South Africa bounced again from defeat to Australia in final week’s Rugby Championship opener with a battling 30-22 victory over the Wallabies in rain-soaked Cape City.
The boot of Handre Pollard proved decisive because the 31-year-old kicked 15 factors, made up of three penalty targets and three conversions.
Canan Moodie, Kwagga Smith and Eben Etzebeth went over for the world champions, who blew a 22-0 result in lose 38-22 in Johannesburg final day out.
“Typically it is nearly getting again on the horse,” mentioned head coach Rassie Erasmus.
“I do not assume this was an amazing efficiency, however once we lose a recreation all people begins analysing the squad and the eagerness of the followers comes by means of. So I feel given the sort of strain we have been below this weekend, we did nicely.
“We needed to look one another within the eye and we bought the stability between kicking and working higher. There’s at all times strain at house, so for me, bouncing again after final week was vital.”
Australia additionally scored three tries by means of Corey Toole, Max Jorgensen and Brandon Paenga-Amosa however have been unable to duplicate final weekend’s gorgeous comeback.
They got here near a shedding bonus level, however James O’Connor missed two penalty makes an attempt within the ultimate jiffy. It means the Wallabies sit second within the desk with 5 factors from two matches.
“It was an amazing bodily battle on the market and I’m tremendous happy with my boys. We fought proper to the tip,” mentioned Australia captain Fraser McReight.
“It has been a troublesome two weeks over right here. There have been a couple of moments the place if we bought the ball again our approach, the end result might have been completely different. However that’s the fantastic thing about rugby.”
South Africa sit third on 4 factors and can head to leaders New Zealand subsequent, needing not less than one win in two matches in opposition to the All Blacks if they’re to have an opportunity of defending their title.
