Full Breakdown
Wallabies Stun Springboks 42-38 in Perth Test
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Core Event
On September 27 2026 at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia defeated South Africa 42-38 in a Rugby Championship Test. The Wallabies built a 42-17 lead before a late surge saw the Springboks score three tries. Four Australian players—captain Harry Wilson, scrum-half Ryan Lonergan, wing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and wing Hunter Paisami—were shown yellow cards in the final ten minutes, leaving the hosts with eleven men to hold on for a four-point win and the Mandela Challenge Plate.
Background & Context
The match came a year before Australia hosts the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with the venue set to host the opening game. It was the first test for new Wallabies coach Les Kiss against a traditional power; Kiss had taken over in July 2026 and entered the game unbeaten in five Tests. South Africa’s Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes, using the fixture to test squad depth ahead of the Nations Championship and the World Cup.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Australia 42 (tries: Len Ikitau 2, Ben Donaldson, Harry Wilson, Max Jorgensen; conversions 4, penalties 3) – South Africa 38 (tries: Johan Grobbelaar, Edwill van der Merwe, penalty try, Morne van den Berg, Ox Nché; conversions 2, penalty 1).
- Yellow cards: Harry Wilson (68´), Ryan Lonergan (71´), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (73´), Hunter Paisami (77´).
- Referee Andrea Piardi (Italy) used a mobile phone to communicate with officials after a radio failure.
- World Rugby rankings: Australia moved from 7th to 6th, overtaking Scotland; South Africa fell from 2nd to 3rd.
Official Statements & Responses
Les Kiss said the selection changes, including moving Suaalii to the wing, were intended to counter South Africa’s high-kicking game and to give the midfield partnership of Len Ikitau and Hunter Paisami more space. He praised the team’s “unbelievable” first-70-minute performance and their composure after the disciplinary setbacks.
Rassie Erasmus acknowledged the risk of rotating his squad, describing it as “rolling the dice a bit” and accepted responsibility, saying the side “didn’t play well enough.”
Referee Piardi’s use of a mobile phone was highlighted as a pragmatic response to equipment failure, ensuring communication with the television match official.
Criticism & Opposition
Andre Esterhuizen blamed South Africa’s collapse on a lack of discipline in the first half. Erasmus also noted that the extensive changes “didn’t deliver what was expected,” contrasting with the Wallabies’ narrative of strategic success.
Why It Matters
The victory secured the Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time since 2022 and gave Australia a confidence boost ahead of the 2027 World Cup on home soil. The climb to sixth in the world rankings narrows the gap to the All Blacks and reinforces the Wallabies’ claim as a serious contender in the upcoming international calendar, including back-to-back Bledisloe Cup tests on October 10.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a big, big Test team, [and] everyone knows they go three, four deep in every position,” — Les Kiss, Wallabies head coach
- “I'm so proud of the group,” — Harry Wilson, Wallabies captain (post-match)