By Gavin Rich.
This time the Springboks started like angry bees but it was a moment of sheer brilliance from debutant Canan Moodie that ensured they capitalised on it and marched on to an emphatic 24-8 win over the Wallabies since 2013 in Saturday’s Castle Lager Championship clash in Sydney.
Although this was a game where the Boks sizzled from the kick-off and put behind them the passive starts of their most recent games, the South Africans looked like they may have wasted too many scoring opportunities as they approached halftime just 7-3 ahead.
But then came a well targeted hoisted kick from scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse and a stupendous leap from Moodie, who then sprinted the remaining 30 metres for a spectacular try that opened a proper gap on the scoreboard for the Boks just at the right time.
Franco Mostert scored not long after the break as the Boks found their attacking shape, and that was effectively the game as the Boks went on to claim a bonus point win that puts them well back into the race for the Championship trophy.
The Wallabies scored a late consolation try but were well beaten and the blunt assessment of the home team’s performance this time was that they provided a heck of a lot of hot air through their constant chirping but very little else in a game where, frankly, the Boks could easily have won by more.
South Africa will now face Argentina. Australia, meanwhile, welcome the All Blacks to Melbourne.
SCORES
South Africa 24 – Tries: Damian de Allende, Canan Moodie, Franco Mostert and Makazole Mapimpi; Conversions: Damian Willemse and Frans Steyn.
Australia 8 – Try: Pete Samu; Penalty: Noah Lolesio.
Australia: R Hodge; T Wright, L Ikitau, H Paisami, M Koroibete; N Lolesio; N White; J Slipper, F Fainga’a, A Alaalatoa, R Arnold, M Philip, J Holloway, F McReight, R Valetini
Replacements: D Porecki, S Sio, T Tupou, D Swain, R Leota, P Samu, J Gordon, A Kellaway
South Africa: W Le Roux; C Moodie, J Kriel, D De Allende, M Mapimpi; D Willemse, J Hendrikse; S Kitshoff, M Marx, F Malherbe, E Etzebeth, L de Jager, S Kolisi, F Mostert, J Wiese
Replacements: D Fourie, O Nche, T Nyakane, D Vermeulen, K Smith, C Reinach, F Steyn, W Gelant.