For 40 minutes the Wallabies managed to stick with the Springboks’ second-string side in Perth.
In fact, was it not for a missed shot at goals from Noah Lolesio, Joe Schmidt’s side should have been in front at half-time.
They didn’t necessarily look like first-half leaders. Indeed, the Springboks bombed two tries in two minutes – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu spilt the ball with the line free while Makazole Mapimpi lost control of it after a last-ditched tackle from Tom Wright – but the Wallabies stayed in the hunt.
As expected, however, the Springboks grew throughout the game as they brought on their A-listers in the second 40 minutes as the visitors won comfortably 30-12. It saw Malcolm Max cross for a second-half double.
While the Wallabies were brave and didn’t go away, they weren’t helped by losing three of their props. Or were they? It meant the final 32 minutes of the match moved to uncontested scrums.
So how did the players rate?
Tom Wright – 7.5
This was Wright’s best performance to date in gold this year.
Although, Wright scored the match-winning try in Sydney to kick start their international campaign, the fullback delivered a much more complete performance against the Springboks in Perth.
Wright made two-saving tackles, including on Mapimpi in the 12th minute and Cheslin Kolbe 15 minutes later.
He also showed what he can with his boot, earning the Wallabies an attacking lineout with a 50-22 in the 39th minute. It should have given the Wallabies a 12-11 half-time lead.
Wright also freed up Max Jorgensen in the 56th minute with a nice cross-field kick.
He did however fail to free up his teammate in the 67th minute when Jorgensen was unmarked on the wing when the Wallabies were playing under advantage. Instead, Wright stepped back on the inside when he needed to make a relatively straight-forward left-to-right pass.
Tom Wright was one of the Wallabies’ best during their defeat to the Springboks in Perth. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Andrew Kellaway – 5
One or two nice touches from switch plays but Kellaway didn’t see the ball nearly enough. He wasn’t helped by the Wallabies’ issues up front.
Len Ikitau – 5
Worked hard in the first half but was another to rarely see the ball in the second half.
Unfortunately, the outside-centre’s grubber midway through the second-half didn’t work out with the Wallabies 30 metres out, as Kolbe – the best player on the field – picked the ball up cleanly and whacked it 60 metres down field to find touch just short of the Wallabies’ 22m line.
Hunter Paisami – 4.5
Tried hard but without much pay.
There was the cross-field kick that didn’t work out for Kellaway in the 12th minute. Fortunately, Wright made a trysaver.
Then, five minutes later, Paisami lost control of the ball on the deck. But was there the hint of a knock-on by the Boks on the ground?
Marika Koroibete – 6
A real mixed bag from the Wallabies flyer.
Koroibete’s hits stung and the Japan-based winger brought some physicality to the Wallabies on the edge.
But Koroibete’s accuracy wasn’t quite there either.
His chip-and-chase almost led to the Springboks’ opening try as Kolbe burnt the staggered defence.
Koroibete also gave away two penalties either side of halftime. One was for pushing Kolbe out of the way from the kick restart and the other was for incorrect entry at the ruck. The penalty led to the Springboks kicking for the corner and an early try in the second half.
The flying winger did however bring down Pieter-Steph du Toit just short of the tryline at the death.
Noah Lolesio – 6
After last week’s less than convincing display, Lolesio delivered an improved performance.
It certainly wasn’t flawless though, with a knock-on in the 60th minute under the high ball and a penalty soon after for not rolling away.
The Brumbies fly-half tried things and took the game on. He kicked well on the whole and ripped in defensively, too.
But the playmaker’s missed shot on the stroke of half-time was a momentum killer. Had he landed it, the Wallabies would have been up 12-11 at half-time. He didn’t.
Nonetheless, Lolesio’s four penalties in tough conditions showed what he’s capable of.
Nic White was lucky to escape punishment for making contact in the air with Lukhanyo Am at Optus Stadium on August 17, 2024. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Nic White – 4
Handed a start by Schmidt for the first time in 2024, White struggled with his accuracy and discipline.
White’s usually sound kicking game struggled for length while the No.9 didn’t help himself by getting into a running battle with referee Paul Williams either.
The veteran halfback was intercepted by Kolbe in the 27th minute, too.
Perhaps the best thing that could be said about White is that during his stay on the field, the Wallabies only trailed by eight points. White’s a competitor and his experience can’t be discounted.
Harry Wilson – 6
The big No.8’s game was a tale of two halves.
Wilson was busy in the first half as they kept in touch with the Springboks through discipline and hard work, but unfortunately the makeshift captain gave away a couple of penalties in the second half, including in the 53rd minute for changing his running line.
He was later pinged for holding on in the 70th minute as debutant Seru Uru was too slow with the cleanout.
Earlier, Wilson’s chop tackle forced an error in the 30th minute while he was also effective at the lineout.
Carlo Tizzano – 6.5
The Wallabies missed Fraser McReight’s running game over the past two Tests but they’ve found a hard worker and physically confrontational flanker in Tizzano.
The Force flanker made 16 tackles without a miss. That’s work-rate and discipline.
The Wallabies react after going down to the Springboks in Perth to start The Rugby Championship with consecutive defeats. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Rob Valetini – 6
Not quite the same effectiveness with ball-in-hand, but Valetini was still strong in contact and industrious in defence. Indeed, the big flanker made 11 tackles.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 6
The big lock made a lineout steal in the 14th minute and was busy in the first half.
After scoring points in the 21st minute, Salakaia-Loto did drop a kick restart in the 21st minute. It immediately put the Wallabies on the backfoot.
Later, the 27-year-old spilled a ball deep inside the Springboks’ 22m zone.
Angus Blyth – 4
Hit rucks but needed to do more.
Allan Alaalaota – 5
Won a controversial early penalty at the scrum but otherwise struggled at the set-piece.
Alaalatoa got an extra point for his decision-making in the first-half, with the Wallabies staying in the fight until he and Angus Bell were forced off at half-time.
It came after the tight-head prop copped a stray elbow from Len Ikitau.
Angus Bell tried hard but was forced off at half-time during the Wallabies’ loss to the Springboks at Optus Stadium on August 17, 2024. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Josh Nasser – 5.5
Fought hard and won an on-ball penalty in the 20th minute by getting on Kolbe.
With his fellow front-rowers going down, Nasser couldn’t be blamed for the set-piece woes in the second-half.
Angus Bell – 5.5
The Wallabies loose-head prop made a welcomed return but his absence in the second-half hurt.
Bell gave away two penalties – one for not rolling away in the 15th minute and another ten minutes later for collapsing at the scrum – but otherwise made an impact on both sides of the ball.
Reserves
Billy Pollard – 5
Lost a lineout in the 66th minute and had another shaky one two minutes later, but Pollard was physical across the park and busy in defence during his 30-minute stint.
James Slipper – N/A
Came on shortly after half-time but was forced off in the 48th minute with concussion.
Zane Nonggorr – 5
Won a penalty for getting on the ball in the 78th minute but then dropped a ball cold seconds later second phase from the lineout.
Tom Hooper – 5
Came on midway through the second half but couldn’t stem the tide.
Seru Uru – 4.5
Pinged in the 72nd minute for collapsing the maul. Uru was shown a yellow card.
Tate McDermott – 5
Managed to dive on a grubber to prevent the Springboks from scoring a try, McDermott was sprightly but couldn’t do much with his forwards struggling.
Ben Donaldson – N/A
Came on in the final ten minutes.
Max Jorgensen – 6
A positive couple of touches during Jorgensen’s 33-minute debut.
Jorgensen got the crowd to stand up when he burst onto Wright’s cross-field kick and beat the first defender. The 19-year-old took a step too far before trying to chip and chase.
