CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa edged Australia 30-22 and kept alive its hopes of retaining the Rugby Championship crown on Saturday.
Consecutive defeats to the Wallabies in the republic — not seen since 1963 — would have sunk the title hopes and surprisingly vulnerable confidence of the world champion Springboks.
But flyhalf Handre Pollard's unerring accuracy off the tee and the Bomb Squad of replacements proved the difference. Pollard, one of nine changes after South Africa's 38-22 loss at Ellis Park a week ago, slotted all of his six goalkicks.
In contrast, Wallabies flyhalf James O'Connor missed his last three goalkicks in the last 12 minutes; a conversion attempt to Brandon Paenga-Amosa's try that brought Australia to 23-22 and two penalties.
O'Connor was apparently playing on an injured ankle and Australia had no more reserve backs.
“Sometimes just getting back on the horse is the most important thing,” South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said. "After a loss you lose a little bit of belief, even though we had won eight on the trot and nine out of 10. The big thing for us was to win and not let them get a bonus point.
“We found them extremely difficult to beat, like the (British and Irish) Lions did. We are trying to please our crowds by winning and playing a better brand and sometimes we get it wrong like we did last weekend, but sometimes when we get into game likes this where it's a real grind we tend to find a way.”
The teams scored three tries each as Australia, again, was incredibly resilient and rallied for the second straight weekend from a deep hole.
South Africa led 22-0 at Ellis Park before succumbing. It led 20-7 late in the first half at Cape Town Stadium but the Wallabies comeback stalled at 23-22 down with 12 minutes to go.
Eben Etzebeth came off the bench for his 135th test to scrape the ball on the try-line with six minutes left to make it 30-22.
But even more late drama — Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's high tackle, Aphelele Fassi's yellow card and O'Connor's missed goalkicks — left the result in suspense to the end.
Wright and White injured
Pollard's first goalkick gave him three points and made him the second Springbok after Percy Montgomery to reach 800 career points. A second penalty followed in the sixth minute.
By then Wallabies fullback Tom Wright had wrenched his knee and been forced off. But they still hit the front when Nic White's heads-up grubber was snatched by left wing Corey Toole for a try on his test debut.
Australia's lead lasted for three minutes.
A kick-chase by the Boks caught White in possession in his 22, RG Snyman turned him over and Pollard's crossfield kick fell kindly for wing Canan Moodie to score for 13-7 with Pollard's extras.
White had to leave, making the Wallabies replace two key backs inside the first dozen minutes.
“Nic reads the game so well, he will be a great coach. He runs the game really well for us, and losing him and Tom Wright does destabilize you a bit,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said.
“I felt like we made more line breaks and created more dangerous attacks. We did not finish them well enough but that is credit to the defense."
O'Connor leads fightback
The Wallabies backline continued to look dangerous.
Stand-in skipper Fraser McReight had a try disallowed for a knock-on in the buildup, and he waived a kickable penalty for a corner lineout but they were hit behind the gainline by the Springboks defense.
The midfield of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, reunited for the 38th time, hatched a break that was supported by forwards Ox Nche and Kwagga Smith, who drove past Nick Frost and Len Ikitau to score between the posts.
But just before halftime a 45-meter penalty by O'Connor trimmed the Boks lead to 20-10.
The Wallabies used their third and last replacement back during halftime after Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i didn’t pass an HIA, and still got the first score of the new half.
An O'Connor chip wasn't controlled by Moodie and Max Jorgensen profited. O'Connor converted but then apparently landed badly on his ankle and played on with Australia trailing 20-17.
Pollard's third penalty extended that to 23-17.
A break by Toole was almost capped by Andrew Kellaway but he was wrapped up in front of the Springboks' posts by Fassi.
No matter. Moments later, Paenga-Amosa finished off a lineout drive to cut the gap to one point. But Australia couldn't quite improve it.
South Africa next plays twice in New Zealand, starting at Eden Park in two weeks, while Australia returns home for two tests against Argentina.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
The Associated Press
