Boks put on the burners to deck Aussies

By BEN JAYCOCK

Australia………………………. 12pts

Penalties: Lolesio 3, 21, 36, 47

South Africa …………………30pts

Tries: Fassi 17, van Staden 43, Marx 63, 73

Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 44, Pollard 74

Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 16, 26

SOUTH Africa's star studded second team maintained their title charge with a bonus point win over an improved Australia.

Despite the Springboks winning three of the last five World Cups, they have struggled away in Australia for the past 50 years and will be relieved to shake off their hoodoo down under by winning back-to-back Tests on Aussie soil for the first time since 1971.

Aphelele Fassi and Marco van Staden both scored tries and Malcolm Marx crossed twice in the second half as a much-changed Springboks side backed up their far more convincing victory over the Wallabies last Saturday.

Australia fared better in the physical contest than they had in Brisbane a week ago but rarely threatened the Springbok try line and had to settle for four penalties from the boot of fly-half Noah Lolesio.

Having been blitzed in a five-try onslaught last weekend, Joe Schmidt's side responded with an encouraging display in front of a soaked Optus Stadium that held the biggest crowd against the Springboks on Australian soil since 2006.

Despite running out of gas, it was an improvement from the Wallabies, who played with a harder edge after their physicality had been questioned. They made five changes, with powerful winger Marika Koroibete proving an inspired inclusion in his first Test since last year's World Cup.

But Australia's record slipped to 3-2 under new coach Joe Schmidt, who had given his team a dressing down after the first Test defeat.

Australia should have gone into half-time ahead if it wasn't for Lolesio blundering a routine three points but were in the contest trailing just 11-9.

South Africa had made 10 changes as head coach Rassie Erasmus looked to give his fringe players game time, with a number of their World Cup winning starting XV ageing.

Morne van den Berg made an outstanding audition at scrum-half meaning even superstar Faf de Klerk may struggle for a look in, illustrating their embarrassment of riches at nine, but in the forwards Erasmus had to rely on star men Eben Etzebeth and Marx to come off the bench to wrestle back momentum with fierce displays after a shaky start by the pack.

The Springboks were last Rugby Championship winners on the eve of their 2019 World Cup triumph with New Zealand dominating the tournament ever since but the tournament favourites will be chuffed with their work so far as they head for a bye week to prepare for their back-to-back home Tests against the All Blacks.

In the build up to the match, rain poured non stop making the ball incredibly greasy and as a result both sides were guilty of handling errors as neither team was comfortable claiming the ball in either the air or on the ground, which had noticeable damp spots.

Australia took the lead with a Lolesio penalty and kept their noses in front after Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu spilled the ball after a Cheslin Kolbe break, and the usually potent Makazole Mapimpi could not keep hold of possession when flying down the wing for what looked to be a score.

Lolesio was shaky kicking from hand with his error setting the platform for a Springbok attack off a lineout but South Africa's set-piece was not firing early on, unusually conceding scrum free kicks and penalties, while the lineout wasn't clicking either with Australia enforcer Lukhan Salakai-Loto being a nuisance.

But similar to last weekend, Australia could only keep out the number one ranked side in the world for so long as the Springboks performed a superb counter attack in transition. Quick hands to the outside off a turnover led to Mapimpi's delightfully weighted grubber kick for the electric Aphelele Fassi to touch down.

Former Ealing Trail-finders back row Carlo Tizzano, now of the Waratahs, was getting in amongst it with big hits as South Africa settled for two Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalties to offset Lolesio's nine-point first-half haul.

The Boks started best in the second half. They forced an attacking line-out and from the driving maul, van Staden emerged with the ball and a second Test try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted and the Boks were 18-9 up, but a fourth penalty by Lolesio kept the hosts in range.

South Africa restored their lineout efficiency thanks largely to experienced substitute hooker Marx, who alongside Etzebeth set the tone in their physicality.

Erasmus cleared his bench which worked in the Boks' favour as the likes of Kwagga Smith and Handre Pollard added some nifty touches.

Max Jorgensen, son of former Wallaby Peter, was a bright spark for Australia off the bench, making a scintillating 40m break that deserved more.

However, ill discipline cost the inexperienced Wallabies with consecutive penalties killing any of their momentum in the second half.

After the previous maul was pulled down by Australia, which resulted in a yellow card for Wallaby debutant Sere Uru, the hosts had no answer for the second effort and Marx was driven over. Pollard converted and the Boks led 30-12 with six minutes left.

Late in the match, South Africa had a final chance as a Pollard crosskick found Pieter-Steph du Toit on the touchline, but as the big flanker was tackled, his pop pass to Jesse Kriel somehow went to ground as the centre endured white line fever and another opportunity was missed.

Overall the Boks did what was needed in a scrappy Test to bring the Mandela Challenge Plate back to South Africa.

Australia will look for their first win of the competition when they visit Argentina in a fortnight.