South Africa 30-22 Australia: 2025 Rugby Championship Test – live

Key events

Worth noting that James O’Connor missed three kicks worth eight points in a game lost by as many.

I’m not saying that is the reason they lost. I’m also not not saying it.

South Africa deserve that. I think that’s fair to say. Not just because Pollard kicked all six of his shots at goal but because on balance they won the breakdown battle, owned the skies and got the edge at the point of contact.

Australia were brilliant. Again. This is a proper rugby team. Their work around the fringe is something else and they proved that they can play fast and loose as well as tight and scrappy.

Full-time: South Africa 30-22 Australia

They can’t stick the landing. The line-out is a mess and the subsequent attack off sloppy ball fizzled out.

No matter. South Africa win a tense battle. Three tries apiece but Handre Pollard’s boot was the difference. Not the prettiest game. But that was cracking Test footy.

That’s a commendable loss for the Wallabies who’ll leave South Africa with credit in the bank.

80 min: Another review. There’s a neck-roll on de Jager so Handre Pollard hoofs a kick to the corner. Another try would see them win a bonus point. They’ll set the maul. Can they do it?

80 min: South Africa come away with the ball. There’s an Australian knock-on. South Africa try to counter off the loose ball but can’t. We come back for the scrum. The game is won. They simply need to win the scrum, kick it out and take the W.

80 min: O’Connor doesn’t have the legs! That’s three misses in a row for the Wallaby 10.

Yellow card! South Africa (Fassi, 79)

He’s nailed for a deliberate knock-on. Hard to argue. Ans with Australians outside him he had to go.

O’Connor points to the poles again. He’s on halfway. Right in front. So a 50 metre shot to win a bonus point.

78 min: O’Connor misses! He starts it right of the poles and can’t bring it back round. That’s two kicks missed in a row for the Aussies. Van der Merwe of the Scarletts comes on to replace Marx at hooker.

77 min: Kolbe with a steal inside his own 22! Brilliant from the little winger who has been immense! Australia ground their way deep into South Africa’s territory. Slick hands from a few of them opened space for Jorgensen down the right. But Kolbe stole in and won the ball.

OH! There’s a high tackle against Feinberg-Mngomezulu after review. So the penalty switches hands. Australia need to score twice so perhaps they take the kickable points from here. Even if they don’t win they might take a losing bonus point if O’Connor slots it from the right about 35 metres out on the angle.

TRY! South Africa 30-22 Australia (Etzebeth, 75)

Eben stretches and gets there! South Africa won the scrum penalty so they had freedom to attack inside the Aussie’s 22. They went right with Kriel making ground. Then they went left where Venter charged. They came close twice. Reinach stretched and couldn’t get there before Etzebeth’s extra length proved the difference from close range. Relentless and aggressive. Pollard’s two more points makes it an eight point game. Australia need to score twice to rescue this.

72 min: Kellaway drops the ball inside his own 22! This is a huge opportunity for the Springboks. It came as a result of Feinberg-Mngomezulu wriggling some space down the right tram inside his own half. He passed for Reinach who hoofed a kick into space. Australia mopped up through Jorgensen who flung a pass for Kellaway. But the replacement 15 spilled it and now the Boks have a great set with space either side.

70 min: This is tense! South Africa spark a counter through Kolbe. It goes down the line and slick hands from the prop Louw means they find an edge around the Australian rush defence. Pollard to de Allende to Kriel. The final pass to Fassi is a tough one and the full-back/winger can’t keep it in play. Oh, ignore all that. We’re coming back to the opposite wing as Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s foot was out as he collected McDermott’s box kick. Line out for Australia just inside their own half.

TRY! South Africa 23-22 Australia (Paenga-Amosa, 68)

Australia within a point! And they’ve done it by beating the Boks at their own game. Simple rugby. Line-out goes to the middle and the hooker, Paenga-Amosa, joins the morass and manages to worm his way between the two Springboks defensive pods. It’s scrappy but it’s over. O’Connor misses a very gettable kick. How costly will that be?

67 min: Australia are keeping it tight off the line-out. Ikitau runs a wonderful blind line and makes ground. So does Valetini. Etzebeth gives away a penalty. The Aussies are hammering the fringe with short runs off McDermott’s accurate passing. Lovely stuff. They don’t breach the line but have the penalty. No points. They go for the corner and a line-out. Esterhuizen comes on at last and replaces Mostert. So that’s an inside centre playing on the flank.

65 min: South Africa look to put a second shove on Bell but the Aussie holds his own and stays on his feet. So Reinach picks it up and has time to kick a clearing kick towards halfway. Paenga-Amosa is on for Billy Pollard and finds his jumper with his first throw.

64 min: Kriel is still on the field. So why is Nche captaining? Anyway, McDermott off the scrum kicks. South Africa return the favour, get it back and then kick again. Ikitau gets the ball and Toole has it. He’s cantering up field. Chips ahead. This is sensational! Australia are metres out. Toole is rapid! But the Boks scramble and make the tackle and then turn the ball over under the shade of their own poles. Phew! What a let off for the Boks. That was Handre Pollard rushing back. The chip ahead from Toole bounced the wrong way as far as he was concerned. Could have been a 75 metre score. It ends with a Boks scrum deep in their own patch.

61 min: Billy Pollard’s throw is long and Mostert snaffles it on the floor. South Africa flood forward. They’re up to Australia’s 22. There are three spills of the ball. Referee Doleman says they’re all backwards but changes his mind on one from Nche that seemed to go forward. Scrum to the Wallabies on their own 22. Kriel is off the pitch (for Esterhuizen I’m guessing) so Nnche is skipper. Reinach replaces Williams at 9.

58 min: Jorgensen plucks a stunning catch under pressure on his right wing. That wins the ball back for the Wallabies after some sustained pressure from the Boks. Australia are on their own 22 line where McDermott hoofs a box kick. Feinberg-Mngomezulu gathers the bouncing before. He tries to unfurl an off-load back infield but it bobbles out for a Wallaby throw.

Penalty! South Africa 23-17 Australia (Pollard, 57)

Pollard has five from five. The Ice Man coming up with the goods yet again.

56 min: South Africa drop the ball off the back of a line-out but they get lucky. Ikitau is nailed for straying off-side in midfield. He looks befuddled. Handre Pollard points to the sticks. About 40 metres out pretty much in front.

55 min: Both teams are going to the boot. The ground is tearing up and things are getting slippery. A bout of kick tennis ends with thew Boks on the ball inside Australia’s half. Pollard tries a dink to the right wing for Moodie to chase, but it’s too flat and too long so Toole catches and takes the mark. Moodie, after dropping the ball twice, is off for the talented Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The new man will go to fullback with Fassi going to the left win. Kolbe shifts across the right.

52 min: Moodie knock-on again! How frustrating. South Africa were forming an attack following a McDermott clearing kick. They had numbers down the right after winning a couple of breakdowns on attack (remember that was their main issue last week). But the lanky winger couldn’t hold onto the greasy pill. Another scrum for the Wallabies who have Bell on the pitch.

50 min: South Africa get through six phases after the line-out. They’re direct. Etzebeth and de Allende make some meaty carries. De Jager as well. They’re going back to basics and are making great ground. But they go one run too many with Etzebeth spilling in contact. Solid defence from the Aussies. Scrum to the men in gold inside their 22 in front of the poles.

49 min: It’s a ding-dong affair after the restart. Toole wins the ball on the wing but it’s back in the other tram in a flash with Kolbe hoisting a high kick which he chases. Jorgensen wins it but is clattered. From there it’s scrappy near the touchline and the ball spills out for a South African throw.

TRY! South Africa 20-17 Australia (Jorgensen, 47)

The Aussies strike first! Off the scrum, O’Connor takes it flat and puts in a diagonal kick that has Moodie scrambling in the back field. The South African winger made a right mess of the bouncing ball which gave Jorgensen the chance to steal in and complete an easy score. Is the comeback on? It’s a three point game thanks to an extra two from O’Connor’s boot.

Australia’s Max Jorgensen (right) runs to score a try during a rugby championship test match agaisnt South Africa. Photograph: Halden Krog/AP

44 min: Solid with ball in hand from the Aussies. They get the ball back on their side after Kolbe knocked on a high kick. South Africa owned the skies in the first set but this goes the Aussies way. They go down the line until they run out of road on the left. It ends with a Saffa line-out. A high clearing kick following the throw ends with a South African hand spilling a loose ball.

The Boks make a double change in the second row. De Jager and Etzebeth replace Snyman and Nortje.

43 min: Nche swims through the Aussie maul and wins the ball. South Africa now have an attacking set inside the Wallabies 22. But de Allende gets in a muddle in midfield and van Staden overruns his support line. They criss-cross and Australia get a soft penalty and a chance to exit.

42 min: South Africa win the ball out the scrum and go down the line. Fassi rakes a grubber to the corner. Finds touch. Australia will have the line-out inside their 22.

41 min: That’s a poor start from Edmed. His first job is to get the game going again and he hoofs the kick long. South Africa get the scrum on halfway and will no doubt look to force a penalty.

Correction, O’Connor is still on the field. It’s Suaalii who has been repalced. HIA. We may see him again.

We’re back. There’s a change at half-time for the Wallabies with 25-year-old Tane Edmond coming on. I think he’s replaced James O’Connor.

Half-time: South Africa 20-10 Australia

I’d say that’s close to a fair reflection of the contest but Australia might argue against that.

They had a try disallowed and did most of the running.

They were the first to cross the whitewash after two Pollard penalties but South Africa dotted down twice.

It’s been direct and confrontational. It’s not been a classic but plenty to enjoy.

Back in a bit.

Penalty! South Africa 20-10 Australia (O’Connor 40)

As the siren sounds O’Connor nails the penalty. That’s a good kick on the angle towards the right.

40 min: Australia keep the ball off the line-out but don’t do much with it. Skelton with some big carries. It’s a little aimless. They spill the ball in contact which gives Smith a chance to steal it, but he goes at just the wrong time and coughs up a soft penalty. This time O’Connor points to the poles and a shot at points before the half-time break.

38 min: South Africa secure the restart and after a few kick exchanges Fassi hoists a high left footer that he scampers after. It’s overcooked which means the Wallabies will have the throw inside South Africa’s half from whence it came.

TRY! South Africa 20-7 Australia (Smith, 35)

Kwagga through the guts! Direct, robust, South Africa at their best. Clean line-out on the 22 means it’s front-foot ball for Williams. Kriel with a big carry opened a hole and Smith, off the base of the pack, gathered, shook off one tackler, shrugged off another and slid over under the poles. Pollard clips the easy extras. Much better from South Africa.

Kwagga Smith of South Africa goes over to extend the host’s lead over Australia. Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

33 min: Neither side can keep the ball but it’s fascinating viewing. Tupou knocks on and South Africa counter. Smith makea ground before Valetini nails him. Then they kick and Australia return a kick. Fassi has it and dinks an up and under for himself. He gathers, steps a defender and feeds Nortje who is charging up field. South Africa are on the edge of the Australian 22 when they spill the ball in contact. Australia come away with it and kick. It ends with a Saffa line-out on Australia’s 22 towards the right. helter skelter stuff. Loving this.

31 min: Australia win a breakdown penalty. Or should that be South Africa give away a soft one. Van Staden goes to clean the ruck inside the Wallabies’ 22 but loses his feet and is pinged. Also from the side. Good defence from the Aussies who are cohesive. The Boks are struggling to find cracks in the line.

29 min: South Africa win the line-out. They’re struggling to get for-forward though with ball in hand. De Allende chooses to cross kick looking for Moodie but it’s a little long and goes out (but not before Moodie himself volleyed it straight out). W

We’re coming back for a high hit on Kolbe. Hooper the guilty party I think so South Africa get the penalty which is kicked out on Australia’s 22.

28 min: South Africa get clean ball off the scrum. Twice they go to the air for their wingers to chase. Kolbe wins it on the left. Moodie wins it on the right but spills it as he lands. Skelton almost sacked Handre Pollard. The Boks fly-half must have had the fright of his life as the monster lock suddenly loomed in front of him. Anyway, Australia’s scrum on the left inside their own half. They win the ball and Toole, off his wing, rakes a kick looking for a 50-22. It doesn’t quite land but it does find touch, pinning the Saffas inside their own half and forcing Marx to throw just beyond his 22.

25 min: A little sloppy from both teams. Now it’s Australia’s turn to make a mistake at the line-out. Billy Pollard throws skew. Nortje was lifted to challenge which means South Africa get the ball back with a scrum feed on their own 22.

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