Pollard shines as South Africa bounce back to beat Australia in Rugby Championship

Springboks avenge shock defeat by Wallabies.

Handre Pollard of South Africa kicks a penalty. Pic: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Rugby Championship: South Africa 30-22 Australia

Handré Pollard put in a commanding performance at fly-half as a more pragmatic South Africa beat Australia 30-22 in their second Rugby Championship Test in Cape Town on Saturday to reignite the defence of their title.

Australia had stunned the world champion Springboks 38-22 in their competition opener in Johannesburg the previous weekend as the hosts tried to play an expansive game-plan with ball in hand and were picked off.

This time round they turned it into an aerial contest, marshalled superbly by Pollard, who kicked 15 points to go with tries by wing Canan Moodie, No 8 Kwagga Smith and lock Eben Etzebeth.

Australia were in the fight all the way and put in another excellent display as they scored three tries through wings Corey Toole and Max Jorgensen, and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, but a good old-fashioned arm-wrestle is the Springboks’ forte.