Captain Siya Kolisi in his unfamiliar position of No.8 powered over from close range, brushing effortlessly past Fraser McReight’s tackle attempt to make the score 22-0 after just 18 minutes. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s stunned and bloodied face, covered in sweat told the story of his team when words could not.
The Wallabies’ physical power from Will Skelton, Tom Hooper and Taniela Tupou that was so impressive in the third Test against the Lions appeared blunted by a South African team with rapid line speed and chop tackles.
Australia’s Dylan Pietsch, top left, jumps for the ball during the match against the Springboks.Credit: AP
At the toughest moments for the Wallabies under Schmidt, there are always players who continue to fight back. At inside centre Len Ikitau was the spark that Australia desperately needed.
Ikitau did brilliantly to find a rare attacking opportunity after an offload from James O’Connor to send in Dylan Pietsch for a try to briefly quell South Africa’s surging momentum just before half-time. With the score at 22-5, it appeared little more than a consolation prize. How little we knew.
The South African bomb squad has gained infamy for its ruthless power and efficiency off the bench. Angus Bell’s impact from his first brutal carry at the start of the second half after coming on as a replacement sent shockwaves through the Springbok defence.
Bell then released a beautifully timed pass to set Harry Wilson through an uncharacteristically wide gap in the South African defence to score his side’s second try.
Suaalii had endured a tough afternoon in Johannesburg, struggling in defence and starved of possession, but he made a brilliant read to intercept a long pass from South Africa five-eighth Manie Libbok and score under the posts. After O’Connor’s conversion, the lead was reduced to just three points with twenty minutes to go. It seemed barely believable- because it was.
Len Ikitau charges through for the WallabiesCredit: AP
Wright’s early nerves were shredded as he became the Wallabies’ main attacking threat alongside Max Jorgensen. The Brumbies fullback sprinted through the broken field with a hobbling Wilson following him to score his second try to send the Wallabies into a lead. Wilson was taken off with clutching his knee and will face a nervous wait to see the full extent of the damage.
It is easy to forget that Jorgensen is merely 20 years old, given his position as one of the world’s best wingers. In defence, he was ruthless and brave, frequently chopping down the huge frame of Du Toit. In attack, he was tireless and his efforts were rewarded with a magical try after stepping Libbok to give the Wallabies a 10-point lead with 13 points left in the game, completely silencing the stunned Ellis Park crowd.
Wright scored a try of his own to put the game beyond reach and finally follow the heroes of 1963 with the Wallabies’ second win ever at Ellis Park.
