Australia v South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as dominant Springboks rout Wallabies
Australia 7-33 South Africa: The world champions showed their superiority at Suncorp Stadium to open their Rugby Championship campaign with a win
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Your support makes all the difference.South Africa showed their strength in a dominant performance as they kicked off the Rugby Championship with a 33-7 win over Australia in Brisbane.
The Wallabies had been three wins from three under new head coach Joe Schmidt, but were comfortably second best at Suncorp Stadium, unable to match the world champions’ set-piece superiority and physical edge. The Springboks were in total control for the entire contest, scoring thrice before half time having won the territorial battle, and adding two more tries after the interval to make totally certain as hot-stepping wing Kurt-Lee Arendse capitalised with a couple of scores.
Australia had their chances in the second half, but will rue their profligacy inside the visitors’ 22, coughing up possession repeatedly in advanced areas. For a young side in rebuilding mode after Schmidt’s appointment, there were signs of encouragement defensively but the hosts’ kicking game and attacking accuracy was short of the standards required to match Rassie Erasmus’ fearsome side.
The pair will meet again in Perth next week with the Springboks seeking just a second Rugby Championship crown since Argentina’s addition to the competition as they look to unseat defending champions New Zealand.
Follow all the latest reaction from Suncorp Stadium below:
New Zealand 10-0 Argentina, 19 minutes
The home side very nearly conjure another spectacular try, Anton Lienert-Brown busting through the line and hurling an ambitious wide pass that Sevu Reece looks favourite to collect. It just catches the breeze, though, forcing Reece to leap to try and take, and the ball spills in a tangle of limbs on the edge of the Argentina 22.
New Zealand 10-0 Argentina, 18 minutes
It hasn’t at all been a bad start from Argentina, either. They’ve looked spunky in attack and solid in defence, but that sort of score is always the danger against the All Blacks.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 10-0 Argentina (Sam Darry, 16 minutes)
An extraordinary coast-to-coast try!
What a remarkable score! Argentina cough up possession on the fringes of New Zealand’s 22, and off the All Blacks go. Damian McKenzie chips, chases and beats a sluggish Thomas Gallo to the bouncing ball, connecting with Beauden Barrett.
There is no-one within 15 metres of the full-back as he advances up the right, but Barrett is so intelligent, dropping boot to ball and kicking some 30 metres infield where three teammates are chasing. Two of them are tight-five forwards, emblematic of the All Blacks’ all-court game, and though a horror bounce kippers Codie Taylor, lock Sam Darry is on hand to mop up and spin to the line. It’s a try, really, that only New Zealand would score - McKenzie converts and the hosts are into their work!
New Zealand 3-0 Argentina, 13 minutes
Lucio Cinti gets his big mitts to TJ Perenara’s attempted box kick, blocking it into touch. Perenara can be vulnerable to charge downs, not perhaps the best technical box kicker.
And again! Argentina are putting the pressure on the scrum half and there is a flick of Argentine fingers en route to the touchline. That will give New Zealand the throw, but Perenara will have to tighten up his technique or sort himself some more protection.
PENALTY! NEW ZEALAND 3-0 Argentina (Damian McKenzie, 12 minutes)
Simple as you like for Damian McKenzie. The All Blacks are first on the board.
New Zealand 0-0 Argentina, 11 minutes
Six penalties in eleven minutes against Argentina, this one for offside. Pablo Matera is called in for a warning as coach Felipe Contepomi fumes in the box, barking down his microphone to get a message on to his side.
The All Blacks will take the opportunity to get the scoring started from the tee.
New Zealand 0-0 Argentina, 10 minutes
This game hasn’t yet settled into any kind of shape. Argentina’s lineout goes awry, a hand on an All Black jumper conceding another penalty. New Zealand don’t fancy the three; to that left corner they return.
New Zealand 0-0 Argentina, 9 minutes
Outstanding maul defence! Juan Martin Gonzalez takes the plaudits, he and the rest of this brilliant, beastly back row splintering the All Blacks drive and isolating Codie Taylor. A penalty to Argentina.
New Zealand 0-0 Argentina, 8 minutes
The All Blacks go on an adventure with advantage, keeping the ball alive even after a couple of missed connections. A corner-flagging Lucio Cinti does very well to get to Sevu Reece and deny him a sprint to the line.
Back for the penalty. To the corner New Zealand go...
New Zealand 0-0 Argentina, 7 minutes
An intervention from TMO Brett Cronan, spotting a tackle from Eduardo Bello on Ardie Savea that is high. The head-to-head contact is minimal, and it will just be a penalty.
Into the Pumas 22 the All Blacks go for the first time.
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