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The Qantas Wallabies and South Africa have played out an absorbing 23-23 draw in an emotional Test match at nib Stadium in Perth on Saturday night.
Both sides scored twice in a thrilling encounter in front of a crowd of mostly blue-clad supporters.
A sublime performance from Kurtley Beale put Australia in good stead in the first half, the creative back causing trouble for the visitors with almost every touch.
Remarkably, in the 84 Test matches between the rival nations, there has only ever been two drawn matches and both have unfolded in Perth. The first drawn Test was in 2001 at Subiaco Oval (14-14).
Beale scored the Wallabies opening try and Tatafu Polota-Nau added a second off a driving maul early in the second half, but in the end the two sides were forced to shared the spoils.
South Africa took the early lead when Sekope Kepu was penalised for infringing at the lineout allowing Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies to slot the penalty.
Bernard Foley countered with three points for the Wallabies after the visitors were pinged for laying in the ruck.
A tight affair had unfolded before a piece of broken play brilliance by Jesse Kriel opened the try-scoring for the night. Kriel swooped on a turnover ball and kicked ahead for his winger Raymond Rhule, but Rhule collected a cover-defending Michael Hooper on the way to the ball and Kriel was on the spot to pick up the loose ball and plant it down in the corner. Elton Jantjies’ kick from the sideline bounced through off the crossbar to give the Springboks a 10-3 lead.
Australia’s pain was short-lived as Israel Folau swatted the ball back from the ensuing restart to a waiting Adam Coleman to put the Wallabies on the attack. From the next play, Beale took the ball and used some dazzling footwork to slice through and provide an immediate answer.
On the cusp of half time, Australia earned a penalty which Foley converted from long range to give the home team a narrow 13-10 advantage at the break.
The Wallabies shot out of the blocks in the second stanza and after hammering the South Africa line for multiple phases, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau crashed over to open up a 10-point cushion following Foley’s conversion.
Elton Jantjies brought the Springboks to within striking distance in the 54th minute, adding a penalty goal to move them within a converted try.
Moments later, the Springboks looked to have a try for all money when Jan Serfontein burst through and set fly for the line, only to be dragged down metres short in a courageous effort from Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper who reeled him in after flying across from the far side of the field.
With momentum swinging towards the visitors, South Africa capitalised on their territorial advantage with a powerful rolling maul providing hooker Malcolm Marx with his first Test try and levelling the scores at 20-20.
Both sides traded penalties as they looked to edge out a lead but as the minutes counted down the two sides continued to show desperation in defence.
Another penalty goal each set the ledger at 23-all with 10 minutes remaining, but that’s where the scoring ended.
The Springboks had one look at a drop goal inside the final three minutes, but Jantjies’ attempt was charged down by the advancing Wallabies line.
The Wallabies will now head to Canberra to host Argentina at GIO Stadium next Saturday 16 September. They sit third in The Rugby Championship standings (3 points from 3 matches) behind leaders New Zealand (14) and South Africa (11).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
4 mins: Elton Jantjies pen AUS 0-3 RSA
8 mins: Bernard Foley pen AUS 3-3 RSA
25 mins: Jesse Kriel try, Elton Jantjies con AUS 3-10 RSA
28 mins: Kurtley Beale try, Bernard Foley con AUS 10-10 RSA
40 mins: Bernard Foley pen AUS 13-10 RSA
HALF TIME
46 mins: Tatafu Polota-Nau try, Bernard Foley con AUS 20-10 RSA
54 mins: Elton Jantjies pen AUS 20-13 RSA
59 mins: Malcolm Marx try, Elton Jantjies con AUS 20-20 RSA
67 mins: Elton Jantjies pen AUS 20-23 RSA
70 mins: Bernard Foley pen AUS 23-23 RSA
FULL TIME
Australia 23 (Kurtley Beale, Tatafu Polota-Nau tries; Bernard Foley 2 cons; 3 pens) drew with South Africa 23 (Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx tries; Elton Jantjies 2 cons; 3 pens)
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