The Wallabies have beaten world No.1 South Africa 42-38 at Optus Stadium in Perth, holding on after four late yellow cards left Australia with as few as 11 players. Len Ikitau scored two first-half tries and Ryan Lonergan kicked 17 points as Les Kiss’s side stayed undefeated, with the Springboks penalised for obstruction after the full-time siren while still attacking.
How the Wallabies won
Australia led 24-17 at half-time and stretched the margin to 42-17 early in the final quarter before a chaotic closing sequence, according to live reports from The Guardian and rugby.com.au. A crowd of 54,678 watched at Optus Stadium, rugby.com.au reported.
Harry Wilson (about the 70th minute), Ryan Lonergan (71st, with a Springboks penalty try), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (73rd) and Hunter Paisami (77th) were all yellow-carded in the closing stages, leaving the Wallabies with 11 players. Tom Wright’s intercept try around the 76th minute was disallowed after Paisami’s high tackle on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, according to both live blogs. Wilson and Lonergan returned late before Ox Nche’s converted try in the 80th minute made it 42-38. After the siren, South Africa were still attacking when they were penalised for obstruction and Australia kicked to touch.
Tries and kicking
Wallabies tries: Len Ikitau (2, about the 25th and 28th minutes), Ben Donaldson (39th), Harry Wilson (60th), Max Jorgensen (66th). Kicking: Ryan Lonergan — conversions 4/5, penalties 3/3 (about the 7th, 48th and 54th minutes), per rugby.com.au’s match summary.
Springboks tries: Johan Grobbelaar (10th), Edwill van der Merwe (30th), penalty try (71st), Morne van den Berg (74th), Ox Nche (80th, converted). Handre Pollard opened the scoring with a penalty about the fourth minute and converted the early Springboks tries; Feinberg-Mngomezulu handled later conversions, according to the Guardian and rugby.com.au timelines.
Late yellow cards and the scramble
Referee Andrea Piardi (Italy) worked through communication problems with the TMO and at times used a mobile phone on the field, both live blogs reported. Wilson was binned for a high/shoulder contact on Malcolm Marx; Lonergan for offside that also brought the penalty try; Suaalii for a professional foul/offside; and Paisami for a high tackle. The Springboks cut the gap through the penalty try, van den Berg and Nche, but could not snatch the win.
Context and team news
South Africa made 13 starting changes, with Andre Esterhuizen captaining for the first time. The Wallabies remain undefeated under coach Les Kiss after their maiden series win in Argentina. Ikitau left the field around the 54th minute with a suspected ankle injury — Harry Potter came on and Suaalii shifted into the centres — reported as a knock/suspected ankle issue only, not a confirmed diagnosis. Rassie Erasmus had emptied the Springboks bench by about the 49th minute, rugby.com.au and the Guardian reported.
Teams
Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii; Ben Donaldson, Ryan Lonergan; Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto; Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell. Bench: Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Harry Potter.
Springboks (15-1): Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen (c), Ethan Hooker; Handre Pollard, Herschel Jantjies; Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Paul de Villiers; Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth; Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Bench included Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Quan Horn. Teams via rugby.com.au.
The result keeps Australia’s Rugby Championship campaign alive against the world No.1. For more Wallabies coverage on The Sporting Base, see Quade Cooper’s interest in a Wallabies return, Angus Crichton’s code switch and Mark Nawaqanitawase’s World Cup path.
