Australia scored five tries and survived a yellow-card avalanche to beat world champions South Africa 42-38 in a dramatic one-off Test at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday.
The Wallabies were outstanding for 64 minutes, racing to a 42-17 lead after Max Jorgensen's length-of-the-field solo try electrified a crowd of 55,000. But a chaotic spell of four yellow cards in nine minutes — to Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i and Hunter Paisami — reduced the hosts to 11 men and opened the door for a furious South African comeback.
Len Ikitau scored two tries and Ben Donaldson crossed once as Australia dismantled the Springboks in the first half and early second period. The Wallabies led 24-17 at the break after trading early scores with a South African side that had made 13 changes following their series-clinching win over New Zealand in Baltimore.
Ikitau opened Australia's try account from close range after sustained pressure, then capitalised on a South African fumble from a high ball to dive over for his second. Donaldson finished a sweeping 14-phase move that shifted the ball from right to left to put the Wallabies 19-10 ahead before the interval.
Captain Harry Wilson burrowed over early in the second half after initially being denied when his foot touched the sideline. Jorgensen then produced the individual moment of the match, gathering a loose ball and sprinting the full length of the pitch to make it 42-17 with 16 minutes remaining.
What followed was pandemonium. Wilson was sin-binned for a professional foul, and South Africa scored a penalty try with Lonergan also shown yellow. Sua'ali'i received a third yellow card, and Morne van den Berg scrambled over to cut the deficit to 11 points.
Tom Wright appeared to have sealed the win with a spectacular intercept try, only for it to be ruled out after Paisami was shown a fourth yellow for a dangerous tackle in the build-up. With Australia down to 11, Ox Nche crashed over to make it 42-38, but time expired before the Springboks could complete an extraordinary escape.
The result is the most significant of Les Kiss's tenure as Australia coach and a timely statement a year out from the 2027 World Cup, which Australia will host. The Wallabies reclaimed the Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time since 2022.
Sources
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cx05r4gg209ro https://springboks.rugby/news-features/articles/2026/9/27/wallabies-outlast-never-say-die-boks-in-perth
