Wallabies upset world champions Springboks 42-38 in Perth Test
Australia beat South Africa 42-38 in Perth in a one-off Test a year out from the World Cup, the Wallabies edging the two-time trophy holders in a chaotic encounter.
The victory preserved Les Kiss’s unbeaten start as Australia produced a five-try display and were reduced to 11 players in the final 15 minutes yet still held on. The result handed the Wallabies the Mandela Challenge Plate and represented a notable win over the world champion Springboks.
South Africa’s squad was heavily altered for the match, with coach Rassie Erasmus making 14 changes and selecting 10 World Cup winners. Australia also reshuffled, promoting Ben Donaldson to fly-half after Carter Gordon broke his leg against Argentina and losing lineout caller Josh Canham to a hamstring tear on the eve of the Test.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was moved to the wing and made an immediate impact, taking a diving mark from the kick-off but then being penalised as Italian referee Andre Piardi asserted his authority early. Handré Pollard opened the scoring with three points and, in the 10th minute, Zachary Porthen finished a driving maul to extend the visitors’ lead to 10-3.
The Wallabies responded through a concerted period of play: Max Jorgensen created space down the right, captain Harry Wilson won the lineout, and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s work helped Hunter Paisami touch down to make it 10-all. Australia then scored twice in quick succession after Angus Bell pierced the line and Ryan Lonergan’s kick led to a Suaalii deflection that allowed Len Ikitau to score, only for Edwill van der Merwe to reply for South Africa shortly afterwards.
A head-butt on Donaldson yielded a penalty on halfway that swung momentum back to Australia; after a Wright kick and 14 phases of forward battering, Lonergan’s wide pass and ensuing conversion — his fourth from four — sent the hosts into the interval 24-17 ahead. Erasmus introduced his bench with 30 minutes remaining, but Australia absorbed the changes and Lonergan added two penalties to extend the margin.
Wilson’s second score from close quarters pushed Australia 20 points clear and Jorgensen later ran 60 metres from a scoop to further threaten the upset. The match then descended into numerical chaos: Wilson, Lonergan and Suaalii were sin-binned and, a few minutes later, Paisami joined them for a high tackle, leaving the Wallabies with 11 players against 15 world champions; South Africa crossed for three tries during that period, but Australia forced errors, made crucial tackles and managed to hold on.
The win secured the Mandela Challenge Plate for Australia and was their second trophy in as many months. But the one they really want is suddenly a bit closer.