AUS
No.Name
15Dane Haylett-Petty, FB
14Jack Maddocks, W
13Reece Hodge, C
12Matt To'omua, C
T
2
2
11Marika Koroibete, W
10Kurtley Beale, FH
9Will Genia, SH
1Scott Sio, P
2Tatafu Polota-Nau, H
3Allan Alaalatoa, P
4Rory Arnold, L
5Izack Rodda, L
6Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, FL
7Michael Hooper, FL
T
8Pete Samu, N8
Replacements
16Folau Fainga'a, R
17Tom Robertson, R
18Taniela Tupou, R
19Rob Simmons, R
20Ned Hanigan, R
21Joe Powell, R
22Bernard Foley, R
23Tom Banks, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Suncorp Stadium
11:00 AM, September 8, 2018
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'+223-18 End of second half
80'That's all she wrote. Australia held off the Springboks late, but they deserved the win. South Africa better in the first half, but the Wallabies improved in the second stanza and essentially won because they made fewer mistakes with or without the ball.
80'Channel 1 ball, and South Africa attack to the right but Faf de Klerk has spilled the ball. Will Genia kicks the ball into the stands, and Australia have stopped their losing streak at 4.
80'Now the siren has gone, South Africa elect for the scrum.
80'South Africa tapping and going with 20 seconds to go. And we're after the siren.
78'Good defence from Australia to pressure South African runners and ball handlers. Feeling the Boks players lack confidence to trust their skills. Just going through phases without threatening.
78'
77'Malcolm Marx adjudged to have knocked on after Kurtley Beale. Double knock-on so South Africa ball. Attacking 5m scrum.
77'Francois Louw may have scored. "Any reason I can't afford the try". Officials also checking for a knock-on in the lead-up.
77'Great patience from the Boks but equally great scrambling defence from the Wallabies.
77'Substitute on - Ned Hanigan , Australia
77'Player substituted - Rory Arnold , Australia
76'Springboks on the attack from the lineout, putting the ball through phases against a fanning defence.
76'Australia doing everything to slow the game while in front, but that's what you do when you're in front and desperate for a win.
76'Player substituted - Marika Koroibete , Australia
76'Substitute on - Reece Hodge , Australia
75'Handre Pollard bombs deep with a midfield penalty. For a moment he looked to have gone for too much, but the ball just got there.
74'Tremendous work from Faf de Klerk to snaffle a Wallabies pass in tight. But then Franco Mostert is adjudged to have lost the ball in contact almost immediately. Perhaps unfortunate to be called, but result of juggling clay hands.
72'South Africa attack wide in first phase from the scrum, and Willie le Roux spills what was a simple ball to run on to. South Africa doing little to help themselves with basic errors.
72'Substitute on - Tatafu Polota-Nau , Australia
72'Player substituted - Folau Fainga'a , Australia
70'Glen Jackson was vocal about the scrums in the opening half; the set-pieces have not improved any since.
70'Substitute on - Tom Robertson , Australia
70'Player substituted - Scott Sio , Australia
69'Truly this is a game of two halves. South Africa were dominant in the first 40 but conceded points from errors. Australia have been dominant in the second 40 without gifting opportunities to their opponents.
69'Player substituted - Reece Hodge , Australia
69'Substitute on - Tom Banks , Australia
69'23-18 Penalty goal - Matt To'omua , Australia
68'Substitute on - Rory Arnold , Australia
68'Player substituted - Izack Rodda , Australia
65'The Boks fluff their lines, with Tendai Mtawarira conceding a scrum penalty for hinging, and Matt Toomua has a chance to extend the advantage.
65'Another crooked throw from Folau Fainga'a, and South Africa have another opportunity to clear their lines.
65'Except the scrum is not cleaned easily and Handre Pollard can clear short only under pressure.
65'Player substituted - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
65'Substitute on - Handre Pollard , South Africa
64'Chance is gone with an awful crooked throw at the lineout. Boks have a scrum and a chance to clear lines.
62'Substitute on - Bernard Foley , Australia
62'Player substituted - Jack Maddocks , Australia
62'Player substituted - Warren Whiteley , South Africa
62'Substitute on - Francois Louw , South Africa
61'Slick attacking from Australia, the backs slipping passes to create space outside before Marika Koroibete and Dane Haylett-Petty are stopped short.
61'Australia defend the lineout drive, and they're managing to slow the Boks' ball. Firmly on the attack and Elton Jantjies just overcooks a kick behind the line. Perhaps a decision that didn't need making. Chance is gone, and Australia have a 22 dropout to clear their lines.
61'Player substituted - Eben Etzebeth , South Africa
61'Substitute on - RG Snyman , South Africa
60'Brilliant kick into space from Faf de Klerk after the Wallabies spill turnover ball, and the Boks have an attacking lineout inside their 22.
59'Substitute on - Izack Rodda , Australia
59'Player substituted - Rory Arnold , Australia
58'Springboks concede a breakdown penalty, and one wonders if they need to go back to real basics. There's a sense that South Africa are "rushing" now they're behind on the board. Australia, conversely, seem to be growing in confidence.
58'Player substituted - Frans Malherbe , South Africa
58'Substitute on - Wilco Louw , South Africa
58'Substitute on - Tendai Mtawarira , South Africa
58'Player substituted - Steven Kitshoff , South Africa
56'Great response from the Springboks, isolating Will Genia from the kickoff then Siya Kolisi making a strong bust from the back of the ensuing lineout. Good hands from the Boks until it wasn't -- Steven Kitshoff dropping the pill to bomb the opportunity.
55'20-18 Penalty goal - Matt To'omua , Australia
54'Australia will be glad to have points for their dominance of the second half to date; South Africa will be glad to have conceded only 3.
53'Australia gifted another penalty, this one by Steven Kitshoff, and there's no electing for a scrum (or a lineout) this time. Matt Toomua going for the poles.
51'South Africa escape for the time being, but Jesse Kriel might want to have his decision to kickpass to Aphiwe Dyantyi. The ball goes out on the full and Australia are still deep inside Australian territory.
49'Wallabies going through pick-and-go drives, but make no ground and Eben Etzebeth telescopically collects a loose ball and Faf de Klerk clears.
48'Springboks penalised for collapsing the scrum under pressure, and Australia dominating the first 10 minutes of the second stanza. Australia elect for another scrum.
48'Player substituted - Allan Alaalatoa , Australia
48'Substitute on - Taniela Tupou , Australia
46'Australia firmly on the front foot, and Jack Maddocks is held up over the tryline. 5m scrum Australia, and the Wallabies have come out firing in the second half.
45'Malcolm Marx overthrows Warren Whiteley on halfway ... penny for Rassie Erasmus' thoughts.
43'Australia go through phases, and Jack Maddocks is stopped on the right wing only by the most desperate scrambling defence. The Boks get reward for that scramble when Australia knock-on two phases later. Scott Sio is then penalised for hingeing. An escape for the Boks.
42'Australia go close again. The Wallabies withstand strong pressure at a halfway scrum on the left, and then Will Genia snipes down the paint. Cheslin Kolbe goes back then spills the ball on the deck and the Boks are adjudged to have taken the ball over their own line.
42'Izack Rodda leaves the field for what looks like a finger dislocation.
42'South Africa know lose the ball forward through Willie Le Roux, and another opportunity is lost after the Boks looked to have created an opportunity out wide.
42'Substitute on - Rob Simmons , Australia
42'Player substituted - Izack Rodda , Australia
41'We're back under way through Elton Jantjies.
41'+217-18 End of first half
41'+217-18 Penalty goal - Reece Hodge , Australia
40'
40'Both coaches surely have much to say over oranges. South Africa were dominant after the opening two minutes, and they'd be much further clear on the board but for simple errors -- in particular, one awful botched defensive lineout. Rassie Erasmus will be preaching composure and execution of the basics. Michael Cheika will note that his team is within one point on the board despite having not played well.
40'Australia going through phases after the siren, and they are awarded a penalty against Steven Kitshoff centre field just inside Wallabies territory. Step forwards Reece Hodge.
40'17-18 Start of second half
39'14-18 Penalty goal - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
37'South Africa have just destroyed an Australian scrum in front of the sticks. Surely a simple and sensible decision to go for goal.
35'Both hookers have been replaced, and one thinks that Rassie Earsmus's decision to send on Malcolm Marx is recognition that his team will benefit from the rake both in the set-piece and for his noted abilities in the loose. They've been the better team but they have allowed Australia back into the play.
35'Substitute on - Malcolm Marx , South Africa
35'Player substituted - Bongi Mbonambi , South Africa
34'Substitute on - Cheslin Kolbe , South Africa
34'Player substituted - Makazole Mapimpi , South Africa
34'Substitute on - Folau Fainga'a , Australia
34'Player substituted - Tatafu Polota-Nau , Australia
34'14-15 Conversion - Matt To'omua , Australia
33'Awful from the Springboks, and Australia, much as they've done little in the game, are back within a point.
33'Jack Maddocks is almost over in the corner after the Wallabies expose the Boks again out wide. But then a horrible throw from Mbongeni Mbonami, the ball well over the lineout, and Matt Toomua collects the pill to slide over under the posts.
33'12-15 Try - Matt To'omua , Australia
30'Elton Janjties often cops a barrel of criticism, but he's playing well, and directing play well on the front foot. Making good decisions.
28'South Africa have dominated the game for all bar the opening two minutes. Australia have produced little of note, and no doubt the Wallabies and their fans have much to ponder.
28'Australia impact the South African scrum, but the Boks clear the ball for phases left and then right. Fail to go forward but maintain possession and patience and Faf de Klerk throws a cutout pass to Makazole Mapimpi, who slides over for the visitors' second try.
28'7-15 Try - Makazole Mapimpi , South Africa
26'Glen Jackson tells both packs the scrums are "unacceptable". Threatening cards.
25'Australia concede a free kick, and Faf de Klerk taps and goes before kicking to the corner. Australia just about win the lineout, but strong South African defence forces a 5m scrum.
24'Australia attempt to tap and go but Kurtley Beale drops a simple pill. Boks now have an attacking scrum midfield just inside Australian territory.
22'Everyone assumed Matt Toomua's kick was going over, but is drifts left and hits the post. South Africa do well to respond to clear imminent danger.
20'Soft penalty from Faf de Klerk, conceding an eminently kickable shot when the attacking scrum was static.
17'South Africa put a couple phases but Damian de Allende spills the ball and the Australians break into Boks' territory through a counter out wide by Dane-Haylett-Petty, but the visitors get back to stem the attack.
16'South Africa showing tremendous strength in the maul after the kick-off, and they'll be happy with the dominance they're enjoying up front.
16'7-10 Conversion - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
14'Mbongeni Mbonami is over from the back of a driving maul after an attacking lineout. Australia did not contest the set piece, and they offered little resistance to the maul. Great response from the Boks having conceded a try inside two minutes. They've dominated the game after Hooper's try.
14'7-8 Try - Bongi Mbonambi , South Africa
12'Springboks back on the attack and sending plenty of players with pace and power to the breakdown, and they've won another penalty deep inside Australia's 22.
9'South Africa blow their lines, first time when the opportunity is lost with a kickpass under penalty advantage picked off by Dane Haylett-Petty and then Australia picking off Mbongeni Mbonami's throw at the ensuing lineout and clearing their lines.
9'South Africa concede territorial advantage with Warren Whiteley going off his feet, but almost immediately Australia concede a similar penalty and Elton Jantjies puts the ensuing kick deep inside Australia's 22 for an attacking lineout.
7'7-3 Penalty goal - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
5'Allan Alaalatoa concedes a scrum penalty to concede South Africa an opportunity to get on the board.
4'Frans Malherbe knocks on under pressure as the Boks attempt to get back in the game. Solid defence previously from Australia -- stoppoing Elton Jantjies dead and Damian de Allende -- but the spill had little to do with D.
3'7-0 Conversion - Matt To'omua , Australia
2'Australia continue the pressure and Michael Hooper touches down from the back of a breakdown. Great start for the Wallabies but one wonders what Rassie Erasmus might think of the Boks' midfield defence in the lead-up to the opportunity.
2'5-0 Try - Michael Hooper , Australia
1'Warren Whiteley collects the kick off and Faf de Klerk clears. Dane Haylett-Petty collects under pressure and the ball spins left where Lukhan Tui is pulled down on a rampaging run inside the 22.
1'We're off and running with Matt Toomua kicking off.
1'So we have the teams on the pitch. Time for the national anthems and the Acknowledgement of Country.
1'Rain in Brisbane earlier today means the teams are set to be faced with a greasy ball.
1'



1'Hello everyone, and welcome to our Live Text Coverage of the sixth match of The Rugby Championship 2018, the first match of the year between Australia and South Africa.

Both sides will be desperate for victory, after the Wallabies were humbled again (twice) by New Zealand while the Springboks slumped to Argentina in Mendoza.

Read our preview, with John Goliath tipping the Wallabies in saying the "Wounded Springboks are playing for more than pride".

There has been a number of headline stories in the week leading into the Test, the latest and not least of which was the news that David Pocock had been ruled out with a neck injury. Pocock has been replaced by Pete Samu.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika had previously stunned most everyone by selecting Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua as his 10-12 playmaking combination suggesting perhaps that Australia would play more of a kicking game than has recently been their manner.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus also made changes to his side -- six -- as he looks to get games into his wider squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year.

To complete our pre-game reading for you, John Goliath has asked and answered five of the key questions facing the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, where South Africa have beaten the Wallabies only once -- 38-12 in September 2013 -- in 10 Tests.
1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby Championship 2018 News