Wallabies stun the Springboks

Australia came out on top against South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday evening, beating the hosts 22-38 after a scintillating second-half comeback.

This was the first time in fourteen years that the Wallabies had beaten the Springboks on home turf, and it also ended South Africa’s four-game win streak against them.

South Africa got off to a fiery start, scoring their first try in the second minute through winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, which Manie Libbok converted. 

It was only a matter of minutes before Libbok converted a penalty, followed by Andre Esterhuizen scoring his first try in green and gold.

The Springboks continued to apply pressure, with captain Siya Kolisi scoring another in the 18th minute, which Libbok converted, bringing the score to 22-0 after he had missed the previous conversion.

However, the Aussies were soon able to slow down South Africa’s momentum, scoring a try through winger Dylan Pietsch in the 29th minute, which was not converted.

While the Springboks looked eager to sneak in another score before the half-time whistle, Australia kept them at bay until referee Ben O’Keefe blew his whistle to mark the end of the first 40 minutes.

It only took three minutes after the Boks kicked off the second half for Wallaby skipper Harry Wilson to cross the try line and give his team a glimmer of hope at catching the Springboks at 22-12.

That glimmer proved more than enough, with 22-year-old Joseph Sua’ali’i scoring Australia’s third fifteen minutes later, which brought them within a single score of South Africa after the try was converted.

In less than ten minutes, the Wallabies had scored another two through Wilson and 20-year-old Max Jorgensen, bringing their tally up to 33.

The Aussies weren’t done there, with fullback Tom Wright scoring the final try of the evening and marking his team’s first win at Ellis Park since the 1960s.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi called his team’s performance “unacceptable,” admitting they had “let themselves down today.”

Speaking to Supersport after the match, Kolisi credited Australia for never giving up but said the Boks would “have to go and fight next week” in the second Test in Cape Town.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said he was “pretty relieved,” praising his players for showing “real courage.”

He said they expected the Boks to start strongly, which forced Australia to chase the game and “take a few risks.”