Springboks outmuscled Wallabies in the Rugby Championship.

Written by Ayanda Nyuswa on 9 July, 2023

BY Simtho Dladla

Kurt-Lee Arendse’s hat-trick powered the Springboks to a seven-try 43-12 victory over Australia in Pretoria.

Australia scored the first and last tries at Loftus Versfeld but conceded 43 points in between to underline the task new coach Eddie Jones faces at the start of his second spell in charge of the Wallabies.

The Boks were also awarded two penalty tries and got another from flanker Pieter-Steoh du Toit in the bonus-point victory as they dominated the aerial battle and had too much muscle and speed for the visitors.

Australia co-captain Michael Hooper forced a breakdown penalty to hand centre Reece Hodge a penalty effort from near halfway, but he struck wide. And where Australia are as a team is becoming a national concern with the World Cup just 61 days away.

Dean Vermeulen, standing in as skipper for injured Siya Kolisi, hailed the “tremendous” 50,000 Loftus Versfeld crowd after the unexpectedly convincing victory for the Rugby World Cup title-holders.

image: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe