The Wallabies have lost 35-17 to the Springboks at Ellis Park, continuing their 56-year hoodoo in Johannesburg partly due to Herschel Jantjies’ electric debut in their Rugby Championship opener.
Australia were looking for their first win in Johannesburg since 1963, and with the Springboks fielding a weakened side on Saturday night, had a golden opportunity.
But despite some strong individual performances, again they fell short.
Springboks livewire halfback Herschel Jantjies scored a try in each half in a memorable Test debut.
The Wallabies were in the hunt early but two blown tries in the first half proved crucial.
They trailed 14-10 at halftime after a try by back-rower Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was denied after the last pass from Samu Kerevi was ruled forward.
Winger Dane Haylett-Petty, who scored their opening try, could have added a second and given his team the lead but fumbled the ball over the line as he dived on it.
Skipper Michael Hooper then bizarrely turned down a penalty kick from right in front of the sticks which would have closed the gap to just one point.
While behind on the scoreboard there was a lot to like about the Wallabies first half, with the excellent defence and some creative attack that challenged the Springboks when they went wide.
But the second half didn’t go to plan, with Australia losing veteran prop James Slipper to a head knock which gave rookie Harry Johnson-Holmes his first cap.
Fellow prop Taniela Tupou was then yellow-carded for a dangerous clean-out and momentum swung back with the home side.
Winger S’busiso Nkosi touched down before Jantjies snatched the ball from the back of the ruck and darted down the sideline to score with the conversion pushing the lead out to 28-10.
Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale showed some neat footwork to set up a try for Bernard Foley but the home side were in full control.
They added their fifth of the night after full time through Cobus Reinach for a convincing win.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Stats not your strong point?
charly_777
Guest
The Aussies are missing their "acrobat from heaven" ... Israel Folau ... Heaven curses them?
charly_777
Guest
But LGBT people are only 0.05% of the world people! Hate the world is at least hate 20%!
Gloria
Roar Rookie
Thorn has presided over two abysmal seasons of Reds rugby. 14/15 this year. Yet many in here claim he is ‘just great’. And he is just as bad as Cheika in excusing foul play by his players, hence Thor’s failure to change his style and fulfill his potential. Under Thorn’s guidance. The Reds and the Tahs spiral downwards and so does Wallaby rugby with two Kiwi coaches in control of our traditional rugby powerhouses. I am not against Kiwi coaches, I am against lying about their performance to the detriment of Australian rugby.
Lee
Guest
Why does everyone discount the fact that the yellow card happened after the whistle? It wasn't even a case of him being slightly off time...everyone stopped and then he lined up the Springbok player and hit him. He had ample time to stop: pick players who make stupid decisions (like doing something after the whistle) and you open yourself up to stupid outcomes.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
No... https://youtu.be/MCB136mnnGQ Naivalu is a fast guys with no step. As a result, he beats far fewer players. Against modern defences, players don’t have hugely positive outcomes in attack just by being fast. You’re basing your opinion off of one match (and a debut), rather than years of super rugby form. JOC isn’t an outside back anymore. He’s bulked up and is a centre.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
No, I don’t think so still. Think it was more of an issue with the breakdown selected. There’s no evidence that Wright would have a more positive impact on the match, because Cheika gave him no minutes.
Joseph
Guest
Sadly, you're right. Hooper is a good player who gives 100%. But he's a poor captain.
Joseph
Guest
Please don't interpret this as me trying to stir - I'm not. I'm just saddened by the fact that Australia needs to hire mercenaries to make up a test XV. Don't kids play rugby in the schools anymore? What has happened to Joeys and Riverside and Newington College? They used to produce such wonderful players. Where have they all gone?
Joseph
Guest
Rodda good enough for what? To play against the minnows in the pool, yes, but against Wales and even Fiji.....he's going to get owned.
Joseph
Guest
I can remember Alan Jones saying that the scrum and the line out are nothing more than the means to restart the game, much the same as the serve restarts the game of tennis. The Wallabies then contradicted themselves by poaching a couple of Argentinian front rows - Topo Rodriquez comes to mind - but in recent years the tight five haven't been up to much. Brave words from Cheika, but I believe he knows better. The Welsh pack will destroy the Wallabies (bit difficult to call them Australia when there are so many foreign mercenaries in the team) and Fiji could easily beat them if they play like they did against France.
taylorman
Roar Guru
netball, one point as well :-)
TRhing-me
Roar Rookie
Folau one. Australia none. South Africa won. Australia done. England wun. Black Caps had some fun losing by just one run. Well! It rhymes doesn't it!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yea perhaps a cheap shot but gone now is the one player that could at least keep oz in the match through a one off spot of brilliance. Who can do that now?
PeterK
Roar Guru
JoC at 15 as the much needed second playmaker and Banks to wing, yes Beale on bench
PeterK
Roar Guru
As I predicted Hooper would be ineffectual, perhaps Wright at 7 instead of Hooper would have been the wright decision. yeh yeh I told you so.....
QED
Roar Rookie
But it won’t ‘start’ to get better until we do
PiratesRugby
Guest
Spot on.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Well this is what a number of us here have been saying since Cheika was appointed. The worst thing to happen to Australian rugby was the Waratahs winning Super rugby in 2013. We now have a coach, team, attack, defence and gameplan which are not fit for purpose. Australian rugby believed its own hype and ignored steady deterioration and successive losses to NZ, England, Ireland and even Scotland. I bet you they still they have a psychological edge on Wales. This RWC could be miserable for the Wallabies. More importantly, rugby in Australia is now way behind AFL, NRL and soccer (men’s and women’s). If not for the women’s 7s team, rugby would be about as popular as squash.
PiratesRugby
Guest
His entire career.