Australia managed to cling onto a 42-38 win over South Africa in Perth on Sunday, even though they were reduced to just 11 players in the closing stages of the match. The Wallabies endured a chaotic final 11 minutes, during which four of their players received yellow cards, yet they held firm and saw out the game with a narrow four‑point margin. The drama began when Italian referee Andrea Piardi found himself repeatedly reaching for his pocket in a span of eight minutes. At one point the official even had to speak to his television match official via a mobile phone after a technical glitch left the usual communication equipment dead.
This interruption came as the Springboks surged, scoring three quick tries that erased a 25‑point deficit and reduced the gap to just four points. The first dismissal was Australian fullback Harry Wilson, who was shown a yellow card in the 69th minute for a high tackle after a video review confirmed the infraction. Just two minutes later, fly‑half Ryan Lonergan was also sent to the sin‑bin for diving into the back of a ruck, an offence that resulted in a penalty try for South Africa. The cascade of penalties continued when Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii was ruled off‑side after a review, overturning a potential Springboks try.
Shortly after, winger Hunter Paisami received a yellow card for a high tackle in the build‑up to a Tom Wright interception that itself had been disallowed. Had that try stood, Australia would have extended their lead to 47‑31 in the 76th minute. Instead, the Wallabies were forced to defend a slim 11‑point advantage with only 11 men on the field and just four minutes remaining. Replacement prop Ox Nche entered the fray in the final minute and managed to bring the margin back to four points as the clock ticked down.
South Africa pressed for one more surge, but time ran out before they could overturn the result. "It was a crazy last 10 minutes," Wilson reflected after the match. "But in the first 70 minutes we executed our game plan perfectly. We did exactly what we set out to do." Head coach Les Kiss, who has now won all five of his Tests in charge of the Wallabies, described the ending as "bizarre".
He added, "In those moments you have to keep your nerve and stay clear about what you want to achieve, and I think the players did just that. But we must not forget the first 60 minutes – that was a crucial step forward for us. We controlled the game, showed bravery and attacked with intent." South Africa had started the match on a stronger footing.
Goal‑keeper Johan Grobbelaar crossed for a converted try and Handre Pollard added a penalty, putting the Springboks ahead 10‑3 within the opening ten minutes. However, Australia responded through centre Len Ikitau, who scored in the 23rd minute and added another four minutes later, swinging the momentum in the hosts' favour. Though Edwill van der Merwe crossed for South Africa at the half‑hour mark, Ben Donaldson's try just before the break pushed Australia into a 24‑17 lead at the interval.
In the second half, Wilson added a fourth try for the Wallabies, and Max Jorgensen capitalised on a Springboks error, sprinting 60 metres to score in the 64th minute, extending the lead to 42‑17. The Springboks, fresh from a series win over New Zealand in the "Greatest Rivalry" and a 43‑28 victory over the All Blacks in Baltimore two weeks earlier, made 13 changes to their lineup, retaining only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker. Springboks captain Andre Esterhuizen admitted that discipline had been a major issue for his side. "They capitalised on all our errors and I think discipline let us down, especially in that first half," he said.
"We gave them too many opportunities and that really hurt us." Lonergan finished the match as Australia's top point‑scorer, converting four tries and nailing three penalties for a personal haul of 17 points. His reliable boot helped secure the narrow win and cemented a memorable victory for the Wallabies, who showed resilience under pressure and proved that even with a reduced squad they could hold onto a lead when it mattered most. The match will be remembered not only for its high‑scoring drama but also for the unusual circumstances that forced Australia to defend with fewer players.
It highlighted the importance of discipline, composure, and the ability to execute a game plan even when the odds seem stacked against you. For the Wallabies, the win serves as a confidence‑boosting milestone under Les Kiss's leadership, while South Africa will look to regroup and address the lapses that cost them a hard‑fought contest.