Springboks survive late drama to edge Australia and keep alive title hopes

By Canadian Press on August 23, 2025.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa edged Australia 30-22 and kept alive its hopes of retaining the Rugby Championship crown on Saturday.

A second straight defeat to the Wallabies in the republic — not seen since 1963 — would have sunk the title hopes and surprisingly vulnerable confidence of the world champion Springboks.

But flyhalf Handre Pollard’s unerring accuracy off the tee and the “bomb squad” of replacements proved the difference. Pollard, one of nine changes after South Africa’s 38-22 loss at Ellis Park a week ago, slotted all six of his goalkicks.

In contrast, Wallabies flyhalf James O’Connor missed his last three goalkicks in the last 12 minutes; a conversion to Brandon Paenga-Amosa’s try that brought Australia to 23-22 and two penalties.

O’Connor was apparently playing on an injured ankle and Australia had no more reserve backs.

Both teams scored three tries each as Australia, again, was incredibly resilient and rallied for the second straight weekend from a deep hole.

South Africa led 22-0 at Ellis Park before capitulating. It led 20-7 late in the first half at Cape Town Stadium but the Wallabies comeback stalled at 23-22 down with 12 minutes to go.

Eben Etzebeth came off the bench for his 135th test to scrape the ball on the try-line with six minutes left to make it 30-22.

But even more late drama — Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s high tackle and Aphelele Fassi’s yellow card and O’Connor’s missed goalkicks — left the result in suspense until after the fulltime hooter.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

The Associated Press