QANTAS WALLABIES DEFEATED IN PORT ELIZABETH STRUGGLE

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Mitsubishi Estate Rugby Championship
Qantas Wallabies v South Africa
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Saturday 29 September 2018

Australia 12 (Reece Hodge, Will Genia tries; Matt Toomua con) was defeated by South Africa 23 (Aphiwe Dyantyi, Faf de Klerk tries; Handre Pollard 2 cons; 3 pens)

Match summary:
The Qantas Wallabies have gone down to a gritty South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Sunday morning (AEST), with the home side finishing on top 23-12 after a try-less second half.

The match was punctuated by missed opportunities from the men in Gold after they had fought their way back from an early 14-0 deficit to trail 20-12 at the main break.

Centre Reece Hodge and half Will Genia crossed in quick succession midway through the first half and it look like the Wallabies were gaining the ascendancy after enduring a nightmare start when Springboks winger Aphiwe Dyantyi plucked Kurtley Beale’s attempted cut-out pass on his own goal line to score inside the opening minute of play.

However, a pair of late first half penalty goals by South Africa flyhalf Handre Pollard, and a third strike just on the other side of the break, would take care of the scoring for the day.

The Springboks got through a mountain of second half defence in a dogged display in front of a 41,000 crowd at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, while the Wallabies were unable to convert their dominance in territory and possession into points.

Backrowers David Pocock and Michael Hooper were the standouts for the Australians, but in the end the South Africans frustrated the visitors to secure a second straight victory after toppling the All Blacks in New Zealand a fortnight earlier.

As it happened:
1 mins: Aphiwe Dyantyi try, Handre Pollard con AUS 0-7 RSA
20 mins: Faf de Klerk try, Handre Pollard con AUS 0-14 RSA
25 mins: Reece Hodge try AUS 5-14 RSA
28 mins: Will Genia try, Matt Toomua con AUS 12-14 RSA
33 mins: Handre Pollard pen AUS 12-17 RSA
40 mins: Handre Pollard pen AUS 12-20 RSA
45 mins: Handre Poolard pen AUS 12-23 RSA
65 mins: Aphiwe Dyantyi yellow card

Qantas Wallabies
15. Dane Haylett-Petty 14. Israel Folau 13. Reece Hodge 12. Matt Toomua 11. Marika Koroibete (23. Jack Maddocks, HIA 31 mins, Maddocks replaced by 22. Bernard Foley at 59 mins) 10. Kurtley Beale 9. Will Genia (21. Nick Phipps, 70 mins) 8. David Pocock 7. Michael Hooper © 6. Ned Hanigan 5. Adam Coleman (20. Rob Simmons, 70 mins) 4. Izack Rodda (19. Rory Arnold, 70 mins) 3. Taniela Tupou (18. Allan Alaalatoa, 50 mins) 2. Folau Faingaa (16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 63 mins) 1. Scott Sio (17. Sekope Kepu, 50 mins)
*replacements in brackets

South Africa
15. Willie le Roux 14. Cheslin Kolbe 13. Jesse Kriel 12. Andre Esterhuizen 11. Aphiwe Dyantyi 10. Handre Pollard 9. Faf de Klerk 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe 7. Peter-Steph du Toit 6. Siya Kolisi 5. Franco Mostert 4. Eben Etzebeth 3. Frans Malherbe 2. Malcolm Mark 1. Tendai Mtawarira
16. Mbongeni Mbonami 17. Steven Kitshoff 18. Wilco Louw 19. RG Snyman 20. Marco van Staden 21. Embrose Papier 22. Elton jantjies 23. Damian Willemse

Match Notes:
Scott Sio – 50th Test