FULL-TIME, SOUTH AFRICA 43-12 AUSTRALIA. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining performance from the Boks who were cool and clinical on attack while also holding their line superbly to frustrate the Aussies. Australia held out manfully, not helped by twice being reduced to 14 players at high altitude, but they would have at least enjoyed Carter's last-gasp debut try. Thank you for sharing the action with us and enjoy the rest of your sporting weekend.
CONVERSION, AUSTRALIA, CARTER! 43-12; the try-scorer is charged with the kicking duties and makes no mistake from just to the left of the posts… and with the hooter having sounded when Cooper first picked up the ball, the referee blows for full-time.
TRY, AUSTRALIA, CARTER! 43-10; The Boks break again, Deon Fourie slicing through the Bok line but being brought down way short of the line… the ball comes back into play and Carter Gordon picks it up inside his half and charges through all the way to the Springbok line before diving dramatically over the line to celebrate scoring a try on his Test debut.
The Boks drive hard again down the right touchline but Australia's defence holds firm… Australia look to counter and drive down the right wing, get awarded the lineout but can't control the ball. It's been that sort of night from the men from Down Under.
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, LIBBOK! 43-5; The Bok flyhalf lots his kick high and straight through the middle of the poles 15 metres in from the left touchline.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, DU TOIT! 41-5; After a seventh or eight barrage on the Aussie line, Pieter-Steph du Toit crashes over for a try near the left touchline. Superb driving rugby from the Boks.
Australia infringe and Libbok kicks his penalty kick 8 metres short of the Australian line… the Boks win the ball and drive across the field, repeatedly attacking the tryline…
The Boks push the man advantage with a fast string of passes down the left to the wing, where Australia succeed in bringing the move to an end. The Aussies win the ball and pass long to the wing… but it's forward and a rare Australian attack suffers a self-inflicted wound.
PENALTY TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, 36-5. Boks driving hard on the Aussie tryline, Libbok sends a low cross-kick to the corner flag where Arendse leaps high but can't hold it and it's out for a throw… but the ref has called for the TMO to look back at the action where Suliasi Vunivalu intercepted a pass to prevent a pass from Grant Williams to Arendse, who was eager for a fourth try… but the intercept is judged to be a deliberate knock-on inside the 5-metre line, so it's a penalty try for the Boks and a yellow card for Vunivalu in only his second Test.
… the Boks drive through six phases before a mass of green bundles over the line through the posts, but the TMO rules no try.
Porecki is back in play now… but Australia can't command the ball from the scrum and the Boks claim the ball…
Australia kick to their 10-metre and win the line, but the Boks claw the ball back and hoist a high ball from the base of the scrum but it's directly into touch and the Wallabies have the throw on the Boks 22.
Australia feed the scrum and clear the ball deep, but the Boks drive hard through two phases, a grubber into the Aussie 22… but the home side are blown for not releasing in the loose and the crowd ground, hungry for more home points.
The Boks drive forward, a lovely kick down the right touchline takes the Boks forward… Australia can't control the lineout and the Boks pile the pressure on the Aussies inside their 22 with the Aussies fighting hard to keep them at bay.
Libbok drives through, picking up a loose ball after a strong tackle on an Australian, and skips through to dot down for the try… but the referee asks the TMO for clarification and there was a knock-on by South Africa.
YELLOW CARD, AUSTRALIA, PORECKI. The Aussie gets a 10-minute break for preventing the Boks scoring, which lead to the penalty try.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, PENALTY TRY ; The Boks win a penalty for a late tackle, the kick going to the far corner where the Boks win the lineout and drive the ball over the line… the referee first calls it as no try, but then checks with the TMO and award a penalty try.
Libbok's conversion attempt from the left corner fades to the right and doesn't make it to the tryline, but it's a good lead for the Boks.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA ARENDSE! 22-5; Arendse bursts over in the cover for his third try after some quite beautiful backline play from the Boks. Arendse burst through three Aussies in the corner to go over for his hat-trick.
Australia break from Ikitau but his kick forward has too much meat on it and goes directly into touch, so we come back for a Bok ball inside the Aussie half.
Australia clear the danger from some loose play but the Boks look like they have far too much firepower for the visitors.
The Boks win the ball and drive hard into the Wallaby 22, Vermeulen carrying the ball to the Wallabies 5-metre, but Australia hold out and kick to touch.
The Boks break well from the lineout, driving into the Aussie 22 and pressing hard for the ball, but a handling error offers them some respite with a scrum inside their 22.
KICK-OFF! It's the Boks who start the second half with a drop-kick into the Wallabies half…
HALF-TIME, SOUTH AFRICA 17-5 AUSTRALIA. After a brilliant start, Australia have been brushed side by a rampant and hungry Bok side. If Australia don't come out with a better game plan and hunger then we could be in a very big win for the home side. Back with the action shortly.
Aussies scrum and try to run from the base, and then win a penalty seven metres into their own half… Hodge strikes it beautifully but it drops just sort of the Bok crossbar, and the home side clear the ball and we have half-time.
Boks win their lineout on the Wallaby 10-metre, but a wild pass almost sees Australia burst through… the ball is retained and kicked over the top for Arendse who jumps and claims the ball but is tackled hard, and the Wallabies have the scrum as the hooter is about to blow.
Boks win their lineout on the Wallaby 10-metre, but a wild pass almost sees Australia burst through… the ball is retained and kicked over the top for Arendse who jumps and claims the ball but is tackled hard, and the Wallabies have the scrum as the hooter is about to blow.
Esterhuizen bursts through from a flip pass from scrumhalf but Australia pull him down, the ball flying out to the backline as the Boks continue to pressure.
Truly magical play from the Boks, dominating the ball and pressing left then right and the force the Wallabies into an extended period of defence.
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, LIBBOK! 17-5; Libbok slots it high and handsome and through the posts as the Boks start to open up a really nice lead.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, ARENDSE. 15-5. A really beautiful try with plenty of Bok hands on the ball through the move.
… Australia win possession briefly but the Boks win it back, swing it to Arendse… who speeds through the left wing unopposed…
Second scrum collapses and the Boks and the Boks attack beautifully, first right then back to the left…
After a quick water break and medical treatment the Aussies will push back on the Boks' scrum on their own 10-metre line.
MISSED! Hodge misses a difficult kick from the left touchline. Boks won't mind that.
MISSED! Hodge hits it hard and high from just inside the Bok half in line with the centre spot but his kick curls wide. Two misses in a row from the Wallaby.
Boks penalised for holding on the ground and Australia have a second dig at goal.
Libbok's clearance is poor, allowing Australia to attack hard before poor handling gifts the Boks a chance to pounce on the ball and launch a countr-attack.
Springboks drive forward again, running through the Aussie line before they get hauled to ground. Australia fight back and kick deep to give the Boks a lineout 5-metres from the Springbok line.
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, LIBBOK! 10-5; Libbok knocks the conversion with ease 20 metres in from touch.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, ARENDSE! 8-5; The Boks swing the ball back from the right wing to the left, where Arendse collects and dashes over to dot down with ease.
Boks shooting the ball down the line, first left to Arendse then right to Le Roux who breaks into the Aussie 22…
PENALTY, SOUTH AFRICA, LIBBOK! 3-5; Libbok gets the Boks off the board with an easy kick.
Lovely driving and rucking from the Boks and they win a penalty on the Aussie 22, Libbok lining the kick up.
TRY, AUSTRALIA, KOROIBETE! 0-5; Lovely move from Australia, running the ball deep after stealing Springbok ball at the lineout. The ball sped down the line until it reached Marika Koroibete on the wing, and he drove hard through to dot down i the corner.
Australia look to run from their 22, but Andre Esterhuizen makes a superb tackle keep play in the Aussie half.
Libbok's kick slides JUST under the crossbar, the Aussies clear but the Springboks counter, Australia win ball and launch a high ball into the Bok 22 where Willie le Roux claims the mark and then runs the ball, the Springboks moving play back into the Aussie half.
PENALTY! Marco van Staden earns a penalty in his first start, with Australia refusing to let the ball go despite Van Staden's best efforts. Libbok lines up the kick from just inside the Springbok half. Normally a big kick, but at altitude…
Australia with the first drive and run of the match, looking strong, but the Springboks get the ball and clear to the halfway line.
KICK-OFF! Australia drop-kick from the halfway line into the Springbok half and the match is UNDERWAY!
Our referee for tonight is Ben O’Keeffe from New Zealand. He will be assisted by Paul Williams from New Zealand and Andrea Piardi from Italy. Hitting TMO duties will be another New Zealander, Brendon Pickerill.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper. Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Carter Gordon
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse.
Australia have won three of the last five meetings between the two sides, although South Africa did win the last meeting 24-8 at Sydney.
The results in South Africa are even more positive for the home side, with the Springboks winning 36 of the 48 matches on South African soil. Australia have won just 11 times in South Africa against the Springboks, with the teams sharing one draw.
The two teams have met 92 times over the years, with South Africa winning 49 of those meetings. Australia have won 40 times, and three of these matches have ended in a draw.
The Springboks have given a first start to flyhalf Manie Libbok, who starred for the Stormers in this year's United Rugby Championship. Libbok will have to front up against the highly experienced Quade Cooper.
Australia have four uncapped players in their squad for Loftus, with 22-year-old Tom Hooper set to start, with Carter Gordon, Richie Arnold and Zane Nonggorr all on the bench and itching for a first start. Aussie co-captain James Slipper has recovered from a knee injury and will start against the Springboks.
Australia are far from in fine form themselves, with their only wins in their last six matches being against Wales and Scotland.
Both sides will want to start pushing towards their best form and formations in what is a massive World Cup year, with South Africa and New Zealand both looking to move ahead of the other in World Cup win. Both nations have won the World Cup three times.
The Springboks have dropped to fourth in the world ranking following an unhappy run of form which saw them lose two of their last six matches, winning the other four. Mean rivals New Zealand are a nose ahead of the Bok, with France in second place and Ireland heading the rankings (for now).
The Springboks lie in wait for Australia at Loftus with new captain at the helm, Duane Vermeulen. And there's more than Rugby Championship points at stake: the Boks will be determined to keep clean their unbeaten record against Australia in Pretoria.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Rugby Championship opening round clash between South Africa and Australia from Loftus.