Australia vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby Championship result and final score as Springboks beat Wallabies

Australia finish the competition with the first two of three Bledisloe Cup clashes, welcoming their trans-Tasman rivals to Melbourne on Thursday week before a trip to Eden Park to finish up their Rugby Championship campaign in New Zealand.

South Africa, meanwhile, have a full two weeks to prepare for a trip to Argentina before closing against Michael Cheika’s side in Durban.

That South Africa win leaves the Rugby Championship table deliciously poised ahead of the final two rounds. New Zealand’s sizeable win over Argentina earlier has lifted them to the top of the step-ladder, but just a single point separates all four teams. It’s wonderfully tight.

Australia never quite found their way into the contest. South Africa had the better of the physical battle virtually from the off and any hopes of a comeback were rather ended by the losses of Hunter Paisami and Noah Lolesio to injury either side of half-time.

That was pretty comprehensive from South Africa, a performance built on typical forward strength but containing some delightful touches in possession, too, to secure their first win in Australia since 2013. Siya Kolisi led his side superbly through a contest that threatened to bubble over a few times, while I thought the playmaking axis of Damian Willemse and Willie le Roux struck the right balance of control and creativity.

And Canan Moodie looks a player who could be a real star – his chase, leap and race to the line were truly effortless. A good start to life in test rugby for the debutant.

The hooter sounds, and Australia knock on inside their own 22. South Africa are content to say “no more” – victory for the Springboks.

A cynical slap-down from Willie le Roux but Australia score regardless! There were acres of space out on the left as Australia worked the hands, and Le Roux had little option but to gamble, shooting out and slapping down. That will be a clear-as-day yellow card, but Nic White is wise to possibilities that still remain, picking up and finding waiting teammates in the open acreage. Pete Samu trots in, Le Roux is shown yellow, and Australia will have one more crack after the conversion is missed.

Better from the Wallabies, hoping to deny South Africa a bonus point with a couple of late scores. Jake Gordon’s tempo is excellent at the base.

Two front-rowers are going 80 minutes here, both Malcolm Marx and Allan Alaalatoa producing remarkable efforts in a tough, physical test match – the latter particularly so after surely having the life scared out of him by Eben Etzebeth in that scuffle.

He wins a penalty, too, the Australian tighthead – South Africa drive on an illegal angle at the scrum.

Australia vary their attacking play, Jake Gordon in at scrum-half with Nic White pushed to the wing. But the Wallabies have looked slightly lost since the departures of first Hunter Paisami and then Noah Lolesio, forced to employ a rejigged backline that surely will have spent little training time together.

A spinning blind pass tumbles forward from the hands of a frowning Marika Koroibete, who has been short of opportunities.