Wallabies continue losing ways with 23-12 defeat against Springboks
Port Elizabeth: The Wallabies have slumped to their eighth loss from 10 starts with a 23-12 defeat to South Africa that will only give Michael Cheika doubters more ammunition to call for change at the top.
Australia, who gave up a try after 24 seconds courtesy of a Kurtley Beale brain fade on his own line, were unable to snap a seven-year losing streak on South African soil after a tryless second half in which the Wallabies had a staggering 79 per cent of field territory.
The Springboks showed a fortnight ago in their win against the All Blacks that Test rugby can be won without the ball and without territory. By full-time, South Africa had just 40 per cent possession and 36 per cent territory.
The last time Australia lost eight games in a 10-match block was in 2005, when then coach Eddie Jones was sacked. The 11-point loss now means Australia has chalked up its worst run away from home (four losses on the trot) since 2009.
The pressure will only intensify on Cheika and his coaching staff, who a year out from the World Cup are showing few signs of getting this Wallabies moving in the right direction.
Australia are still last in the Rugby Championship with one round remaining and if the Pumas can beat New Zealand, the Wallabies will for the first time ever finish at the bottom of the ladder.
David Pocock was outstanding for the Wallabies in the first half, managing three turnover penalties to alleviate pressure when his side needed him most, while fellow back-rower Michael Hooper stood up in the second 40 minutes. It's just a shame not all his teammates were on the same page.
Australia tended to kick the ball away more than usual when they had possession and were inaccurate at the breakdown, missing plenty of crucial cleanouts that South Africa's big men capitalised on. The Wallabies also lost three of their 15 lineouts.
There was a moment of madness in the opening seconds from the kick-off as Beale, on the Wallabies’ line, decided it would be a clever idea to launch a floating left-to-right pass.
As the ball hung in the air, everyone at the ground could see what was about to transpire. Springboks winger Aphiwe Dyantyi nabbed the intercept and crossed the line after just 24 seconds to send crowd of 41,332 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium absolutely wild.
It was a stunning beginning to the match and the Wallabies looked properly rattled.
Thereafter, Beale clicked into gear, needing to make up for his blunder. On multiple occasions he tried to take the line on himself and his management at first receiver was better than in his last two outings at No.10.
Hooker Folau Faingaa, who was only called into the side just over 24 hours before kick-off because of an injury to Tatafu Polota-Nau, made a couple of early fumbles in a clear sign that he was feeling the pressure.
He then missed a critical tackle on Springboks No.10 Handrè Pollard, who straightened towards the line brilliantly before halfback Faf de Klerk, running an excellent support line, finished off the play to give the home side a 14-point lead.
Rather than throw the towel in, the Wallabies fought back even if careless errors were costing them. First there was a crisp, over-the-top pass from Will Genia to Reece Hodge, who did the rest on the right wing.
Four minutes later, the Wallabies halfback went over himself, thanks to a nippy run from Marika Koroibete down the left edge to bring the margin back to two in the 30th minute.
Shortly after, however, the Wallabies lost Koroibete to a head injury assessment, giving Jack Maddocks nearly 30 minutes of game-time before Bernard Foley was injected in the 59th minute.
Australia went into the break trailing 20-12 and would have been equal with the Springboks had Matt Toomua and Hodge been successful with their kicks throughout the half.
The Wallabies turned down a number of chances to kick for points in the second half, instead opting for a scrum or a kick for touch. Whether they would have been able to reel in the Springboks will never be known as the Africans hung tough to resign Australia to another crushing defeat just when you thought they could not get any lower.