After 18 minutes of an unforgettable opening instalment to this year’s Rugby Championship, those wishing to stick the knife into Australian rugby – while also denigrating the British and Irish Lions’ recent achievement – will have been feeling pretty smug;

South Africa prop Ox Nche said that the Springboks 'went off script' in the second half of Springboks' 22-38 Rugby Championship defeat to Australia on Saturday, while coach Rassie Erasmus was less diplomatic.

"To read that overall they achieved 68% in the lineout, missed 26 tackles for an 80% return and lost the post-contact metre battle by some 70 odd metres, with 325m playing 395m from the Wallabies, will ring alarm bells in Rassie Erasmus’s coaching team.

Some matches follow the most predictable script. Others flip it in spectacular style. Australia’s exploits at Ellis Park on Saturday belong to the latter category.

Rassie Erasmus pulled no punches as he laid into his South Africa side following their second-half capitulation in the stunning 38-22 loss to Australia in their Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday.

"The task at hand just looks to be too great as they go up against a well-oiled Springboks machine." #RSAvAUS #RugbyChampionship

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus admits embarrassment after South Africa’s disappointing loss to Australia in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park.

The Wallabies will begin their Rugby Championship campaign against the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg. The Australians are fresh off a thrilling 2-1 series defeat to the British & Irish Lions that saw Joe Schmidt's team claim the final Test in Sydney.

The Springboks suffered a shock 38-22 defeat to the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday. After scoring three early tries and being 22-0 up after 20 minutes, the reigning champions conceded six tries and 38 unanswered points to go down to the Wallabies at the stadium for the first time since 1963.

Rassie Erasmus feels he must take responsibility, along with the rest of his coaching staff, for the Springboks' loss against the Wallabies on Saturday.