Australia managed to cling onto a 42-38 win over South Africa in Perth on Sunday, even though they were reduced to just eleven players for the closing minutes of the match. The game turned into a nerve‑wracking encounter after the Italian referee, Andrea Piardi, issued four yellow cards within an eleven‑minute span, leaving the Wallabies to defend a slim eleven‑point lead with a depleted backline.
Piardi’s officiating became a focal point of the contest as he reached for his pocket on four separate occasions in just eight minutes. At one point the referee even resorted to a mobile‑phone conversation with his television match official after the standard communication system failed, a rare sight in top‑level rugby. The breakdown in communication coincided with a surge from the Springboks, who scored three quick tries that erased a 25‑point deficit and narrowed the margin to just four points.
The first dismissal came in the 69th minute when Harry Wilson was shown yellow for a high tackle after a video review confirmed the infringement. Just two minutes later, Ryan Lonergan received a card for diving into the back of a ruck, an offence that resulted in a penalty try for South Africa – a professional foul that further swung momentum toward the visitors. The cascade of penalties continued when Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii was ruled off‑side on review after a Springboks try had been disallowed.
Shortly thereafter, Hunter Paisami was sent off for a high tackle during the buildup to a Tom Wright interception try. That try was itself overturned, and had it stood, Australia would have extended their lead to 47‑31 in the 76th minute.
Instead, the Wallabies were left to protect an eleven‑point advantage with only eleven men on the field and just four minutes remaining. In the final minute, replacement prop Ox Nche managed to cross the try line, trimming the margin to four points and giving Australia a breath of relief. South Africa pressed for one last push, but time ran out before they could convert any further points. "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, described the ending as "bizarre". He added, "In those moments you have to keep your composure 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.
We controlled the game, showed bravery, and attacked when the opportunity arose." South Africa had begun the match strongly. Goal‑kicker Johan Grobbelaar converted a try and Handre Pollard added a penalty, giving the Springboks a 10‑3 lead inside the first ten minutes. The tide began to turn when Australian centre Len Ikitau struck twice, scoring in the 23rd and again in the 27th minute, putting the hosts ahead.
Although 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. Wilson added a fourth try for the Wallabies, and later Max Jorgensen capitalised on a South African error, sprinting 60 metres to score in the 64th minute, extending the lead to 42‑17. The Springboks, fresh off their series win against New Zealand in the "Greatest Rivalry" and having thrashed the All Blacks 43‑28 in Baltimore two weeks earlier, entered the match with 13 changes to the side that had achieved that victory.
Only veterans Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker retained their places. Springboks captain Andre Esterhuizen lamented the lack of discipline, saying, "They capitalised on all our errors and I think discipline let us down, especially in that first half.
We gave them too many opportunities and that really hurt us." Lonergan finished the game as Australia’s top scorer, contributing 17 points from four conversions and three penalties. The Wallabies’ ability to hold onto the lead despite playing a man short highlighted their resilience and tactical discipline. The match will be remembered not only for the dramatic finish but also for the strategic adjustments made by both coaches, the impact of officiating decisions, and the way Australia managed to stay composed under intense pressure.
The victory adds another chapter to the storied rivalry between the two southern‑hemisphere powerhouses and sets the stage for future encounters where discipline, composure, and execution will continue to be decisive factors.