South Africa bounce back from defeat to Australia in last week's Rugby Championship opener - earning a battling 30-22 victory over the Wallabies in soggy Cape Town.

Handre Pollard put in a commanding performance at fly-half as a more pragmatic South Africa beat Australia 30-22 in their second Rugby Championship Test in wet conditions in Cape Town on Saturday to reignite the defence of their title.

South Africa's Springboks will kick off their Rugby Championship defence with a clash against the somewhat resurgent Australia at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.