South Africa 22 - 38 Australia

Full time

16 Aug 2025

The Rugby Championship

Stage: Regular Season Round 1

Emirates Airline Park

South Africa vs Australia head to head

🎉 5

👏 3

💩 2

🔥 4

😭 2

Australia secured a convincing 38-22 victory over South Africa at Emirates Airline Park. The home side started strong with early tries from Arendse, Esterhuizen, and Kolisi, complemented by successful conversions from Libbok. However, Australia responded with a try from Pietsch, gaining momentum into halftime. In the second half, Wilson's two tries helped Australia take control of the match, with O'Connor's reliable kicking proving crucial. South Africa made several substitutions in an attempt to regain the initiative, but they struggled to break through Australia’s defense. Jorgensen's late try sealed the win for the visitors, showcasing their attacking prowess. This match marked a strong rebound for Australia after their previous defeat to South Africa.

Broadcasters

Where to watch in: Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom

Weather

Temperature: 16.7°C (Feels like 14.2°C) Condition: Cloudy Wind: 11.3 km/h, gusting to 24.2 km/h Humidity: 39% Cloud Cover: 98%

Highlights

Events

Kickoff
1'

Try

Kurt-Lee Arendse · South Africa

5 - 0
2'

Conversion

Manie Libbok · South Africa

7 - 0
8'

Penalty

Manie Libbok · South Africa

10 - 0
12'

Try

Andre Esterhuizen · South Africa

15 - 0
17'

Try

Siya Kolisi · South Africa

20 - 0
18'

Conversion

Manie Libbok · South Africa

22 - 0
18'

Substitution

Kwagga Smith on for Marco van Staden · South Africa
28'

Try

Dylan Pietsch · Australia

22 - 5
30'

Substitution

Marco van Staden on for Kwagga Smith · South Africa
31'

Substitution

Andrew Kellaway on for Dylan Pietsch · Australia
40'

Substitution

Angus Bell on for James Slipper · Australia
40'

Substitution

Zane Nonggorr on for Taniela Tupou · Australia
Halftime 22 - 5
Second Half
42'

Try

Harry Wilson · Australia

22 - 10
43'

Conversion

James O'Connor · Australia

22 - 12
45'

Substitution

Franco Mostert on for Lood de Jager · South Africa
45'

Substitution

Kwagga Smith on for Siya Kolisi · South Africa
48'

Substitution

Tate McDermott on for Len Ikitau · Australia
51'

Substitution

Damian Willemse on for Aphelele Fassi · South Africa
56'

Substitution

Jeremy Williams on for Will Skelton · Australia
57'

Try

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii · Australia

22 - 17
58'

Conversion

James O'Connor · Australia

22 - 19
58'

Substitution

Boan Venter on for Ox Nche · South Africa
59'

Substitution

Canan Moodie on for Edwill van der Merwe · South Africa
59'

Substitution

Bongi Mbonambi on for Malcolm Marx · South Africa
59'

Substitution

Asenathi Ntlabakanye on for Wilco Louw · South Africa
63'

Try

Harry Wilson · Australia

22 - 24
64'

Conversion

James O'Connor · Australia

22 - 26
64'

Substitution

Langi Gleeson on for Harry Wilson · Australia
65'

Try

Max Jorgensen · Australia

22 - 31
66'

Conversion

James O'Connor · Australia

22 - 33
66'

Substitution

Brandon Paenga-Amosa on for Billy Pollard · Australia
67'

Substitution

Cobus Reinach on for Kurt-Lee Arendse · South Africa
67'

Substitution

Len Ikitau on for Nic White · Australia
75'

Try

Tom Wright · Australia

22 - 38
Fulltime 22 - 38

Player ratings

South Africa

15 Aphelele Fassi 6.6
14 Edwill van der Merwe 6.6
13 Jesse Kriel 6.2
12 Andre Esterhuizen 8.9
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse 7.1
10 Manie Libbok 5.2
9 Grant Williams 6.6
1 Ox Nche 6.4
2 Malcolm Marx 6.5
3 Wilco Louw 6.1
4 Eben Etzebeth 8.2
5 Lood de Jager 6.4
6 Marco van Staden 6.3
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 7.6
8 Siya Kolisi 7.7
16 Bongi Mbonambi 6.0
17 Boan Venter 6.1
18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 5.8
19 Franco Mostert 6.0
20 Kwagga Smith 6.4
21 Cobus Reinach 6.2
22 Canan Moodie 6.3
23 Damian Willemse 6.4

Australia

15 Tom Wright 8.4
14 Max Jorgensen 8.7
13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 7.7
12 Len Ikitau 6.9
11 Dylan Pietsch 7.2
10 James O'Connor 7.0
9 Nic White 6.3
1 James Slipper 6.2
2 Billy Pollard 7.6
3 Taniela Tupou 6.8
4 Nick Frost 6.8
5 Will Skelton 7.3
6 Tom Hooper 7.2
7 Fraser McReight 7.5
8 Harry Wilson 8.7
16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa 6.1
17 Angus Bell 7.1
18 Zane Nonggorr 6.7
19 Jeremy Williams 6.5
20 Langi Gleeson 6.6
21 Tate McDermott 7.1
22 Tane Edmed –
23 Andrew Kellaway 6.4