A Look Back: South Africa's Wins Against Australia in Down Under Rugby Matches
Rebooting the Memories: A Brief Look at the Springboks' Rare Wins against the Wallabies Down Under
Tackling the upcoming Rugby Championship matches against the Aussie Wallabies, Quintin van Jaarsveld reminisces about the Springboks' rare triumphs on Australian soil.
Rugby Down Under has not been the friendliest territory for the Springboks, with only five victories since professional rugby emerged in 1996. Let's rewind the tape and revisit the Boks' unforgettable triumphs:
Mallett's Trailblazers
Nick Mallett's Tri-Nations-winning team of 1998 became the first South African side to conquer Australian soil, with stalwart Gary Teichmann captaining the team alongside flanks Andre Venter and the legendary Rassie Erasmus. The Boks initiated their historic 17-match winning streak in a pulsating Perth encounter.
The Wallabies sprinted off to an early lead, but the Boks remained composed, with Percy Montgomery scoring their first try, followed by a rapid-fire tap-and-go from Joost van der Westhuizen. Matt Burke leveled the score before halftime, but a third three-pointer from Montgomery edged the Boks ahead, providing just enough cushion to hold off the Wallabies for a historic win.
Habana on the Double
Seven years later in Perth, the Boks tasted victory again. Bryan Habana stole the show in the 2005 Tri-Nations clash, scoring a brace of tries to help the Boks secure a 22-19 victory. With Montgomery providing the kicking backup, the Boks leaped on a Wallaby mistake to set the tone and cling onto a hard-earned triumph.
Smit and Company March On
In 2009, the Springboks, reigning world champions, marched on to a double win against the Wallabies, clinching the Tri-Nations after sweeping the All Blacks and British and Irish Lions. The Boks cruised to a 32-25 victory in Perth, with John Smit donning the No. 3 jersey and Habana scoring another brace.
Meyer's Men Run Riot
Heyneke Meyer led the Springboks to their latest win in Brisbane in 2013, decimating the Wallabies 38-12. The Boks stormed the field with four tries, while the Australians struggled to remain disciplined and were limited to Christian Leali'ifano's penalty goals.
A New Era Begins
Siya Kolisi and teenage wing Canan Moodie led the charge in a commanding 24-8 victory in Sydney in 2022, ending a nine-year drought for the Springboks on Australian soil. The Boks displayed unstoppable intensity and physicality, with Moodie scoring the match-defining try just before halftime.
Quintin Van Jaarsveld, a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year, has covered rugby extensively, boasting over 15 years of experience in sports journalism.[2]
[1] - Rugby Championship Information: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/thread/the-rugby-championship[2] - Quintin Van Jaarsveld - Background: https://www.writeups.co/writer/quintin-van-jaarsveld[3] - Times Live - Rassie Erasmus - Interview (Archive): https://web.archive.org/web/20190729190541/https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/2019-07-27-rassie-erasmus-we-were-a-shambles-in-1997/[4] - EWN - World Cup Opening Match - 1995 (Archive): https://web.archive.org/web/20130506122128/http://ewn.co.za/1995/12/16/Pumas-trounce-All-Blacks-opening-match-of-the-RFU-Cup-while-Boks-beat-wallabies[5] - BBC - Rugby World Cup 1995 - Overview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/world-cup-1995[6] - Mandela Challenge Plate History: https://www.espn.com/rugby/series/6/historicalstats/top-teams/_/view/head-to-head/ Springboks vs Wallabies[7] - SARU - Mandela Challenge Plate: https://web.archive.org/web/20130328110501/http://www.sarugby.co.za/sarugby/fixtures/mandelachallengeplate.html
In the historical annals of rugby, the Springboks celebrated significant victories against the Wallabies in 1998, 2005, 2009, and 2013, with notable wins in Perth and Brisbane. Nick Mallett's Tri-Nations-winning team, captained by Gary Teichmann and Rassie Erasmus, initiated a 17-match winning streak in Perth, while Bryan Habana's braces in Perth (2005) and Sydney (2022) stood out. In 2009, the Springboks, reigning world champions, clinched the Tri-Nations in Perth, and Siya Kolisi led the charge in Sydney in 2022, ending a nine-year drought.
