South Africa hit Australia with late onslaught
Jean de Villiers: Crossed twice in the closing stages at Newlands Stadium
South Africa scored three late tries to record a 28-10 bonus-point triumph over Australia at Newlands.
The visitors had led 10-5 at the break and although a Handre Pollard penalty cut the gap down to two, they still held a slender advantage heading into the closing 10 minutes of the Rugby Championship contest.
However they fell apart in the closing stages, substitute Patrick Lambie putting the hosts ahead with a drop goal before then also crossing for a try as the Springboks cut loose.
There was also a brace of scores for skipper Jean de Villiers, meaning Australia had not only failed to cling on for a first win at the Cape Town venue since 1992 but also ended up getting nothing for their efforts.
The result, one that had seemed so unlikely for the majority of the match, means South Africa move within a point of table-topping New Zealand, though the All Blacks also have a game in hand.
Marcell Coetzee’s try had given the ‘Boks a 13th-minute lead, their pack powering over off a line-out with the flanker in final possession to claim it.
Handre Pollard dragged his conversion attempt wide and Bernard Foley cut the deficit to 5-3 with his 24th-minute penalty after Adriaan Strauss took down Ashley-Cooper illegally.
Burst through
Adam Ashley-Cooper: Dives over for a try despite being tackled by Francois Hougaard
The Wallabies then moved in front when Tevita Kuridrani then burst through and sent Adam Ashley-Cooper in for a superb try which Foley duly converted, making it a five-point gap at the halfway stage. It would also, though, be the last time Australia would trouble the scoreboard.
Pollard slotted a penalty after an infringement at a ruck, but, with defence on top, it remained tight until a quite stunning conclusion.
Replacement half-back Lambie landed the drop goal that took South Africa 11-10 up, kick-starting an avalanche of points for South Africa that gave the final scoreline a rather lop-sided look.
A superb break involving winger Jan Serfontein and Cornal Hendricks sparked the move that led to De Villiers’ first try, and although the ball was scrappily recycled the centre was still able to crash over in the corner.
Lambie then made the game safe, dummying through for the Springboks’ third try a minute from the end – and there was still time for De Villiers to clinch an extra point for his side after the hooter had sounded.
Cobus Reinach made the break, taking advantage of more shambolic Australian tackling, and the ball was worked across the field – including an outlandish through-the-legs scoop by Schalk Burger – for Victor Matfield to send De Villiers over.
The scorers:
For South Africa: 28
Tries: Coetzee, De Villiers 2, Lambie
Conversion: Lambie
Penalty: Pollard
Drop Goals: Lambie
For Australia: 10
Try: Ashley-Cooper
Conversion: Foley
Penalty: Foley
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handrè Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Tebo Mohoje, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 JP Pietersen
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nic White, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Rob Horne.
Date: Saturday, September 27
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16:00 (local, 14:00 GMT)
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 14°C
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
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