Australia managed to cling onto a 42-38 win against South Africa in Perth on Sunday, even after having four players sent off with yellow cards in the closing eleven minutes, leaving the Wallabies to defend their lead with just eleven players on the field. The match unfolded as a dramatic, almost cinematic encounter, with the Italian referee Andrea Piardi pulling out his pocket card four times within an eight‑minute span.
At one point Piardi even had to resort to a mobile‑phone conversation with his television match official after the standard communication system failed, a lapse that coincided with the Springboks’ rapid surge that saw them score three tries in quick succession, erasing a 25‑point deficit and narrowing the gap 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 a thorough video review confirmed the infraction. Just two minutes later, Ryan Lonergan was also penalised, this time for diving into the back of a ruck.
The referee deemed the foul serious enough to award South Africa a penalty try, further shifting momentum toward the visitors. The third sending‑off was Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii, who was ruled off‑side after a review of a Springboks try that had initially been disallowed.
The final yellow card was issued to Hunter Paisami for a high tackle during the build‑up to a Tom Wright interception try; that try itself was subsequently overturned, denying Australia what would have been a 47‑31 lead in the 76th minute. With those four players removed, the Wallabies were forced to protect an 11‑point advantage for the remaining four minutes of play.
Replacement prop Ox Nche entered the fray in the final minute and managed to cross the try line, trimming the margin to four points. South Africa had one last opportunity to press forward, but time ran out before they could mount a decisive attack.
"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" but praised his side’s composure. "In those moments you have to keep your nerve and stay clear about what you want to achieve, and I think the players did that," Kiss said.
"But we must not forget the first 60 minutes. That period was a crucial step up for us – we controlled the game, showed bravery, and attacked with conviction." South Africa had started 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. However, Australia responded through centre Len Ikitau, who scored in the 23rd minute and added another just four minutes later, swinging the momentum in the hosts’ favour. Although Edwill van der Merwe crossed for South Africa on the half‑hour mark, Ben Donaldson’s try before the break pushed Australia ahead 24‑17 at the interval.
In the second half, Wilson added a fourth try for the Wallabies, extending the lead. Max Jorgensen then capitalised on a Springboks error, sprinting 60 metres to score in the 64th minute and making the score 42‑17. South Africa, fresh from winning the "Greatest Rivalry" series against New Zealand 3‑1, had introduced 13 changes to the side that had beaten the All Blacks 43‑28 in Baltimore two weeks earlier. Only veterans Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker retained their places.
Springboks captain Andre Esterhuizen was candid about his team’s shortcomings. "They capitalised on all our errors and I think discipline let us down, especially in that first half," he admitted.
"We gave them too many opportunities and that really hurt us." Lonergan finished the match as Australia’s top point‑scorer, contributing 17 points from four conversions and three penalties. The victory will be remembered not only for its narrow margin but also for the extraordinary circumstances under which it was secured – a testament to the Wallabies’ resilience, strategic discipline, and ability to withstand intense pressure while playing a man short. The match will likely be cited in future discussions about the importance of composure in the closing stages of high‑stakes rugby tests, and it adds another memorable chapter to the long‑standing rivalry between the two Southern Hemisphere powerhouses.