Australia’s quest for their first ever win at South Africa’s stronghold Loftus Versfeld looked on very shaky ground at half-time in their Rugby Championship Test as they trailed 14-3.
They were further rocked by the loss of centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, who was knocked out cold making a try-saving tackle with just over a minute left in the half.
Ashley-Cooper, who hit his head on Zane Kirchner’s knee, was stretchered from the ground in a medi-cab.
At halftime he was awake but concussed.
They also suffered an earlier blow when fullback Berrick Barnes was forced off with a chest injury.
Australia were lucky not to be trailing by even more with South Africa missing four penalty kicks and having two tries disallowed by the television match official.
Johan Goosen, in his first start in the No.10 jersey, missed two of those kicks and also looked to have scored a certain try but it was ruled he had been brought down short.
The Wallabies were let down again by a poor kicking game and their new five-eighth Kurtley Beale failed to spark the attack as hoped.
The Springboks, who have only managed one win in the Championship, looked hungry at Loftus, where they hold a formidable record.
They are looking to end a five-match losing streak to the Australians.
Kirchner scored the opening try in the 20th minute, which came after a line-out five metres out, with the home side sending the ball sweeping across the field to the charging fullback.
Veteran winger Bryan Habana was their other try-scorer.
Australia’s only points came from a successful penalty strike from Beale.