Australia vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby Championship result and final score as Springboks beat Wallabies

This is a sustained spell of pressure from South Africa to begin the game in earnest. Australia can only clear to the fringes of their own red area and Malcolm Marx’s maul drill is much better set. Marx hurries away and into Nic White as Australia are penalised.

Matt Philip picked out for an infringement in the final throes of that maul - South Africa head to the corner to see what more damage their drive might cause.

Moodie is up after a Le Roux kick with grander amplitude, but Reece Hodge takes in commanding fashion.

But Jasper Wiese spots a loose ball and is on to it! Off the rhinoceros-like number eight stomps, lowering the horn to make five metres through contact. Cross-kick for Makazole Mapimpi...into touch! Another sharp kick play, and more space apparent, but not quite finding South African hands.

Malcolm Marx finds Lood de Jager in the middle, but Rory Arnold wrecks any thought of a maul, planting his enormous frame right at the centre of the Wallabies’ counter-shove.

South Africa are forced to their backs, but a wayward pull-back pass from Steven Kitshoff sends them retreating out of the 22.

Nearly! Deft clip over the top from Willie le Roux and debutant Canan Moodie is so close to getting on to it, perhaps a sly tug back just as he tries to gather preventing a clean catch of the bouncing ball. An early display of his explosive speed, though.

More productive ruck work from the South Africans, disrupting Nic White, who is being booed by the scattered Sprinboks fans in attendance.

Australia are caught offside in midfield after Willie le Roux takes a high kick. Damian Willemse will kick towards the left corner...South Africa’s lineout just inside the Australian 22.

An early touch for Damian Willemse, boots flashing as he puts on some footwork to evade the first tackler. Jaden Hendrikse’s first box kick is good, contestable about 30 metres upfield, and South Africa counter-ruck and hack further on.

Australia will kick things off. Ben O’Keeffe, of New Zealand, is the referee, with compatriot Brendon Pickerill in the TMO truck.

Nic White has the ball, and there’s the peep of the whistle! Off we go!

The rain looks to be coming down pretty steadily in Sydney, moistening the surface and the tops of the South African squad’s heads. The crowd appears well lubricated, too, falling respectfully silent for the first notes of the South African national anthem. Siya Kolisi looks to the heavens for the final line.

Taniela Tupou clutches the hands of Pete Samu and Rob Leota either side of him as he sings “Advance Australia Fair”. Nic White is in fine voice, moustache bouncing up and down as he enunciates each and every note. The suggestion is that the design of this stadium amplifies the atmosphere.

It’s an ex-Wallaby with the honour of welcoming both sides to Sydney, eight-cap centre Lloyd Walker with a Wallabies scarf around his neck.

Rather louder is the roar from the crowd for the arrival of their Australian heroes, led by James Slipper, settling into that captaincy role with Michael Hooper continuing to take a break from the game.

A mixed reaction to the emergence of the South African side, with a few travelling supporters making themselves known, whooping and hollering and waving flags.