Australia stunned South Africa with one of rugby's greatest comebacks, recovering from a 22-0 deficit to win 38-22 at Ellis Park in the Rugby Championship opener. Joe Schmidt's team shocked the back-to-back world champions with 38 unanswered points in Johannesburg.
The Springboks dominated the opening quarter, racing to a commanding lead through tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse, André Esterhuizen and captain Siya Kolisi. South Africa appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory on home soil.
Australia's fightback began when Dylan Pietsch crossed for their first try half an hour into the match. Captain Harry Wilson then scored early in the second half to cut the deficit to 10 points and spark the remarkable turnaround.
Historic breakthrough
According to The Guardian, this marked Australia's first victory at Ellis Park since 1963 and their first win on South African soil in 14 years. The Wallabies scored six tries without reply during their sensational comeback.
The breakdown proved to be South Africa's achilles heel that Australia expertly exploited throughout their revival. Schmidt's tactical adjustments at half-time transformed the contest completely.
Schmidt's signature moment
This represents the signature victory of Joe Schmidt's 18-month tenure as Australia coach, according to The Guardian. The Irish coach has overseen a remarkable transformation in the Wallabies' fortunes against elite opposition.
The victory sets the tone for what promises to be a thrilling Rugby Championship campaign. Australia's confidence will soar after defeating the world champions in their own backyard.
Sources used: "The Telegraph", "The Guardian" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
