Australia managed to edge out South Africa 42‑38 in a thrilling Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday, even though they were reduced to 11 players for the closing minutes of the match. The Wallabies held on to a narrow eleven‑point advantage after four of their players received yellow cards in the final eleven minutes, forcing the team to defend a slim lead while a man down. The officiating drama added another layer of intrigue to an already intense encounter.
Italian referee Andrea Piardi found himself reaching for his pocket repeatedly within a short span, pulling out a card four times in just eight minutes. At one point the communication system between Piardi and his television match official failed, prompting him to call the official on a mobile phone while the Springboks were mounting a rapid comeback that saw them score three tries and cut a 25‑point deficit to just four points.
The first dismissal came in the 69th minute when Harry Wilson was shown a yellow card for a high tackle after the referee consulted the video‑referee. Two minutes later, Ryan Lonergan was also sent to the sin‑bin for diving into the back of a ruck, an infringement that resulted in a penalty try being awarded to South Africa for a professional foul. The cascade of penalties continued when Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii was ruled off‑side after a review of a Springboks try that had initially been disallowed.
Finally, Hunter Paisami received a yellow card for a high tackle in the build‑up to a Tom Wright interception try, a score that was itself overturned and would have taken the Wallabies to a 47‑31 lead in the 76th minute. With those four players off the field, Australia were left to defend an 11‑point margin with only eleven men for the remaining four minutes. Replacement prop Ox Nche managed to cross the try line in the final minute, narrowing the gap to four points and forcing South Africa to launch one last push before the final whistle.
The Wallabies’ composure under pressure proved decisive. “It felt like a crazy last ten minutes,” Wilson reflected after the match.
“But for the first seventy minutes we executed our game plan exactly as we intended. We stuck to what we wanted 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" but praised his side’s resilience. “In those moments you have to keep your nerves, stay clear about your objectives and stick to the plan.
That’s what we did,” Kiss said. “But let’s not forget the first sixty minutes. That period was a huge step forward for us – we controlled the tempo, showed bravery and attacked with intent.” South Africa had started the match on a stronger footing. Goal‑keeper Johan Grobbelaar crossed for a try and Handre Pollard added a penalty, giving the Springboks a 10‑3 lead inside the first ten minutes.
However, the balance shifted when centre Len Ikitau broke through for a try in the 23rd minute and added another in the 27th, putting Australia ahead. Although Edwill van der Merwe found the line just before the half‑hour mark, Ben Donaldson’s try before the break restored an Australian lead of 24‑17. In the second half, Wilson added a fourth try for the Wallabies, and Max Jorgensen capitalised on a South African error to sprint 60 metres for a try in the 64th minute, extending the lead to 42‑17.
The Springboks, who were playing their first Test since clinching the Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand 3‑1, fielded a heavily altered side. Rassie Erasmus made thirteen changes from the side that had beaten the All Blacks 43‑28 in Baltimore two weeks earlier, with only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker retaining their places.
Springboks captain Andre Esterhuizen was candid about his team’s shortcomings. “We gave away too many penalties and lacked discipline, especially in the first half,” he said.
“Those mistakes cost us dearly.” Lonergan finished the match as Australia’s top point‑scorer, converting four tries and slotting three penalties for a total of 17 points. The Wallabies’ ability to maintain composure, execute their strategy for the majority of the game, and survive a chaotic finish with a reduced squad highlighted their growing confidence under Kiss’s leadership.
The victory not only secured a valuable four‑point win but also demonstrated that the Australian side can withstand adversity and still come out on top in high‑stakes Test rugby.