Wallabies retain Mandela shield after bonus point victory over South Africa

The Wallabies have celebrated Michael Hooper's record 60th Test as captain in style, defeating South Africa 30-17 in front of a boisterous 38,215 crowd at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Back-to-back tries to Len Ikitau and Marika Koroibete secured the Wallabies second straight win of the eToro Rugby Championship with the bonus point win set to see the side rise to third in the world rankings.

Australia struck first following a back-and-forth exchange with the visitors before a yellow card to Faf de Klerk saw the home side capitalise on the overlap as Ikitau chalked up his first Test try for Australia.

A penalty saw Handre Pollard bring South Africa into the match before Ikitau again found his way over the line for a second try, with a successful conversion from Quade Cooper extending the lead.  

Cooper and Pollard again went head-to-head with the boot before a yellow card to Lachlan Swinton saw the South African's reduce the Wallabies lead to three points at halftime.

South Africa crossed first in the second half with Lukhanyo Am finding a try in the corner before another penalty for Cooper allowed the Wallabies to snatch back the lead.

A monumental defensive effort from the Wallabies saw the pace of the game shift again, providing an attacking opportunity and Marika Koroibete crossed to further extend the Wallabies lead. 

The Wallabies continued to find their rhythm, making light work of the visitor's defence, as Koroibete crossed for his second try of the night and secured the win for the Wallabies.


SCORE: 
Wallabies 30 (Ikitau 2, Koroibete 2 tries, Cooper 2 cons, Cooper 2 pens) defeated South Africa 17 (Am try, Pollard 4 pens)

Wallabies (1-15): James Slipper, Folau Fainga'a, Taniela Tupou, Izack Rodda, Matt Philip, Lachie Swinton, Michael Hooper (c) Rob Valetini, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Banks

Reserves: Feleti Kaitu'u, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia

Wallabies Substitutions: 
27mins – Hodge for Banks, 42mins – Swinton for Samu, 54mins – Bell for Slipper & Kaitu'u for Fainga'a, 60mins – McDermott for White, 71mins – Petaia for Koroibete, 74mins – Swain for Rodda, 77mins – Robertson for Tupou

Springboks (1-15): Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie, Siya Kolisi (c), Franco Mostert, Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Sbu Nkosi, Willie le Roux

Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Herschel Jantjies, Damian Willemse