The Springboks kicked off their Rugby Championship campaign with a resounding 7-33 victory over the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

This marked their first win in Australia since 2013 at the same venue, demonstrating their dominance as reigning world champions.

The Boks put the Wallabies under immense pressure in the first half, showcasing their superior physicality and tactical acumen. However, their discipline wavered in the second half, resulting in yellow cards for Malcolm Marx, Marco van Staden, and Jesse Kriel, which reduced them to 13 men.

Despite the Wallabies’ rebuilding phase, they fought valiantly, and the home side entered the match with momentum, having won four of their previous matches under coach Joe Schmidt. The introduction of new laws aimed at speeding up the game created a fast-paced encounter, testing the players’ adaptability.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, making his first start, had an early opportunity to kick a penalty but missed wide. However, the Boks quickly capitalized on a strong driving maul, with captain Siya Kolisi scoring a try that was successfully converted by Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Pieter-Steph du Toit extended the lead with a second try, showcasing the Boks’ dominance.

The Wallabies faced relentless defensive pressure, and Andrew Kelleway was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Cobus Reinach. Kurt-lee Arendse further stretched the Boks’ advantage with a try, giving them a comfortable 21-0 lead at halftime.

The Wallabies’ assistant coach acknowledged their youth and inexperience during the halftime break, as they struggled to contain the Springboks’ attacking power. The second half saw a slight decrease in tempo, but the Boks maintained their dominance, adding two more tries through Kwagga Smith and Arendse.

However, the Boks’ discipline issues resurfaced as Marx was sin-binned for a head-on collision with Harry Wilson, followed by van Staden for failing to roll away. The Wallabies capitalized on the numerical advantage, scoring a consolation try through Hunter Paisami. Kriel’s subsequent yellow card left the Boks playing with 13 men, highlighting a weakness that could be exploited by tougher opponents like the All Blacks.

This victory marked the Springboks’ fourth win in Australia, having previously triumphed in 1956, 1971, and 2013. The two teams will face off again next weekend in the second Test of the Rugby Championship.