Wallabies end win drought as Springboks disappoint

Omnisports

September 10, 2016 7:20 AM

South Africa delivered an underwhelming display in Brisbane and Australia capitalised to claim a much-needed win in the Rugby Championship.

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Australia ended a six-match losing streak and got on the board in this year's Rugby Championship with a hard-fought 23-17 victory over South Africa in Brisbane.

After losing last year's World Cup final to New Zealand, the Wallabies came into Saturday's match still searching for their first win in 2016 - a 3-0 series loss at home to England preceding two emphatic losses to the All Blacks in August.

The pressure on Australia increased as the Springboks opened up an 11-point lead inside the first quarter at Suncorp Stadium, but Michael Cheika's men responded strongly to claim a deserved triumph.

Tries from Adam Coleman - his first international score - and Bernard Foley, who also kicked 13 points, saw the hosts seize the upper hand.

And there was to be no way back for South Africa, who were second-best at the scrum and struggled to generate any momentum as an attacking force following their two early scores.

The Springboks opened the scoring after just three minutes, Warren Whiteley powering over from close range after Australia had been caught short by a break from deep.

Foley responded with a penalty, but things soon got worse for the Wallabies as South Africa added a second try against the run of play, courtesy of a brilliant counter-attack.

Australia looked to have a fine opportunity of their own with numbers wide, but a Foley pass was intercepted by Adriaan Strauss, who then flicked a pass inside for Elton Jantjies. Spotting an abundance of space in behind, Jantjies calmly kicked the ball ahead for Johan Goosen, who was left with a simple pick-up and finish.

South Africa were unable to kick on thereafter. Coleman went over in the left corner following a floated pass from Will Genia, after Australia had twice turned down the chance to kick at goal.

Foley converted and then added his second and third penalties either side of the interval to put his team in front for the first time.

The latter three-pointer came after Eben Etzebeth had been yellow carded for not rolling away, but Australia could not capitalise further - a Samu Kerevi score chalked off by the television match official due to the centre being in touch as he grounded the ball.

Yet with South Africa posing little threat, home pressure was eventually rewarded as Foley dummied between two attempted tacklers for a match-clinching touchdown.

A Morne Steyn penalty got the Boks back within a converted try, but that never looked likely to arrive.

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