Australia vs South Africa

The Wallabies and Springboks meet in Adelaide looking to bounce back from defeats last time out.

Not straight from Joseph Dweba, who has a growing patch of red on the top of his shirt and will require some attention. South Africa will go for goal from 15 metres in on the Wallabies’ ten-metre. Australia 10-0 South Africa, 11 minutes An awkward bounce has Marika Koroibete rather interested on the chase, but Damian de Allende gets back into position, sitting down White with a bump to ensure he can then boot his own clearing kick up field. Remarkable work from the openside, hurrying back to spear the ball within a couple of metres of the line and save Australia from what looked a certain score. Australia 10-0 South Africa, 15 minutes South Africa beginning to build back into this game. Faf de Klerk can’t quite gather De Jager’s offload cleanly after a fine tackle from Reece Hodge. Australia 10-0 South Africa, 23 minutes [coach Jacques Nienaber](/sport/rugby/wales-south-africa-wayne-pivac-b2124865.html) said: “The players rested well on the plane, and everyone is excited to be in Australia and looking forward to our two Tests against the Wallabies. Scrum-half Kerr-Barlow is eligible after World Rugby changed rules around international representation - having been born in Melbourne and having not played for the All Blacks since 2017. So far in the tournament, both teams have won one match and lost the other in what is shaping up to be the tightest championship in years.

Boks are warming up now, Nche and De Jager carrying well after Am chips over the top, before McReight (again) somehow comes up with a turnover on his own ...

It feels hard to back an Australia win, even with that home record, with no Quade Cooper or Samu Kerevi or Michael Hooper around. As for the Wallabies, Noah Lolesio - who, if we're being kind, has been hot and cold - needs the Test of his young life. Faf de Klerk's return at scrum-half, starting ahead of of Jaden Hendrikse, may help in that regard, but the loss prompted some questions - you can tell because Rassie Erasmus's Twitter account has been quiet since. Let's start with a point you hopefully find as fascinating as myself - South Africa's record in Australia is atrocious. Maybe that will change this morning, although both sides are coming off defeats in Round 2 to Argentina and New Zealand respectively. Morning everyone, a double bill of Rugby Championship action coming up over the next few hours. But, the Wallabies rally, McReight forcing a turnover before Australia clear. No such issues for the Wallabies from that restart, securing the ball, a quick dart before White clears. Damian de Allende, 11. South Africa, from the resulting penalty, want another five-metre scrum. A bit closer this time, kept low, but wide of the left post. 40 mins - Australia 10-3 South Africa

How do you sell rugby to an Aussie rules heartland? A man named Marika Koroibete, highlight reel try-savers and ball-playing giants make for a good start.

The Springboks endured their own 10-minute stint with 14 men after scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was shown a yellow card for making contact to the head of Wallabies counterpart Nic White. Even when they were a man down with Tom Wright sent to the sin-bin, they repelled wave after wave of the Springboks’ attacking raids. There were moments it felt as though the Wallabies were just hanging on. It was a cover tackle good enough to rival George Gregan’s famous effort against the All Blacks in Sydney in 1994. But the fact they took that lead into the sheds at half-time was perhaps even more remarkable. A win over Argentina was followed by a forgettable night in San Juan.