Rugby: Springboks clinch late win over Wallabies

The Wallabies' Adam Ashley-Cooper, right, and the Springboks' Francois Hougaard tussle during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town. Photo / Getty Images

South Africa rallied for a 28-10 win over Australia in the Rugby Championship overnight to keep its 22-year winning record against the Wallabies at Newlands intact - and keep alive slim hopes of claiming the title.

The Springboks scored three tries and 20 points in the last 10 minutes to come from behind and secure a bonus-point win. The All Blacks, however, could still take their third straight Rugby Championship title with a bonus-point victory in Argentina this morning.

The Springboks' winning margin in Cape Town was ultimately comfortable, but Australia was leading 10-8 until replacement first-five Pat Lambie kicked a dropped goal in the 70th.

South Africa captain Jean de Villiers squeezed over for a try two minutes later, Lambie touched down in the 78th, and De Villiers scored his second in the game's last play as the home team raced to victory in a breathless finish.

Australia was on the back foot for the first 20 minutes, with flanker Marcell Coetzee's try from a rolling maul in the 13th confirming South Africa's early ascendancy.

But Australia replied with a Bernard Foley penalty and a breakaway try from Adam Ashley-Cooper in a two-minute spell toward the end of the first half to suddenly swing the game.

Australia looked like they might claim their first success over South Africa at the Cape Town ground since 1992, and South Africa missed a crucial penalty from in front of the posts as time ticked away.

But Lambie made up for his miss with a snap drop soon after, before a wave of South African pressure brought the three late tries that secured the bonus point.

De Villiers eventually dived over in the right corner after a break from right wing Cornal Hendricks and a powerful carry from Bismarck du Plessis. Lambie evaded a number of tackles to wriggle over. Centre De Villiers, playing at his home ground, then popped up in the left corner to end the last move of the game with the Boks' fourth try.

- AP