Handré Pollard kicks Springboks to narrow victory over Wallabies in Rugby Championship

The Springboks scored a late winning try with six minutes to go, sealing a hard-fought victory over the Wallabies in the second Rugby Championship Test in Cape Town.

Playing in front of a near-capacity crowd of over 56,000 supporters on Saturday, the world champions got their campaign back on track with a bruising 30–22 win to retain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate.

Flyhalf and Player of the Match Handré Pollard produced a flawless kicking display in wet and muddy conditions. His performance, along with gutsy defending by the entire team, led the South Africans to victory.

It wasn’t the prettiest of displays by the home side, as they once again racked up penalties and struggled to dominate in the scrum and lineouts. It didn’t help that they lost eighth man Jean-Luc du Preez to illness ahead of kick-off. He was replaced by Kwagga Smith in the starting line-up.

Despite their struggles, if one thing is certain about this Springbok team, it’s that they know how to fight with their backs against the wall and deliver a match-winning performance under pressure.

Pollard opened the scoring with a penalty and added two more crucial three-pointers. He also converted all three tries, some from tight angles, contributing 15 of the Boks’ points.

The Springboks scored excellent tries and could’ve had a few more, were it not for their inability to finish try-scoring opportunities. They had several chances out wide and in close quarters with the forwards, but failed to convert due to knock-ons that halted play. That’s something they must address before facing the All Blacks.

Ill-discipline is another aspect of their game that needs attention. The penalties they conceded — especially at the breakdown — were glaring.

However, they executed the game plan that head coach Rassie Erasmus outlined earlier in the week. They returned to the traditional Springbok blueprint of playing through the forwards and using clever box kicks to put Australia under pressure.

Scrumhalf Grant Williams led the kicking strategy, and wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Canan Moodie competed effectively under the high ball. One of Williams’ clever kicks led to Moodie’s try off the boot of Pollard.

Kolbe chased a Williams kick, the Aussies failed to secure possession, and the Boks turned it over at the breakdown after a strong Kwagga Smith tackle on halfback Nic White. The ball went through a few hands before Pollard kicked ahead for Moodie, who gathered it and dived over the line for the first try. Eighth man Smith scored before halftime, giving the Boks a 20–10 lead at the break.

Replacement lock Eben Etzebeth scored the only try of the second half. The hosts were then forced to defend for long periods as the Wallabies tried to swing the game back in their favour.

Australia scored twice after halftime to bring the score within one point, threatening a comeback like the one they nearly pulled off at Ellis Park. Missed kicks at goal from Aussie flyhalf James O’Connor helped the Boks secure the victory.

This will be another wake-up call for the world champions, and they must improve on their performances ahead of two Tests against the All Blacks in a couple of weeks. They are still with their backs against the wall in the competition, and only victories will secure them the title again.

Points scorers

Springboks 30 (20): Tries: Canan Moodie, Kwagga Smith, Eben Etzebeth. Conversions: Handré Pollard (3). Penalties: Pollard (3).

Australia 22 (10): Tries: Corey Toole, Max Jorgensen, Brandon Paenga-Amosa. Conversions: James O’Connor (2). Penalty: O’Connor.