Australia managed to edge out South Africa 42-38 in a dramatic test match at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday, holding on for the win even after four of their players were dismissed with yellow cards in the closing eleven minutes. The Wallabies finished the game with just eleven men on the field, yet they survived the final onslaught and preserved a narrow lead. The match was overseen by Italian referee Andrea Piardi, who found himself reaching for his pocket on four separate occasions within an eight‑minute span.
At one point the communication link with his television match official failed, prompting Piardi to place a call on his mobile phone while the Springboks were mounting a furious comeback that saw them reduce a 25‑point deficit to just four points. The first dismissal came in the 69th minute when Harry Wilson was shown yellow for a high tackle after the incident was referred to the television match official.
Two minutes later, Ryan Lonergan received a yellow card for diving into the back of a ruck, a professional foul that resulted in a penalty try being awarded to South Africa. The cascade continued when Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii was flagged for being offside after a review, overturning a Springboks try that had initially been disallowed.
Shortly after, Hunter Paisami was sent to the sin‑bin for a high tackle during the build‑up to a Tom Wright interception try, a score that was subsequently overturned. Had that try stood, Australia would have extended their lead to 47‑31 in the 76th minute. Instead, the Wallabies were forced to defend an 11‑point margin with only eleven players for the remaining four minutes. Replacement prop Ox Nche made a late foray into the opposition’s try‑line in the final minute, narrowing the gap to four points.
South Africa managed one more attacking surge before the final whistle, but time ran out. "It was a crazy last 10 minutes," Wilson reflected after the match.
"But during the first 70 minutes we executed our game plan exactly as we intended." Head coach Les Kiss, who has now won all five of his test matches in charge of the Wallabies, described the ending as "bizarre". He added, "In those moments you have to keep your composure, stay focused on 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 period where we stepped up, controlled the game, and played with bravery and intent." South Africa started the encounter strongly. Within the opening ten minutes, goalkeeper‑turned‑full‑back Johan Grobbelaar crossed for a try that was successfully converted, and a penalty from Handre Pollard put the Springboks ahead 10‑3.
Australia’s centre Len Ikitau turned the tide in the 23rd minute with a try, and he added another just four minutes later, giving the hosts a brief lead. Although Edwill van der Merwe answered for the Springboks at 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 South African error, sprinting 60 metres to the try‑line in the 64th minute and making the score 42‑17.
For the Springboks, this was their first test since clinching the Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand with a 3‑1 victory. Coach Rassie Erasmus made a sweeping overhaul, introducing 13 new faces to the side that had beaten the All Blacks 43‑28 in Baltimore two weeks earlier. Only veteran lock Eben Etzebeth and centre Ethan Hooker retained their places. Springboks captain Andre Esterhuizen admitted that discipline had been a major factor in the loss.
"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," he said. Lonergan finished the match as Australia’s top scorer, contributing 17 points from four conversions and three penalties. His reliable boot work helped the Wallabies maintain the slender margin as the clock ticked down.
The game will be remembered for its chaotic finale, where the combination of multiple yellow cards, a broken communication system for the referee, and a frantic South African push created a scenario rarely seen in international rugby. Yet, the Wallabies’ resilience, tactical discipline in the early phases, and the ability to stay composed under pressure ultimately secured a memorable victory on foreign soil.
Looking ahead, both teams will take valuable lessons from this encounter. Australia can build on their strong first‑hour performance and their capacity to defend a lead despite being short‑handed, while South Africa will need to address disciplinary issues and improve their composure in high‑stakes moments. The result adds another intriguing chapter to the storied rivalry between the two nations, promising even more intense contests in future test windows.