way through the middle of Suncorp Stadium ready to set up an inevitable try. Le Roux is in support with runners on his outside – but he cuts inside! Kellaway nails a superb tackle and the two overlapping South African backs cannot believe it. The attack continues as scruffy phases shift from right to left with Australia scrambling. Each breakdown threatens a score but eventually the desperate flick out to the left goes forward and the home side escape.
17 mins: Australia try to get to work deep in their own half but de Allende smashes the golden ball carrier on the short side to stall any momentum. The clearing kick to halfway is gathered easily but the crossfield attacking kick is well contested by Kellaway. A further kicking exchange ends with Wright making good distance to invite South Africa to throw a lineout 10m inside their own half.
15 mins: Australia get a penalty that allows them to clear to halfway. The lineout sets up decent field position but Gordon lobs up an awful kick that offers nothing to his runners and allows an easy defensive mark. South Africa clear then steal the Australian lineout.
14 mins: South Africa attack off the back of a lineout on the right touchline, spreading play to the left. The move breaks down and a turnover is on but Kolbe does magnificently to wriggle free and flick pass out to the right but the rampaging du Toit is bundled into touch by Valetini.
12 mins: South Africa are forced into a couple of slow defensive phases after good pressure from Paisami. The Springboks are patient and then Etzebeth turns defence into attack when he plucks a contested mark out of the air on halfway from a clearing box kick. The ball goes aerial again and there’s a massive collision between the two halfbacks in green and Daugunu in gold. There’s a brief pause for Reinach to receive some treatment.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 0-7 South Africa (Kolisi, 10)
Textbook from the fearsome South African forwards. Etzebeth wins the lineout, but then he throws it to another jumper! The maul forms around Mbonambi, allowing Kolisi to shear off to the blindside, the left, and spin around and over in the corner.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s second kick of the game is much better than his first and the visitors take an early lead.
9 mins: The lineout becomes a tight green maul and there’s immediately a penalty advantage against Wilson. South Africa kick to the left corner. This is ominmous from the Springboks.
8 mins: Another breakdown penalty to South Africa, this time against Alaalatoa on halfway. Already these errors are racking up for the Wallabies. The Springboks kick into the 22 on the left.
Penalty Miss! (South Africa)
Feinberg-Mngomezulu with an absolute shocker from 30m out just to the right of the posts, dragging his effort horribly low and wide.
6 mins: The kick to halfway on the left leads to a safe lineout win but nothing unfolds off the back. An old fashioned kicking exchange ends South Africa’s way with Lolesio making a mess of a Garryowen that doesn’t get any distance. With momentum, Etzebeth makes good ground until Wilson hauls him down, but Pearce spots an infringement on the deck and the visitors have a kickable penalty.
5 mins: The kick to the 22 on the left sets up South Africa to attack. The lineout is solid but as the Springbok forwards get to work infield the Australian defence is fast and true and after a few one-out drives the Wallabies force a breakdown penalty.
4 mins: The scrum, 10m in Australia’s half, results in a penalty advantage to the Springboks. A trick play has winger Cheslin Kolbe feeding the scrum and play unfolding dangerously on the right. A crossfield kick is contested in the air and Le Roux tries to chip and chase ahead from the crumbs, but play is recalled to the advantage.
2 mins: Australia secure the kick-off but Gordon is forced to box kick early after two slow phases. Le Roux marks superbly but he’s tackled fiercely, denying South Africa quick ball. Further proactive defending stymies the Springboks down the short side, the left, and we have an early scrum.
Kick-off!
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gets the 2024 Rugby Championship under way…
The prematch formalities have been taken care of, again demonstrating the size of the visiting contingent, who joined in the South African anthem with gusto and ended it with a sizeable cheer.
And out the two sides run. Plenty of cheers for both sets of players with a significant South African contingent in the stands.
Siya Kolisi is leading his team in song as they line up in the tunnel waiting to walk out. He is a superhuman sportsman.
Australia will be wearing gold jerseys and green shorts today. South Africa green jerseys and white shorts.
Much has been made about Australia’s record at Suncorp Stadium. Since the turn of the millennium they have faced South Africa in Brisbane eight times, winning on seven occasions, most recently in 2021. The Springboks haven’t tasted victory over the Wallabies in Queensland since 2013.
It’s mild and dry in Brisbane this afternoon with a southerly breeze that shouldn’t be too much of a factor.
Australia will be hoping the full house at the atmospheric Suncorp Stadium provides a 16th man.
Englishman Luke Pearce has the whistle. He was in charge three years ago when Quade Cooper kicked the Wallabies to victory over the Springboks just down the road at Gold Coast’s Robina Stadium.
South Africa XV
In contrast to the inexperienced Australian 23 and the experimental Schmidt, Rassie Erasmus has a squad full of match-winning prowess. 20 of the 23 named earlier this week were involved in the recent titanic double-header against Ireland with debutant Elrigh Louw, and the returning Cobus Reinach and Ben-Jason Dixon coming into the fold.
But around an hour before kick-off it was revealed that RG Snyman had been forced out with a foot niggle. In the reshuffle, Pieter-Steph du Toit moves from the back to the middle row, Dixon moves off the bench to No 7, and Salmaan Moerat enters the matchday squad.
As always, the Springbok pack is fearsome (Malcolm Marx on the bench for crying out loud!) but all eyes will be on the halfbacks with Reinach deputising for the injured Faf de Klerk, who is nursing a niggle, alongside debutant five-eighth Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. If that partnership fails, Erasmus has Handre Pollard among the replacements.
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handré Pollard
Australia XV
The Australian line-up is as much about who isn’t there, as who is. Gun winger Marika Koroibete isn’t included after joining the squad from Japan, with Schmidt explaining: “Marika wasn’t quite ready. This week was about orientating him and getting him back up to speed. I think Marika will be available beyond this week, but this week was a little bit too soon.”
Also absent is Taniela Tupou with the prop withdrawing following the death of his father. There’s another new halfback pairing, and increasingly influential backrower Fraser McReight misses out with a thumb injury.
There are five changes in total to the starting XV. In the pack, Matt Faessler returns at hooker, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto returns to the second-row, and Carlo Tizzano will make his Test debut, in place of McReight.
In the backs, Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio will partner in the halves with Tate McDermott dropping to the bench and Ben Donaldson missing out entirely.
Only three starters have played more than 29 Tests, while six of the eight replacements have six-caps or fewer, a list including debutant Luke Reimer. This is a very green and gold Test outfit.
1. Isaac Kailea, 2. Matt Faessler, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Nick Frost, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Carlo Tizzano, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. James Slipper, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch
The step up in class for the Wallabies today is enormous. Wales and Georgia were sparring partners, South Africa are the heavyweight champions of the world.
Daniel Gallan observed progress following Australia’s most recent victory over Georgia.
But three wins out of three matches is something that Schmidt can hang his hat on. And for a man who has built a reputation on forging identities, on implementing cohesive plans and creating structure out of chaos, he’ll point to a team that served up some entertaining afternoon footy and is trending in the right direction.
An optimistic Angus Fontaine sets the scene.
The Wallabies are on the up. They have won four straight, the longest winning streak of any nation in the IRB top 10, and are unbeaten under new coach Joe Schmidt, with a 3-0 record this season. A winning start to 2024 was essential after the Eddie Jones-engineered mess of 2023 and Schmidt has delivered, defeating Wales and Georgia to instil vital confidence.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v South Africa in round one of the 2024 Rugby Championship. Kick-off at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane is 2.45pm (AEST).
After a hat-trick of morale boosting victories to begin the Joe Schmidt era, the Wallabies face a reality check.
Are Australia still on a downward trajectory or is the only way up following the Eddie Jones debacle?
Is a world ranking of nine (closer in ranking points to 19th placed USA than the top-rated Springboks) an accurate reflection of the current group, or a nasty hangover?
Does home advantage still count at Fortress Suncorp, or has the gap between South Africa, the two-time defending World Cup holders, and also-rans Australia, widened to such an extent that it no longer matters?
It will be a revealing afternoon.
For now, Schmidt has done all that has been asked of him – knocking over a poor Wales and avoiding calamity against Georgia.
But irrespective of their opponents there remain familiar failings in gold, not limited to the influence of the No 10, discipline at the breakdown, and untimely unforced errors. Advancement in those areas would count as progress today, even in defeat. The bigger picture for Australian rugby is 2025 and beyond, the hard work preparing for a golden future begins in Brisbane.
If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
