"Handre Pollard put in a commanding performance at fly-half as a more pragmatic South Africa beat Australia 30-22 in their second Rugby Championship Test in Cape Town on Saturday to reignite the defence of their title. Australia had stunned the world champion Springboks 38-22 in their competition opener in Johannesburg the previous weekend as the hosts tried to play an expansive game-plan with ball in hand and were picked off."
"This time round they turned it into an aerial contest, marshalled superbly by Pollard, who kicked 15 points to go with tries by wing Canan Moodie, No 8 Kwagga Smith and lock Eben Etzebeth. Australia were in the fight all the way and put in another excellent display as they scored three tries through wings Corey Toole and Max Jorgensen, and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, but a good old-fashioned arm-wrestle is the Springboks' forte."
Handre Pollard dominated at fly-half, using precise kicking to control territory and score 15 points as South Africa won 30-22 in Cape Town. South Africa adopted a pragmatic aerial game to counter the expansive style that had led to a 38-22 loss in Johannesburg the prior weekend. Tries by wing Canan Moodie, No 8 Kwagga Smith and lock Eben Etzebeth complemented Pollard’s kicking. Australia remained competitive, scoring three tries through wings Corey Toole, Max Jorgensen and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa. The match became a physical arm-wrestle, with South Africa’s structured kicking and forward power proving decisive to reignite their title defence.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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