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Faf De Klerk

Rugby

2022 Rugby Championship: Australia vs South Africa at Adelaide Oval Match Report

by Admin

Coming into the game, both sides were coming off a loss and desperately needed a win to keep their title hopes alive. Australia started quickly with Fraser McReight scoring in the opening minute, conversion slotted by Noah Lolesio.

Lolesio then kicked a penalty just a few minutes later to put the hosts 10-0 into the lead. In the 23rd minute, Handré Pollard kicked a penalty of his own to bring South Africa within 7 points.

In the 30th minute, South Africa looked dangerous attacking the Australian line as Ox Nché barrelled his way over from a short distance just to be held over the line by the Aussie defence.

Just before the half-time whistle blew, Springbok scrum-half Faf De Klerk was controversially yellow carded for striking fellow scrum-half Nic White in the head which reduced the away side to 14 men.

Australia started the second half strong as outside centre Len Ikitau made a darting run into the South African 22 before the ball was spun wide to Marika Koroibete who finishes the beautifully worked try.

In the 56th minute, Australia once again scored following a beautiful break from fly-half Noah Lolesio who popped it on to Fraser McReight who scored his second of the game.

The try was converted once more by Lolesio before slotting a penalty also to take the hosts 25-3 into the lead as we entered the final quarter of the match.

It took the Springboks 74 minutes to score their first try of the match as substitute Kwagga Smith ran one in for the visitors.

Aussie number 8 Rob Valetini was yellow carded in the final minute of the match which led to Kwagga Smith scoring his second try of the match, however, it was too little too late for the visitors who lost the match 25-17.

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Rugby

Rugby News, Wallabies regain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate with back to back wins v reigning World Champions the Springboks

by Sports Benches

Brilliant first-half performance from both the Wallabies and Springboks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane with a three-point difference at the half-time break 15-12.

Wallabies fired off very well courtesy of a double score from Len Ikitau in the midfield but need to improve their discipline especially when Lachie Swinton was slapped with a yellow card in the 33rd min if they want to leave this battle v Boks undefeated 2-0.

Boks, on the other hand, has won a few penalties where Handre Pollard at fly-half successfully converted a couple of penalty goals into the post but South Africa needs to be patient through the executions & cut the ill-discipline/lost penalties that would ultimately dictate this match.

In the end, the Wallabies had a complete performance when they may have lost the lead at one point just after the break but turned around thanks to a few fresh faces off the bench as well as Taniela Tupou’s all-round play & Marika Koroibete’s double TRY.

And the Boks may have stolen the lead at one point just after the break courtesy of Faf De Klerk’s little cross-kick to Lukhanyo Am but unable to kick on when their attack continues to lack the consistent execution as well as more ill-discipline that prevented them from closing in the Wallabies.

Full-Time: Wallabies 30-17 Springboks

Wallabies ended their two-match meeting this year with the Boks as undefeated alongside the series win which saw them regain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate as they have two more games left v Los Pumas from Argentina over the next two weeks.

The Springboks have two tough weeks to prepare v All Blacks going into the closing stages of this tournament, they are just five points behind them right now pending on the All Blacks’ result v Argentina later on but should the men in black lose then the Boks are not out of the running just yet.

Watch this space going into the last two weeks of the 2021 Rugby Championship.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the 2021 Rugby Championship: Springboks v Wallabies

by Sports Benches

What a night it has been for the returning Quade Cooper in the No.10 Wallabies shirt at fly-half!!

His kicking was spotless eight times into the goalposts including the game-winning brace that smiled at the Wallabies fans to cheer after full-time.

It gives much-needed experience especially when Noah Lolesio wasn’t performing well at International level recently & now is the time for Quade to nail down the starting No.10 role going into next year and the crucial World Cup year in 2023.

Next up is another returning Wallaby who made an immediate impact at the same time after the Olympics which is Samu Kerevi in the inside midfield position.

He performed really well last week in a losing side v All Blacks and kept his form tonight for a winning team when Samu bursted through the Springboks brick wall, his physicality in the attack helps find another support player or two which is reflected in the 1st half off Andrew Kellaway’s TRY.

Like Quade, the Wallabies need experienced and senior leaders such as Samu Kerevi who has played in Japan over the past two seasons & to come back here shows he can handle at International level.

And Faf De Klerk rounds off as the best Springbok player of the night at half-back.

He communicated very well behind their robust scrummaging and maul feed that knocked the Wallabies over at times especially when they won a few penalties & gained three tries the maul itself.

Unfortunately, the Boks were held back due to ill-discipline and a lack of finishing in open play which saw them being impatient as seen just before full-time when they lost the ball before Quade Cooper became the hero for the Wallabies.

RSAvAUS #QuadeCooper #SamuKerevi #FafDeKlerk #Springboks #Wallabies #Rugby #RugbyUnion #InternationalRugby

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