Overview
- Australia overturned a 22-0 deficit to win 38-22 at Ellis Park, with key tries from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, two from captain Harry Wilson, and long-range efforts by Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright alongside James O’Connor’s midfield orchestration and Fraser McReight’s turnover dominance.
- The Wallabies will be without winger Dylan Pietsch (broken jaw), prop James Slipper (concussion) and flyhalf Ben Donaldson (adductor strain) after they returned home with injuries, and replacements Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart and Rhys van Nek have been flown in.
- Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus acknowledged that South Africa was physically outmatched in the second half, accepted responsibility for the collapse and presided over the loss of the team’s world No.1 ranking.
- Springbok prop Ox Nche called the upcoming Cape Town Test a must-win, and selectors are set to revert to a more conservative game plan and make personnel changes to shore up breakdown defence.
- Both teams have arrived in Cape Town to recalibrate tactics and lineups ahead of next weekend’s rematch as the Rugby Championship race tightens.