By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: AP.
Australia defeated World Champions South Africa 42-38 despite being reduced to 11 men against 15 for much of the last 10 minutes at the Optus stadium in Perth.
Springboks made 13 changes to the starting lineup from their 43-28 win over New Zealand at Baltimore two weeks ago, with only lock Eben Etzebeth and winger Ethan Hooker retained their starting roles from the team that clinched the series 3-1.
The teams traded early penalties before Springboks hooker Johan Grobbelaar drove over for the first try of the match after a powerful maul.
Australia responded well with a wave of pressure which was rewarded when centre Len Ikitau drove over from a metre out.
Ikitau then flew over for his second after the world champions made a mess of a high ball kicked through, but the lead lasted just three minutes.
South Africa played the ball quickly and flung it out wide with Edwill van der Merwe on the end of a stunning break to score in the corner.
The high level continued as the hosts took the lead again before the break. After 14 patient but quick phases, the Wallabies whipped the ball from right to left to find fly-half Ben Donaldson free to score in the corner.
The Springboks had strength in depth to call on, and coach Rassie Erasmus made all eight changes early in the second half with his side down by 10 points.
But it was Australia who continued to dominate. Captain Harry Wilson was denied a try as his foot was in touch but just seconds later he did burrow over the line close to the posts.
Wing Max Jorgensen then sprinted the length of the pitch to score a stunning solo score after South Africa fumbled the ball to make it 42-17.
Wilson was then sin-binned and South Africa finally got their first score of the second half with a penalty try, with Ryan Lonergan yellow carded as well.
The Wallabies were down to 13 and a crossfield kick found Van der Merwe in the corner but the wing dropped the ball before he could ground it.
Australia wing Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i was then sin-binned as well to leave Australia three men down and replacement scrum-half Morne van den Berg scrambled in to cut the lead to 11 points.
Remarkably Australia then appeared to have scored again as Tom Wright intercepted a pass to run in – only for the try to be ruled out and Hunter Paisami shown a fourth yellow card for a dangerous tackle in the build-up.
Replacement prop Ox Nché scored the Boks’ fifth try with 30 seconds remaining, but they were penalised for obstruction with clock in the red and that would have been an incredible comeback. The win handed Australia the Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time since 2022.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted that the team had “only themselves to blame” following their performance.
“We picked the team, and we had a game plan, and I thought we had a chance at the end, but the better team won on the night. It’s sad to lose, but it’s not because we’ve been together too long. It’s because we didn’t play well enough.”
Asked how valuable this experience was for the team ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, Erasmus said: “Australia are a good team and they’ve definitely improved a lot. They played at home and they’re the World Cup hosts next year.”
“We might meet them in a vital playoff game, and it was nice to get a taste of them tonight. When we play them next year, we’ll know a little bit more about each other. I’m not going to say it was a case of lessons learned, but I think it was a valuable experience.”
WALLABIES – Tries: Len Ikitau (2), Ben Donaldson, Harry Wilson, Max Jorgensen. Conversions: Ryan Lonergan (4). Penalties: Lonergan (3).
SPRINGBOKS – Tries: Johan Grobbelaar, Edwill van der Merwe, penalty try, Morné van den Berg, Ox Nché. Conversions: Handré Pollard (2), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalty: Pollard.
This story has been updated with Springbok Coach Rassie Erasmus Post-Match interview.