We got lucky at times, says Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt after beating Springboks

Magnanimous Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt had the good grace to say that the 38–22 scoreline at Ellis Park was not a true reflection of the closeness of the game.

The Wallabies soaked up a 22-0 deficit to charge home in the second half, scoring six tries, with several of them interception gifts from the Springboks.

It was the Wallabies’ first win at Ellis Park since 1963 and their first on the Highveld since 2010.

“I’ve coached enough teams where you get a very rapid start, and it can sometimes cause a bit of a lapse in effort and concentration,” Schmidt said. “I think the Boks just gave us a little bit of belief. I think we won the second quarter 5–0, so we had a little win there, and that gave a little bit of confidence.”

The Boks played too loosely, and two tries were gifted to the Wallabies thanks to poor passing, while the South African lineout also began to creak. At the same time, the Wallabies stepped up their work at the breakdown, with Player of the Match Fraser McReight winning crucial turnovers.

“The game was probably closer than the score dictates in that we scored a couple of tries when they looked very dangerous. And we got them on the break,” Schmidt said.

“There were a couple of desperate tackles where guys were diving to just get a foot, or get a half jersey. We are realistic about just how good they are, and sometimes you just get a bit of luck.”

Schmidt is expecting backlash from a more efficient Bok team next week in Cape Town.

“To be honest, as well as Fraser did and as well as the other players did, we were probably a little bit lucky. Because Pieter-Steph at one stage went to pick-and-go, and he just knocked it on with the tryline in front of him. And there were a couple of uncharacteristic errors from the Springboks, where next week, if they pick-and-go there, and he’s such a powerful and athletic man, he will be a handful.

“The reality is that for us is we know we know we were under pressure and we know that pressure is coming.”