South Africa will be hoping for some good news of the status of stand-in captain Salmaan Moerat, after the lock left the field with concussion midway through the first half of their 30-12 victory in wet and slippery conditions in Perth.
The four-time World Cup champions scored four tries in front of 58,197 fans, many supporting the Springboks – Perth home to a strong South African community.
South Africa made 10 changes after a 33-7 triumph last week in Brisbane and overcame a grittier Wallabies in a ferocious contest with several players forced off due to head injuries.
The table-topping Boks now return to South Africa, where they will face arch-rivals New Zealand in back-to-back Tests – at Ellis Park on August 31 and in Cape Town a week later – an encounter that could decide the outcome of the Rugby Championship for 2024.
Moerat was replaced by Eben Etzebeth in the 18th minute, with the latter also taking over the captaincy.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed afterwards that Moerat had suffered a concussion.
“He will now go through the protocols,” Erasmus told @rugby365com.
With a bye week next, the second row forward does have time on his side.
“Depending on the severity of the concussion, when he passes the first step and the second step, as well as the history of concussions the call will be made,” Erasmus added.
Moerat also had a bad case of concussion, which he suffered against La Rochelle in the European Cup earlier this year.
(WATCH as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus gives an injury update after his team’s 30-12 demolition of the Wallabies in a very wet Perth on Saturday….)
Erasmus said with the bye week he expects Moerat to be available for the first Test against New Zealand in a fortnight.
The Springboks, who boasted 14 World Cup winners, struggled initially to handle the slippery conditions and only led 11-9 at half-time, before overwhelming the Wallabies with three second-half tries.
The Springboks were sloppy in the early exchanges, making uncharacteristic errors.
They were ignited by a dashing Cheslin Kolbe, but his pass was fumbled by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as a certain try went begging.
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