Springboks' rolling maul powers victory over Wallabies in rain-soaked clash

With the rain pouring down at the Optus Stadium, the conditions presented this new-look Bok side with a very different challenge to the one the players faced in Brisbane a week ago.

Still, the men in green and gold made more than enough of their chances stick, with their unstoppable rolling maul accounting for three of their four tries on the evening.

The Boks didn't make the greatest start, knocking on from the kick-off before giving away a ruck penalty right in front as the Wallabies took an early 3-0 lead.

South Africa looked to be in for the opening try after a great break from Cheslin Kolbe cut open the Wallabies defence but Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu could not hold on to Kolbe's pass as the chance went begging.

Moments later, the Springboks had another great chance to score when Makazole Mapimpi collected a miscued Wallabies kick and charged down the touchline, but the winger lost the ball as the covering defender came in to make the tackle with the tryline beckoning.

When the Boks were awarded a kickable penalty not long after, they wisely opted to get some point on the board as Feinberg-Mngomezulu made no mistake with his first shot at goal.

Then came a moment of magic from the Boks as they collected a Wallabies turnover inside their own 22 and moved the ball out wide at pace where Mapimpi made up for his earlier mistake by sending a perfect grubber kick down the touchline for speedster Aphelele Fassi to chase down, collect and score. Feinberg-Mngomezulu could not convert from out wide as the Boks took an 8-3 lead.

The Wallabies reduced the deficit by three when Kolbe was pinged for holding on but Feinberg-Mngomezulu soon returned the favour after a good period of pressure inside the Aussie 22.

With time running out in the first half, an off-the-ball tackle from Morne van den Berg allowed the home side to reduce the deficit once more. When Feinberg-Mngomezulu made a mess of the restart, it put the Wallabies back on the front foot where they earned another penalty, but this time Lolesio couldn't convert the fairly easy shot as it finished 11-9 to the visitors at the break.

The Wallabies did not start the second half well, giving away a kickable penalty before being marched back 10 metres after Nic White failed to give up the ball.

Opting to kick for the corner rather than take the points, the Boks' rolling maul was repelled once but not a second time as the whole pack went crashing over the line, with Marco van Staden being awarded the try.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the extras from out wide as the visitors took an 18-9 lead, though the Aussies pulled back three almost immediately after the Boks gave away a silly penalty at ruck time.

The Boks eventually made their way back into Wallabies territory where they were awarded a kickable penalty, but with the rolling maul looking strong they again opted to kick for the corner.

Once again, there was no stopping the lineout drive, as Marx crashed over for their third try of the evening. Handre Pollard - on for Feinberg-Mngomezulu - hit the crossbar from out wide as the Boks took a 23-12 lead with 15 minutes to play.

The Aussies were handed a lifeline when the Boks gave away a penalty in their territory, allowing the home side to kick for the corner. A couple more Bok penalties followed as the Aussies Wallabies kept up the pressure, but a superb scrum from the Boks on their own five-metre line saw the ball turned over.

A few minutes later, it was the Boks' turn to apply the pressure and force the penalties at the other end of the field, resulting in yellow card to the home side for repeated infringements.

Another kick for the corner and a clinical rolling maul followed as the Wallabies pack were once again unable to stop the machine rolling their way, with Marx coming away with his second try of the evening. Pollard added the extras as the Boks finally put the Wallabies to bed.

With the match finally won, the Boks started to run riot in the closing minutes as Pieter-Steph du Toit nearly scored from a superb Pollard crossfield kick, with only some desperate defence from Marika Koroibete keeping the big man out.

That was how it finished, as the Springboks cruised to an ultimately comfortable win that leaves them sitting pretty at the top of the Rugby Championship table with a full haul of 10 points.

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