South Africa too strong for  Australia in Rugby championship

South Africa too strong for  Australia in Rugby championship

The reigning World Cup champions scored the game's only four tries in front of 58,197 fans.
South Africa's Lukhanyo Am (top) catches the ball above Australia's Nic White during the Rugby Championship Test match.  / Photo: AFP

South Africa scored three second-half tries Saturday to hand Australia a second loss in two weeks, beating the Wallabies 30-12 in a rain-soaked Rugby Championship match.

South Africa, which led 11-9 at halftime, outclassed the Wallabies 33-7 last Saturday in Brisbane to hand Australia its first defeat of the season after three wins.

The Springboks went ahead 18-9 in the 43rd minute Saturday and after a Wallabies penalty goal increased its lead to 23-12 when hooker Malcolm Marx rolled over from a driving maul in the 64th minute.

They scored their final try with six minutes remaining when Marx again scored from a maul with the Wallabies playing a man short before more than 58,000 fans in Perth.

South Africa split a two-match series at home with Ireland and beat Portugal before heading to Australia. The Wallabies had two wins over Wales and a victory over Georgia to start Joe Schmidt’s reign as coach.

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AP