Second half: South Africa 22-5 Australia
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 17:16
Half-time: South Africa 22-5 Australia
Some pictures from the first half at Ellis Park:
South African players sing their national anthem (Reuters)
South Africa’s Kurt-Lee Arendse runs to score a try (AFP via Getty Images)
Siya Kolisi celebrates after scoring under the posts (AFP via Getty Images)
Australia wing Dylan Pietsch goes over in the corner (AFP via Getty Images)
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 17:05
Half-time: South Africa 22-5 Australia
The Springboks can’t turn late pressure into a score, and White kicks the ball into touch after a spilled lineout to bring a one-sided half to an end.
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 16:59
38 min: James O’Connor boots too far downfield, all the way off the pitch, and now South Africa will have one last play with a scrum inside the Australian 22 just before half-time.
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 16:54
36 min: Kellaway zips downfield and kicks for Ikitau, but Arendse is back to cleans up.
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 16:53
32 min: The clock is stopped after a couple of players go down injured. Dylan Pietsch is holding his mouth, or perhaps jaw, after a collision with Siya Kolisi’s head which did not look pretty. Kolisi meanwhile is receiving some treatment for his knee.
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 16:47
TRY! South Africa 22-5 Australia (Pietsch, 28 min)
28 min: The Wallabies enjoy their best period of the match, stringing together phases around the Springboks’ 22, before a wonderful piece of creativity by Len Ikitau, who plays a little one-two before firing a pass out wide for Dylan Pietsch to score in the corner.
James O’Connor misses the conversion from the touchline.
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 16:44
25 min: Manie Libbok is penalised for failing to roll away after making a tackle. Australia boot the penalty long down into the 22 for another lineout, from which they try a cheeky chip in behind, but Edwill van der Merwe does really well to get across and catch an awkward bouncing ball under the posts, and Libbok kicks to touch.
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 16:39
22 min: Australia use a penalty and some rare territory to kick for the corner rather than the posts. But Billy Pollard’s lineout is not straight, and the chance is wasted.
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 16:35
TRY! South Africa 22-0 Australia (Kolisi, 18 min)
Fraser McReight pinches a turnover to give Australia some brief relief from the Sprinbok onslaught, but it doesn’t last long as Etzebeth snatches it back and they come again. South Africa earn a penalty for a high tackle but don’t need it as Kolisi picks and slides through the middle of the Australian defence like an outside centre!
Libbok knocks over the extras from in front of the posts.
Lawrence Ostlere16 August 2025 16:32