Australia managed to edge out South Africa 42-38 in a dramatic Test match in Perth, holding on to the win even after four of their players were dismissed with yellow cards in the closing eleven minutes, leaving the Wallabies to defend their lead with just eleven men on the field. The match was punctuated by a series of controversial decisions from Italian referee Andrea Piardi, who had to reach into his pocket four times within an eight‑minute span.
At one point the referee even contacted his television match official by mobile phone after a technical failure in the communication system, just as the Springboks were mounting a furious comeback that saw them score three unanswered tries and cut a 25‑point deficit down to a mere 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.
Two minutes later Ryan Lonergan was also sent to the sin‑bin for diving into the back of a ruck, an offence that prompted the officials to award South Africa a penalty try for a professional foul. The third yellow card was handed to Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii after a review found him offside when a Springboks try had initially been disallowed. Finally, Hunter Paisami received a yellow for a high tackle during the build‑up to a Tom Wright interception try, which itself was overturned. That overturned try would have taken the score to 47‑31 in Australia’s favour in the 76th minute.
Instead, the Wallabies found themselves defending an 11‑point margin with only eleven players for the final four minutes of the game. Replacement prop Ox Nche entered the field in the dying seconds and managed to score a consolation try, narrowing the gap to four points.
South Africa had one last opportunity to press forward, 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 of the Wallabies, described the ending as "bizarre". He added, "In those moments you have to keep your composure and stay focused on what you want to achieve, and I think the players did 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 confidence." South Africa had begun the contest strongly, with Johan Grobbelaar crossing for a try and Handre Pollard adding a penalty to put the Springboks ahead 10‑3 within the first ten minutes. However, Australia's centre Len Ikitau turned the tide, scoring in the 23rd minute and again in the 27th, giving the hosts a 17‑10 lead.
Although Edwill van der Merwe found the line for the Springboks at the half‑hour mark, Ben Donaldson's try just before the break pushed Australia ahead 24‑17 at the interval. 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 winning the Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand 3‑1, fielded a heavily altered side.
Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to the lineup that had defeated the All Blacks 43‑28 in Baltimore two weeks earlier, retaining only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker. Springboks captain Andre Esterhuizen admitted that discipline had been a key factor in their defeat, 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 match as Australia's top scorer, contributing 17 points from four conversions and three penalties, a reliable boot that helped the Wallabies hold on for a memorable victory. The win not only underscored Australia's resilience under pressure but also highlighted the importance of maintaining discipline and composure in the closing stages of high‑stakes international rugby.