Wallabies too good for Boks

Mat Rogers skips clear against South Africa

The Qantas Wallabies have defeated South Africa 30-12 in a physical Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series Test match at Telstra Stadium.

Three tries in an eight minute period in the first half set up the win for Australia, who had to hold off a resolute Springboks outfit to take the opening match of the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate.

Matt Giteau scored a pair of tries while man of the match Stephen Larkham was in irrepressible form as Australia scored a five tries to nil win in front of 61,534 fans in Sydney.

As expected,  imposing South African forward pack tried to out muscle the Australians from the outset, but the Wallaby scrum held its own to keep the Springboks at bay, impressing coach Eddie Jones.

"I thought they were really committed. While South Africa gained ground, they didn;t gain the ascendancy, and that won us the game," he declared.

"We've been working hard on our tight pieces and it is those tight pieces that allow us to shift the ball around."

Australia made a bright start to the match, opening the scoring on four minutes when Matt Giteau converted a penalty from 38 metres out after the tourists were penalised for not rolling away. The Springboks hit back through Percy Montgomery, the fullback  levelling the scores after 10 minutes after Larkham was caught with his hands in the ruck.

The game started to open up halfway through the half, with both teams finding space on the fringes. Larkham was the man who broke the shackles, ghosting through a hole and running 20 metres for the game's first try.

The try seemed to energise the Springboks, but the Wallabies made them pay for a turnover, Rogers cutting through the middle of the South African defence before sending Giteau on a 20m sprint to the line.

A brilliant instinctive play from Larkham then created the third try, the flyhalf kicking from inside his own half for Rogers, who beat Montgomery to the ball and soccered the ball ahead before regathering for a try as the Wallabies raced clear at the break.

Montgomery reduced the deficit early in the second half but the Wallabies hit right back in the 51st minute, Larkham again the architect as he sent Giteau over for his second try.

South Africa kept chipping away, Montgomery booting two more penalties in quick succession as the Springboks stayed in touch. The tourists dominated the final quarter of the game and but were continually repelled by the Australian defence.

The Wallabies finished in style, Drew Mitchell marking his debut with a try with Rogers taking an intercept near his own line and racing over halfway before sending the Reds flyer over.

The return leg will be played at Johannesburg in a fortnight. 

Australia 30

Tries: Giteau 2, Larkham, Rogers, Mitchell

Conversions: Giteau

Penalties: Giteau

South Africa 12

Penalties: Montgomery 4

at Telstra Stadium