It was déjà vu for the Springboks as the Wallabies produced another stunning performance in Perth, echoing their remarkable second-half display at Ellis Park in 2025, to win 42-38 on Sunday and claim the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate.
Leading 42-17 with around 10 minutes to go, the home side looked to have sealed the victory. But, just as they had fought back from 22-0 down in Johannesburg, it was the Springboks who produced a strong comeback after sustained pressure brought four yellow cards for the hosts.
Australia suddenly found themselves down to 11 players and that familiar fight from the Boks almost snatched them a comeback win.
However, obstruction by captain André Esterhuizen and replacement Quan Horn as they attacked for the final time from their half brought the game to an end, and that error arguably summed up how the match went for most of the time for the world champions.
Australia, despite the yellow cards, were full value for their victory at Perth’s Optus Stadium. They dominated territory and possession from the outset, took their opportunities when they came and eventually bagged a well-deserved win.
Those yellow cards and the communication between the referee and TMO not working, brought drama for the entire game, but were it not for the errors, discipline and disjointed first-half performance, things could have turned out differently.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus made plenty of changes to the side that won in Baltimore against the All Blacks two weeks ago, with Herschel Jantjies and Handré Pollard forming a new halfback combination, while the young front row of Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels was given an opportunity.
The back three of Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe was also untested at international level, and the lack of familiarity between the combinations appeared to affect the Boks’ ability to build any sustained rhythm. There was no go-forward ball in the scrums – it only came late in the second half – meaning momentum had to be generated elsewhere.
There were two bright moments in an otherwise below-par first half, with Grobbelaar powering over from a rolling maul before Van der Merwe finished off a brilliant backline move after Canan Moodie had made the initial break. That try also had its origins in a strong maul.
Those tries, however, were largely isolated moments as Australia controlled the contest through their powerful forwards and a midfield that consistently found ways to put the Boks under pressure.
Outside centre Len Ikitau was particularly impressive, scoring two outstanding tries, while scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan controlled the tempo superbly and kept the scoreboard ticking with an accurate kicking display.
There were also a couple of contentious calls towards the end of the first half, including a try that appeared to come from a forward pass, while a penalty for head contact preceded that Wallabies score. But those decisions could not disguise the bigger picture: the Springboks were comprehensively outplayed for most of the clash.
The scrum, despite featuring a young front row, was also below the standards expected of the world champions, while several players failed to make the most of their opportunities.
Fullback Fassi, and loose forwards Marco van Staden and Elrigh Louw were among those who struggled to impose themselves. It leaves Erasmus and his management with plenty to consider from an experimental combination that simply never found its rhythm.
For Australia, however, it was another reminder of the danger they possess when given momentum. The Wallabies played with intent, took their chances and kept the pressure on throughout, leaving the Springboks with valuable lessons from a performance in which almost nothing clicked until the final 15 minutes.
Points scorers: Australia 42 (24): Tries: Len Ikitau (2), Ben Donaldson, Harry Wilson, Max Jorgenson. Conversions: Ryan Lonergan (4). Penalties: Lonergan (3).
Springboks 38 (17): 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.
