Wallabies best Springboks to keep Rugby Championship hopes alive

Blockbusting winger Marika Koroibete has helped the Wallabies continue their home domination of South Africa, powering Australia to a 25-17 victory at Adelaide Oval.

The Fijian-born flyer pulled off a miracle try-saver in the first half of their Saturday 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 also saw the flanker make a crucial breakdown turnover when the Springboks looked destined to cross.

Five-eighth 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 fellow winger Tom Wright was yellow-carded after repeat team infringements, the Springboks 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 winger, 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 Faf de Klerk.

The halfback was yellow-carded after clipping the head of his opposite Nic White, with the Australian diving to the ground to milk the penalty.

The home side finally got the start they were after with McReight crossing in the first minute after some quick hands by the Wallabies.

A Lolesio penalty pushed the score out to 10-3 but the Springboks built into the match and had every right to be in front at the break but for their try misses and wayward kicking by Handre Pollard.

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.

– Melissa Woods