Wallabies rally from 22-0 down to beat Springboks at Ellis Park

In a dramatic Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park, the Wallabies roared back from 22-0 down to defeat the Springboks 38-22, carrying home a historic result that ends a 62-year wait for a win at the Johannesburg venue. Played at altitude against the world champions, Australia’s surge after the 18th minute blitz rewrote the narrative of the opening match and showcased a Wallabies side bolstered by a hard-edged forward effort and precision in attack in the second half.

South Africa burst out of the blocks with an aerial assault and fierce ball-carrying, scoring three times in the first 18 minutes as KurtLee Arendse, Andre Esterhuizen, and Siya Kolisi crossed, while Manie Libbok converted both the quickstart and a later penalty. The Wallabies, by contrast, were unsettled by the Bok tempo and the altitude, and their lineout and kicking game came under pressure as the home side built a dominant early lead. Yet Australia steadied, getting a foothold through Len Ikitau and Dylan Pietsch, whose finish in the 29th minute put the visitors on the board. A subdued first half ended with Australia trailing 22-5, but the mood in the Australian camp shifted at the break.