Springbok News: Spirits intact after narrow Wallaby defeat

Spirits intact after narrow Wallaby defeat: (Supersport) Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer gave credit to the Wallabies for a strong finish as the South Africans started the Castle Lager Rugby Championship with a heart-breaking 24-20 defeat in Brisbane on Saturday.

For the second successive year, the Wallabies snuck through with a try at the death. Tevita Kuridrani (centre) scored the match-winning try for the home team, awarded after a long deliberation between the referee and the TMO, adding to five-pointers by Adam Ashley-Cooper (wing) and Michael Hooper (flank).

Bok lock Eben Etzebeth and outside centre Jesse Kriel, on debut, both scored their first test tries for South Africa, while Handre Pollard (flyhalf) slotted four kicks from five at goal, two conversions and two penalty goals.

With 10 minutes to go, the Springboks were ahead by 20-10 before Hooper scored. Kuridrani crashed over for a converted try in injury time.

The visitors were dealt an early blow when Springbok captain Victor Matfield (lock) was forced to leave the field with a hamstring strain in the 18th minute. Workhorse flanker Marcell Coetzee took a knock to the knee in the 70th minute.

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