FULL TIME: AUSTRALIA 7-33 SOUTH AFRICA
It wasn't ever a close contest despite some curious refereeing calls at the death which gave Australia a sniff at getting onto the front foot. South Africa take a full house of points from this clash. Australia get nothing for their efforts.
YELLOW CARD, SOUTH AFRICA, KRIEL:
Kriel is going to get sin-binned for a deliberate knock on despite clearly going for the intercept. Another curious call from the English referee.
CONVERSION, AUSTRALIA, LOLESIO, 7-33:
Lolesio adds the two.
TRY, AUSTRALIA, PAISAMI, 5-33:
Australia finally force their way over for the try but this will be academic.
Australia knock on in attack and not even the numbers game can help them get over. South Africa a scrum but they get free kicked for an early shove.
Australia have a scrum with South Africa down two players and they might finally get on the board with a big assist from the referee.
YELLOW CARD, SOUTH AFRICA, VAN STADEN:
A soft yellow card comes now. Not great refereeing at all.
Kolbe is going to feed a lineout with Marx in the bin. Is there anything Kolbe cannot do. He gets the ball in and South Africa clear but only as far as the 22.
Australia up the urgency now and put a penalty into the corner as they are desperate to get onto the board.
YELLOW CARD, SOUTH AFRICA, MARX:
Marx has hit Valetini high and goes to the bin.
TMO review incoming after a missed dropgoal attempt. It seems Marx might be in trouble.
The conversion is missed and Australia restart the match quickly although they might regret it as the South Africans open up the game again and Australia find themselves needing to secure a lineout ball in their own 22.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, ARENDSE, 0-33:
Kriel bursts through the line and finds Arendse to get him over for the score.
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, FEINBERG-NGOMEZULU, 0-28:
Another conversion goes over and South Africa lead 28-0.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, SMITH, 0-26:
Smith dives over to score with a late run and that clinches a bonus point for South Africa.
Australia get a warning after an attack where South Africa have earned advantage three times. South Africa call for a scrum five out and will look to shove over.
South Africa win the penalty as Australia infringe at lineout time and they take play right up into the Wallaby 22 with the kick.
South Africa's defence holds firm and Van Staden gets over the ball to win a penalty. South Africa need a better lineout if they are to switch the flow of play now.
Australia win the lineout and they gain ground with direct attack. The Springboks disrupt their attack but lose the ball forward and Australia have an attacking scrum.
South Africa win the scrum penalty and can clear their lines. They need to retain their focus after some slip-ups in attack.
Australia get the breakdown penalty advantage but cannot use it and they come back for the kick. Australia set a maul but are stopped and then knock on in midfield.
Slipper is down but Australia are onto the front foot at last after Reinach throws an intercept pass and Australia put it to boot. South Africa get back and kick clear but they will have to defend a lineout on their own 22 now.
Two Wallabies collide but the free kick goes their way after a mark call. They can kick clear but only as far as their own 22 where the Springboks start their attack with a lineout.
The Springboks nearly go end to end after a lineout is overthrown but Etzebeth is tackled into touch on the Wallaby 22 with South Africa charging.
A string of penalties takes Australia right up to the Springbok line and they need to strike from this lineout.
Australia pull off a lineout steal and clear their lines. That will disappoint the Springboks.
Australia come up too quickly after the scrum and South Africa can kick into the Wallaby half for a lineout.
Australia look to start brightly but a ball doesn't go to hand and South Africa have the scrum feed close to their own 22 to start the half.
HALF TIME: AUSTRALIA 0-21 SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa hold out Australia at the end of the first half and go into the break 21 points up. South Africa dominated territory in particular and have had the better quality of possession too. Australia haven't really fired a shot in attack but this match is far from over.
Both sides are done for sealing off but South Africa miss touch with a clearing penalty. Australia get a penalty on halfway for offside and set up another lineout in the SA 22.
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, FEINBERG-NGOMEZULU, 0-21:
A simple conversion is slotted.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, ARENDSE, 0-19:
Well then, play breaks down in attack but Australia stand off Arendse and are made to pay as he steps his way through their defence to score under the sticks.
South Africa are sharp on defence as Australia try to win some metres with ball in hand and they win a penalty. South Africa call for the scrum. South Africa get another penalty from the scrum.
South Africa try an intricate lineout move and Marx nearly gets over but they spill it in contact and Australia have a scrum which they need to clear to get away from their own dangerzone.
YELLOW CARD, AUSTRALIA, KELLAWAY:
A dangerous tackle sees Kellaway sent to the bin.
An early tackle from Australia gives South Africa another penalty for an early tackle but the officials don't believe it is a penalty try. They have to check some foul play though as well. Kellaway has put in a lifting tackle without a safe landing and this could be a card.
Australia survive as a kick goes dead but they have to be sharp off the dropout as South Africa can counterattack.
Australia are driven back towards their own line and they are forced to scramble it into touch with Nche injured there will be a short delay before a South Africa lineout in the Wallaby 22.
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, FEINBERG-NGOMEZULU, 0-14:
Another conversion makes it a 14-point game.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, DU TOIT, 0-12:
Du Toit powers over after the Springboks attack created some space for him to charge at the Wallabies.
Australia kick clear after a quick scrum but South Africa have the lineout feed inside the Wallaby 22.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu bursts through the Australia line and Le Roux has a chance to throw the final pass but takes contact. South Africa throw a forward pass in the end and Australia have the scrum deep in their own 22.
Australia edge a kicking battle and South Africa go back to feed a lineout ten outside their own 22. A poor kick allows Australia to spark an attacking set and they keep it in hand for six phases before hoisting and giving up the ball.
Australia can get onto the attack at last as a penalty at lineout time gives them a chance to play from a setpiece. However a long kick is marked and the danger is averted for the time being. Australia have a lineout just inside the South Africa half.
Reinach is down injured after being sandwiched between Daugunu and his own flyhalf. South Africa have a lineout just inside the Australian half after a kicking battle.
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, FEINBERG-NGOMEZULU, 0-7:
A great conversion from the touchline makes it 0-7 in the favour of South Africa.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, KOLISI, 0-5:
Great work from the South Africa pack ensures that the skipper gets over for his first try against the Wallabies.
South Africa's maul is stopped illegally and they don't get advantage and will try again from the lineout.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu puts another penalty into touch deep in the Australia 22 as the pressure comes on from South Africa.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu shanks his first kick at goal and that's a let-off for Australia.
Australia kick clear from a penalty after a Springbok error but the South Africans get back on then front foot after a poor hoist from Lolesio.
The Springboks win the scrum penalty advantage and the backline can attack. Kolbe probes off the base of the scrum and a cross kick is spilled by Australia but they come back for the kick and South Africa have the lineout inside the Australian 22.
KICK-OFF: Pleasantries have been put to one side and the Rugby Championship will get underway with Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicking off for South Africa. His kick comes down just outside the Wallaby 22 and they test Le Roux. Australia knock on in the tackle close to halfway and we will have an early scrum.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph Du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handré Pollard.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Isaac Kailea.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch.
Greetings and a warm welcome to our coverage of the first Rugby Championship match of 2024 between South Africa and Australia from Brisbane.
