SPRINGBOKS’ TRC TITLE DEFENCE IS...

SOUTH Africa’s defence of their Rugby Championship title is back on track after a grinding 30-22 win over Australia innie Kaap on Saturday.

After their next opponents New Zealand got klapped 29-23 by Argentina in Buenos Aires, the close shave against the Wallabies will certainly have boosted the Springbok squad’s confidence before they travel to Kiwi land.

Unlike what they promised last week, coach Rassie Erasmus’ manne parked their attacking  flare and used a more conservative approach as two Handre Pollard penalties put the Boks up 6-0 after six minutes.

Quick thinking by Aussie scrumhalf Nic White, tap-kicking a free kick for a scrum infringement before grubbering the ball for debutant wing Corey Toole to run on to and score a try, silenced the Cape Town Stadium crowd.

However, the Boks’ high-ball kicking tactics by scrumhalf Grant Williams and Pollard started working a treat as they put pressure on the Wallabies back three, who lost White, fullback Tom Wright and centre Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i to injury early on.

Pollard then placed a neat little crosskick for Canan Moodie to gather and score as the Boks regained the lead at 13-7.

The Wallabies ended the half the stronger span, but waved off opportunities to kick at goal. 

The hosts took advantage of these decisions, as another attacking raid saw Kwagga Smith crash over under the posts to make it 20-7.

Eventually deciding to go to the boot, Wallabies flyhalf James O’Connor slotted a three-pointer as the teams hit the sheds for halftime with the Boks 20-10 in the lead.

After the break, the game was put back on a knife edge as the Wallabies struck with Max Jorgensen scoring from an O’Connor kick behind SA’s defence.

Pollard slotted his third penalty of the night to put the Boks six points in the lead, but it was the Wallabies who did most of the play during the second half.

And when replacement Brendon Paenga-Amoso scored the Wallabies’ third try from a rolling maul, the Boks’ lead was cut to one point as O’Connor failed to convert the five-pointer.

A lucky break as Aussie Andrew Kellway fumbled an O’Connor pass gave the Boks the attacking scrum they needed as Eben Etzebeth stretched and scored from the attacking raid.

Solid defence with the Wallabies threatening, then saw the Boks hold out to bag a redeeming win after their embarrassing 38-22 loss at Ellis Park. 

They face the All Blacks at Eden Park next Saturday trying to inflict New Zealand’s first loss there since 1994.