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Wallabies reduced to 11 players in chaotic 42-38 upset win over Springboks
The Wallabies manage to overcome four late yellow cards to defeat world champions South Africa 42-38 in a pulsating Test in Perth.
FULL ARTICLE · ABC Australia News
The Wallabies have desperately held on to defeat the world champion Springboks 42–38 in Perth after being reduced to 11 players during the final five minutes.
In one of the most chaotic finishes in Test rugby history, the Wallabies were shown four yellow cards late in the match after comfortably leading 42–17.
Captain Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami were each sent to the sin-bin by referee Andrea Piardi.
Wilson was shown a yellow card for a high shot on Malcolm Marx in the 69th minute, before the Springboks were awarded a penalty try due to an infringement from Lonergan.
As Lonergan received his marching orders, the Wallabies' lead was cut to 42–24.
They subsequently lost Suaalii for the remainder of the match after he committed an offside play.
The Springboks capitalised on their numerical advantage to score a converted try through Morné van den Berg.
The Wallabies appeared to seal victory in the 76th minute when Tom Wright intercepted a pass from Springboks captain André Esterhuizen.
Wright raced away to cross the goal line, but the try was denied as Paisami was ruled to have made contact with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's head in an earlier tackle.
Paisami was given his yellow card, leaving the Wallabies with 11 players.
The Springboks got within striking distance of the Wallabies on the scoreboard after Ox Nché scored a converted try in the 78th minute.
The Wallabies' lead had been slashed to four points, but they managed to hold on and record a famous victory in front of a boisterous crowd of 54,678.
Adding to the bizarre scenes during the final 10 minutes, Piardi was forced to speak with his fellow match officials via a mobile phone following a malfunction with their communications system.
"It was a crazy last 10 minutes," Wilson told the Nine Network after the match.
"But that first 70 minutes … the way we played, we implemented our game plan. We did exactly what we wanted.
"We stepped up in the physical battle and I'm so proud of the boys."
Wilson was right to highlight the Wallabies' dominance until the flurry of late yellow cards.
They led 24–17 at half-time and extended their advantage in the second term with tries to Wilson and Max Jorgensen.
Lonergan helped build scoreboard pressure with two conversions and as many penalty goals.
Len Ikitau, playing in his preferred outside centre position, impressed in the first half with two tries.
His move back to the number 13 jersey meant Suaalii played on the wing, with the former NRL star handling the role superbly.
The Springboks arrived in Australia following their recent victory in the four-Test series against the All Blacks.
The physical and emotional impact of their win in the series, billed as Rugby's Greatest Rugby Rivalry, will be open to debate.
They made 13 changes to the starting line-up that defeated the All Blacks 43–28 in Baltimore earlier this month.
The triumph saw the Wallabies awarded the Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time since 2022, which was also the last occasion they beat the Springboks on Australian soil.
They face the All Blacks in the first of two Bledisloe Cup Tests in Auckland on October 10.
The return clash will be played in Sydney on October 17.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
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Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:40pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:40pm
Thanks for your company!
By Luke Pentony
That's where we are going to sign off for the evening — thanks for joining us!
What a Test … what a finish!
Congratulations to the Wallabies and well down to the Springboks for throwing all they had at the home side in the dying stages.
We'll be back to blog the first Bledisloe Cup Test on October 10, so we hope you can come along for the ride.
Have a good night!
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:28pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:28pm
Making sense of what just happened
By Luke Pentony
Well … how do you sum up that finish?
The Wallabies found enough in the tank to hold on, despite being reduced to 11 players late in the match.
But as Les Kiss highlighted, the Wallabies had done enough to keep their noses in front before referee Andrea Piardi went to his pocket four times to produce a yellow card.
Were all those yellows warranted?
That's up for debate.
Looking at the Springboks, they had made 13 changes to their starting XV following Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.
But there is no such thing as a weak South African squad.
It was a deserved victory for the Wallabies and they have much reason to be proud.
They have next weekend off ahead of the back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests on October 10 (Auckland) and Sydney (October 17).
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:16pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:16pm
A 'win is a win'
By Luke Pentony
Win is a win bizarre you might say but the new chapter has begun … onya - Milan
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:16pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:16pm
Kiss breaks down 'bizarre finish'
By Luke Pentony
Here's Wallabies coach Les Kiss, courtesy of Nine:
I've got to give credit to my coaching team. They were calm up in the box, just trying to get the right message in the right way.In those moments, you've just got to hold your nerve and stay clear about what you want to do and I think they did that. A bizarre finish.But I don't want us to forget about the first 60 (minutes).I think it was a really important step up for us to take that game forward, control the game and really be brave and attack the game, as we would have liked to.
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:09pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:09pm
Onya Les!
By Luke Pentony
Well done wallabies what a game Les Kiss i could kiss you have been waiting for so long to see the boys win against all the odds !- Wendy Taylor Qld
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:08pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 10:08pm
'So special'
By Luke Pentony
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has attempted to sum up that bizarre finish in Perth.
He also spoke with Nine:
That was unreal.That was so special for our group. We've trained so hard over the last five, six weeks.For a performance like that, we had 11 players on the field.For us to really dig deep and have such a great challenge against the South African team … it's so special.
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:59pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:59pm
Indeed, what was that?
By Luke Pentony
What was that - Chris
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:58pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:58pm
'Crazy last 10 minutes'
By Luke Pentony
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has just given his thoughts on his side's win, courtesy of Nine.
It was a crazy last 10 minutes.But that first 70 minutes, the way we played, we implemented our game plan. We did exactly what we wanted.We stepped up in the physical battle and I'm so proud of the boys.It was always a challenge every time you take the field against the Springboks.
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:56pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:56pm
Boks speak after full-time
By Luke Pentony
Springboks captain André Esterhuizen has also spoken with Nine.
I think it was a pretty intense game and quite quick for Test match. But they (Wallabies) capitalised on all our errors and I think discipline let us down, especially in that first half. We let them in too many times and that really hurt us.
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:54pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:54pm
Jorgensen speaks after frantic finish
By Luke Pentony
Wallabies winger Max Jorgensen has spoken to the Nine Network after full-time:
There's not even words to describe what happened just then.It's so out of the ordinary. Never seen anything like it.But so proud of the boys to put in that extra effort at the end, that serious care and fight that we always talk about down.We stuck in there and got the win.
Key Event
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:49pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:49pm
WALLABIES WIN!!!
By Luke Pentony
WALLABIES HOLD ON!!
THEY WIN 42-38!
The Boks were on attack after the full-time siren had sounded.
But they were penalised for an obstruction play, giving the Wallabies the chance to kick the ball into touch and end the match.
What have we just witnessed?
Skipper Harry Wilson came back on after the final try, giving the Wallabies one player back.
But they still finished with 12 players after playing with 11 for much of the final five minutes.
Key Event
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:48pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:48pm
80' Boks score!
By Luke Pentony
The Springboks get over through Ox Nche and the conversion is made.
The score is 42-38 to the Wallabies!
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:47pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:47pm
80' Minute on the clock — are Wallabies home?
By Luke Pentony
The Wallabies are defending on their line again!
It's 15 on 11!
Boks are awarded a penalty.
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:45pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:45pm
77' Wallabies deny Boks try
By Luke Pentony
Brilliant goal-line defence from the Wallabies holds out the Boks.
Two minutes on the clock — can the Wallabies hold on?
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:40pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:40pm
77' WALLABIES DOWN TO 11 PLAYERS!
By Luke Pentony
Tom Wright, come on down!
Against the run of play, Tom Wright scores an intercept try.
Hang on …
The TMO wants a look at an earlier tackle attempted by Hunter Paisami on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
ANOTHER YELLOW CARD!
PAISAMI IS OFF THE FIELD!
WALLABIES DOWN TO 11 PLAYERS!
Naturally, Wright's try doesn't stand.
Key Event
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:39pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:39pm
74' Boks score!
By Luke Pentony
Morne van den Berg goes over!
The conversion is successful and the Wallabies' lead is reduced to 11 points, 42-31.
The Wallabies are down to 12 players — can they hold on?
Key Event
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:33pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:33pm
72' Wallabies down to 12 players!
By Luke Pentony
The Wallabies are down to 12 players!
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has now been shown a yellow card for an offside play made in defence!
Boks winger Edwill van der Merwe had earlier been denied a try in the right corner, but referee Andrea Piardi went back in the play to ping Suaali via a call from assistant referee Ben O'Keeffe.
Key Event
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:32pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:32pm
71' Boks awarded penalty try
By Luke Pentony
The Wallabies are penalised at the scrum, with referee Andrea Piardi awarding the Springboks a penalty try.
Ryan Lonergan is shown a yellow card for offside play.
The Wallabies are down to 13 players!
The Boks cut the home side's lead to 42-24.
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:30pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:30pm
70' Boks denied a try
By Luke Pentony
The Springboks crossed under the posts but are pinged for a knock-on.
However, penalty advantage was being played and the Boks have another chance.
They opt for another five-metre scrum in front of the sticks.
Key Event
Sun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:28pmSun 27 Sep 2026 at 9:28pm
70' Wilson shown yellow
By Luke Pentony
Bizarre scenes here …
Referee Andrea Piardi is communicating with TMO Matteo Liperini via a mobile phone.
The usual comms are down.
They are checking contact made between Harry Wilson and Malcolm Marx.
Wilson was attempting a tackle and he has been shown a yellow card!
The Wallabies will finish the match with 14 players.
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