The Springboks' early surge crumbled into a disheartening defeat as the Wallabies staged an impressive comeback in the Rugby Championship's opening round. Despite a 22-0 lead at Ellis Park, South Africa squandered their advantage, eventually falling 38-22 to an invigorated Australian team. This marked a significant milestone, with Australia clinching their first victory in the professional era at this venue.
Former All Black Jeff Wilson praised the Wallabies' turnaround under coach Joe Schmidt. "A massive congratulations to Joe Schmidt and his team," Wilson commented on the Breakdown. He highlighted the strategic bravery in team selection, particularly praising the inclusion of James O’Connor despite injury concerns. "And in the end, the Springboks fell off a cliff in the second half. They had opportunities early in the second half to put the game away, but they failed. Then this team that won the third Test against the Lions got the job done. It was impressive."
"I can try butter it up and bottle it up to sound cool and respectful, but we were really dogshit. The effort was maybe there, but the accuracy or precision wasn’t,"
Rassie Erasmus didn't mince words about his team's performance in the post-match press conference. Ex-All Black scrum-half Justin Marshall echoed Erasmus's sentiments, suggesting the coach's locker room comments were likely even more blistering. "That’s probably quite light compared to what he would have said in the changing room," Marshall said. He agreed with Erasmus’s blunt assessment but noted the coach also acknowledged Australia’s hunger and tactical execution.
Adding to the discussion, former All Black full-back Mils Muliaina reflected on the significance of the result given its historical context. "I think you’ve got to realize how significant this one is; this is Ellis Park," Muliaina noted. He emphasized the resilience of the Wallabies, who, despite a daunting start, did not panic but instead regrouped with remarkable composure and determination.
This result not only shakes up the expected dynamics of the Rugby Championship but also signals a possible shift in power, challenging the Springboks to reassess and regroup if they aim to reclaim their dominant stature on the international stage.