Captain and No 8 Harry Wilson scored two tries as Australia staged a remarkable comeback to stun South Africa 38-22 in the 2025 Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Trailing by 22 points after 19 minutes, the Wallabies scored 38 unanswered points for a first victory over the Springboks in the South African economic capital since 1963.
“I’m just blown away at the way that they stayed in the game, because at 22-0 down after 20 minutes, gee it would be easy to fall out of the game,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt told Stan Sport.
“I am incredibly proud of the group. 1963 was a long time ago, so the players are delighted.”
Backs Dylan Pietsch, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright were the other Australian try scorers and veteran James O’Connor, recalled after a three-year absence, converted four.
Kurt-Lee Arendse, Andre Esterhuizen and captain Siya Kolisi crossed the line for the defending champions. Manie Libbok converted twice and slotted a penalty.
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“This win is right up there, especially since it has been 60-odd years since we tasted success in Joburg,” veteran Australia prop James Slipper said.
“We have worked hard and we have got a bit of confidence, but we are still building. Credit to the boys that they stuck in there, and the bench really added value.
“We had a bit of a slow start and the Boks started really fast, but we kinda knew that they would come at us hard.
“It is such a special moment, it is a tough ask to come here and play the world champions. We will gain a lot of confidence from this result.
“It will be another tough game next weekend (in Cape Town) and we will prepare hard. The Springboks are hurting and will want revenge.”
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi, a flanker playing at No 8 for the first time in a 94-Test career, said: “The things we worked on, like discipline and the breakdown, they did not work.
“We let ourselves down and it was unacceptable the way we performed, especially after a start like that.
“Yes, there were errors, but it was the breakdown – we would get into their 22 and they would steal the ball.
“We took our foot off while they kept on fighting. We are not proud of that performance today.
“We will lift ourselves up and fight again next week. Whoever gets the opportunity to play must take it. Thank you to our supporters and sorry for the performance.”
Record four-time Rugby World Cup winners South Africa were unstoppable in the early stages on a grey evening at Ellis Park with scrum-half Grant Williams playing a key role.
His perfectly weighted box kicks allowed the Springboks to establish an aerial advantage and the power of the forwards had the visitors reeling.
When Kolisi crossed for the third try it was hard to imagine what was to follow in the first game of the southern hemisphere championship season.
The first hint that a stunning revival was imminent came on 29 minutes when Pietsch scored. He was forced to retire injured soon after following a collision with Kolisi.
Australia dominated the second half, helped by endless basic errors from South Africa. When Wilson scored his second try on 64 minutes, Australia took a 24-22 lead.
The Springboks were let down by a lack of pace and by missed tackles on defence in the closing stages. Jorgensen and Wright took advantage to end a run of seven straight Wallaby losses in Johannesburg.
“This is a match and a performance that will go down in Wallabies history,” former Australian representative Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sport.
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