Bryan Habana playing for the Springboks. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
LIVE SCORES
| Australia Vs. South Africa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD | ||
| Australia 24 defeated South Africa 20 | ||
| Australia | South Africa | |
| 24 | FINAL SCORE | 20 |
| TRIES | ||
| 3/3 | CONVERSION KICKS | 2/2 |
| 1/4 | PENALTY GOALS | 2/3 |
| 0/0 | DROP GOAL | |
Top scorers:
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Important moments:
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| Referee: N Owens |
| Touch judges: G Jackson & M Fraser |
Match Result:
A post-siren try from Tevita Kuridrani has given Australian a stunning 24-20 win over the Springboks in Brisbane.
The Wallabies scored the first try of the match through Ashley-Cooper but faced a tough asked when South Africa pushed out to a 20-10 lead.
A Michael Hooper try in the 73rd minute gave the Wallabies hope, and Kuridrani got them over the line.
Australia 24 def. South Africa 20
Match Preview:
Australia have gone back to the future recalling Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Greg Holmes, Will Genia and Quade Cooper for their Rugby Championship opener against South Africa. Will these selections work or will the Wallabies be heading back to the drawing board? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:00pm (AEST)
In his first team announcement for a home test, coach Michael Cheika has gone for the tried and tested.
Giteau, who won his 92nd cap against Samoa in 2011, will line-up at second five eight alongside Cooper at first five.
Cooper last played for Australia with his Queensland Reds partner Genia on the tour of Europe in November 2013.
Giteau and Cooper are likely to alternate as first receiver with the latter offering more assured game management to complement the Queensland flyhalf’s attacking threat.
Prop Holmes, who looks set to get his first taste of international rugby in eight years, was named on the bench along with winger Mitchell, who made his 63rd appearance for his country against Wales in December 2012.
In the pack, Will Skelton gets his second start in a Wallabies shirt with number eight Scott Higginbotham and blindside flanker Scott Fardy making up for the hulking lock’s lack of a lineout game.
Chieka preferred Michael Hooper to David Pocock at openside in the hotly contest seven jersey, but surely playing both in the starting XV was considered. Australia will look to play at pace and having two outstanding exponents of ruck turnovers would have helped this cause immeasurably.
