South Africa vs Australia LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as Springboks thrash Wallabies
Australia seek a first win at Loftus Versfeld as Eddie Jones begins his second stint in charge of the Wallabies
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.South Africa put Australia to the sword as Eddie Jones’s second stint in charge of the Wallabies got off to a disastrous start.
Kurt-Lee Arendse’s hat-trick powered the Springboks to a seven-try 43-12 victory in Pretoria as the hosts flexed their strength.
Jacques Nienaber had named a side short of several regular first-choice stars for the Rugby Championship opener, but it mattered not as Australia were blown away.
Showing early attacking ambition and then taking full control with their power game, South Africa produced a statement performance in their first fixture of this World Cup year.
Australia twice had players sent to the sin bin after conceding penalty tries, Dave Porecki shown a yellow card after hauling down a ball before Suliasi Vunivalu’s deliberate knock on denied Arendse a walk-in fourth score.
It leaves Jones with plenty of thinking to do as Australia prepare to host Argentina in Sydney next weekend.
Argentina welcome New Zealand to Mendoza later on Saturday in round one’s other fixture.
Follow all the live updates from the Rugby Championship below:
Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 1 minute
Charged down! Have Argentina scored straight away? The TMO will have a look...
No try! Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 1 minute
Damian McKenzie, you lucky boy. The All Blacks fly-half slams his attempted clearance straight into Pablo Matera’s raised arms, and both Matera and Matias Moroni lunge after it ready to ground. McKenzie just, and I mean just, gets his hand to it first.
A real fright first up for New Zealand, though.
Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 2 minutes
Caleb Clarke takes a high kick nicely as New Zealnad regain possession on their own ten-metre. Ardie Savea delivers a punching carry up the right but Ethan de Groot is deposited on his derriere, the prop upright in the carry and perpendicular soon after.
Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 3 minutes
And there’s an early error from the Barrett brothers, Beauden looking to bring Jordie back on his inside as the full-back arcs towards the left touchline, but the ball hits the deck.
Knock-on, Argentina feed, 40 out from the New Zealand line. Gonzalo Bertranou to put the ball in on his 50th cap.
Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 4 minutes
Not the best attacking idea from Argentina, rushing to a marked blindside and then lifting an aimless chip ahead. Damian McKenzie is back to gather and claim a mark.
And Scott Barrett then pinches Argentina’s lineout.
TRY! Argentina 0-5 NEW ZEALAND (Dane Coles try, 6 minutes)
New Zealand strike early!
That’s what the All Blacks can do. They spread it after Scott Barrett’s steal, Damian McKenzie getting it out into Rieko Ioane’s hands. The centre blazes a trail with his sprinter’s speed, picking on a forward caught wider than he’d like.
Ioane connects with Emoni Narawa, the wing keeping the momentum going with a nifty weave inside. Shannon Frizell pops for Scott Barrett at the line, and the lock frees the arms to tee up Dane Coles for the score.
Argentina 0-5 New Zealand, 7 minutes
Almost another breakaway score! A high hoist is not particularly well handled by the Argentina backfield, allowing Emoni Narawa to scoop up and put his foot down.
Argentina are penalised on the defensive scramble; New Zealand prod into the right corner.
TRY! Argentina 0-10 NEW ZEALAND (Ardie Savea try, 9 minutes)
Ardie Savea squeezes over!
Yep, the All Blacks are on it. They draw penalty advantage with a maul drive and then play away, keeping things tight and tidy as the forwards do the damage around the corner. Sam Cane’s nifty inside pop leaves Scott Barrett only inches short and Savea burrows effectively from there.
Two bad misses off the tee from Damian McKenzie, but New Zealand are up and running.
TRY! Argentina 0-17 NEW ZEALAND (Jordie Barrett try, 12 minutes)
A Barrett brothers beauty!
What a start from New Zealand! They are prepared to play, enjoying a flat, fast track and beginning to accelerate up into top gear. Aaron Smith gets a call from his blindside with Argentina narrowing up and over-folding, the scrum-half’s typically sharp pass allowing Jordie Barrett to rush on and capitalise.
Barrett the younger flicks to elder brother Beauden, who evades a chaser and scuttles up the touchline. Draw, pass, gallop - Jordie Barrett is over for the All Blacks’ third inside 12 minutes.
Damian McKenzie finally finds his range.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments