@Springboks
An outstanding performance from a well-organised Australia inflicted a 30-17 defeat on the Springboks at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, their heaviest loss in 29 Tests since losing by the same margin to Argentina in Mendoza in 2018.
The Wallabies scored four tries, two each to centre Len Ikitau and wing Marika Koroibete, to one from Bok centre Lukhanyo Am, to see the visitors’ hopes of retaining the Castle Lager Rugby Championship hit the buffers.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber pulled no punches and offered no excuses after South Africa went down by 30-17 to the Wallabies in their Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test match in Brisbane on Saturday, admitting that they were outplayed in all areas.
He described the performance as the Boks’ worst since 2018 and said they will need a massive improvement if they want to be competitive against New Zealand next weekend.
“We were truly beaten in each department, and beaten hands down,” said a disappointed Nienaber after the Test. We just made too many errors in every aspect of our game and we need to figure out quickly what went wrong, as things don’t get any easier in the next two weeks."
“In the Rugby Championship, you get tested differently by each opponent and we came up short against Australia. Next week will be another massive, but different challenge and we will have to try and turn things around. Win or lose, we have a review process anyway, and that will be done again.”
Nienaber apologised to Springbok supporters for the performance, which he described as the worst since the defeat against Argentina in Mendoza in 2018 and not worthy of the green and gold jersey.
“We were overpowered. We have not conceded four tries in a match since 2018 and today we could not respond to the challenges put up by Australia,” the Bok coach said.
Scorers:
Springboks 17 (12) – Try: Lukhanyo Am. Penalty goals: Handre Pollard (4).
Australia 30 (15) – Tries: Len Ikitau (2), Marika Koroibete (2). Conversions: Quade Cooper (2). Penalty goals: Cooper (2).
(Source: Springbok Rugby - https://www.springboks.rugby/news-features/articles/2021/09/18/on-song-australia-sink-springbok-hopes-in-brisbane/)
