Resurgent Wallabies stun Springboks at Ellis Park. Fantastic come-from-behind victory erases 62-year drought. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).
The Wallabies refused to be bullied or outmuscled by number one ranked Springboks as they rallied from 5-22 at the half to stun the home team at Ellis Park in South Africa.
Faced with what many regarded was an improbable victory they have been unable to achieve for 62 years, the new look men in Green and Gold ran rampant in the second half to score a famous victory that will be long rembered for its audacity and new found belief in themselves, leaving a stunned stadium trying to comprehend a 38-22 turnaround.
When Sia Kolisi’s men waded into attack from the kick-off, they made the Wallabies look ordinary piling on 15 points within the first 13 minutes.
Tries to Kurt-Le Arendso on just the 94th second of the game, followed by Andre Esterhuizem and skipper Kolisi had the Wallabies rattled and shellshocked readily admitted by coach Joe Schmidt.
A jubilant stadium of mostly home supporters settled back with smug looks anticipating an easy kill as the Springboks dominated the breakdowns and capatilised on early fumbling by the Wallabies backs.
The battle up front was brutally physical with no quarter asked and none given. The highly rated and much feared Springboks forwards led by Skipper Kolisi and Eden Etzebeth tested the Wallabies defence to the hilt with their relentless foraging. But the Wallabies to their credit hung in with fearless tackling to unsettle and stifle every potentially dangerous attack.
Skipper Harry Wilson, Will Skelton and Man-of-the-match Fraser McReight, worked tirelessly to hold their own and keeping the Springboks at bay.
Running in three tries and a penalty within 30 minutes of play in the first half, it seemed smooth sailing for the Springboks as they controlled the tempo while the Wallabies valiantly tried their utmost to stem the tide.
Wallabies fans looked desolate after the Springboks ran rampant in the first half, and no one anticipated or dreamt of a Wallabies comeback until it did. It felt like a Tsunami had hit as the tourists first capatilised on a reckless long pass by the Springboks fly half Manie Libbok which Joseph Suualii gleefully intercepted and ran the length of the field to score. It signalled one of the best come from behind triumphs in rugby history.
The Wallabies backs appeared more dangerous and elusive in possession, two more tries by Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright leaving the Springboks defence bemused as they danced around them and left them in their wake for tries that will be long remembered.
Skipper Harry Wilson skipped away untouched after receiving a well timed pass from Tom Wright in a half gap to add to the four tries to nothing Wallabies rampage that had the world champion left pondering what hit them.
Joe Schmidt silenced his critics who questioned the composition of the squad he put together due to key injuries to both fly- half’s Tom Lynagh and Donaldson bringing back veterans Nick White and James O’Connor from the wilderness.
Both had outstanding outings, and the victory, which initially looked like a disaster, added to the great coach’s forward thinking.
Summing up the fantastic comeback by the Wallabies, Schmidt remarked, “my part in it was only in the periphery”. He said the team has built up understanding and trust in each other and the new found belief and determination has them in a position to regain respect.
“I know how much it means to them. They are proud of the gold jersey that they wear and the bond they are forming between themselves “, Schmidt said after the game.
There’s no doubt that the Wallabies will not be taken lightly by any team in the world after their last two outings against the British and Irish Lions and now against the world’s best.
With the upcoming World Cup in Australia in 2027, things are looking bright for the Wallabies at home. It’s a long time between drinks until then but the writing on the wall clearly suggests a fabulous Wallabies return to the top bracket of World rugby.
