Wallabies rebound from humbling loss by
BLOCKBUSTING wing Marika Koroibete has helped the Wallabies continue their home domination of South Africa, powering Australia to a 25-17 win at Adelaide Oval.
The Fijian-born flyer pulled off a miracle trysaver during the first half of yesterday’s test and then scored one in the second as the Wallabies bounced back from their record Rugby Championship loss to Argentina.
Discipline was still an issue for the Wallabies with the penalty count 14-9 and two yellow cards and they conceded two late tries, but coach Dave Rennie got the response he was after.
Fraser McReight, who has replaced skipper Michael Hooper who is absent on mental health leave, also crossed in each half in a dominant display that saw the flanker make a crucial breakdown turnover when the
Springboks looked destined to cross.
First-five Noah Lolesio had his best game in gold and set up McReight’s second try against the world champions.
With the Wallabies a man down when wing Tom Wright was yellow carded, the Boks were hunting their first try late in the first half.
Makazole Mapimpi looked a certainty until Koroibete raced
40 metres from his own wing and cannon-balled into the South African wing, sending him flying over the sideline.
The Wallabies were able to take a 10-3 lead into halftime, with the visitors also forced to play the opening 10 minutes of the second half without yellowcarded Faf de Klerk.
Man of the match Koroibete crossed in the 46th minute when he wrong-footed Pollard and the margin was out to 22-3 10 minutes later when McReight backed up a Lolesio flick pass.
The Springboks at least stopped the Wallabies collecting a bonus point with flanker Kwagga Smith scoring twice in the final six minutes.
The win continued the misery for South Africa in Australia with the Wallabies unbeaten in their past eight clashes since
2013.