The Wallabies held off a late Springbok fightback to win 42-38 in Perth and reclaim the Mandela Challenge Plate. Image credit Supplied
The Wallabies beat Springboks 42-38 in a dramatic Rugby Championship test in Perth on Sunday. Australia held on despite finishing with only 11 players on the field, and they reclaimed the Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time since 2022.
The win is the biggest of Les Kiss’s time as Wallabies coach. It also echoes Australia’s famous 2025 comeback at Ellis Park, when they recovered from 22-0 down to beat the world champions in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to his starting team for the match, and André Esterhuizen led the side as captain.
How the Wallabies beat Springboks in Perth
Australia controlled much of the match and led 24-17 at halftime. Centre Len Ikitau scored twice, while Ben Donaldson, Harry Wilson and Max Jorgensen also crossed the line for the hosts.
By the final ten minutes, the Wallabies led 42-17 and looked set for a comfortable win. However, their discipline then collapsed under Springbok pressure.
In a seven minute spell, referees sent four Australian players to the sin bin. First, Wilson went off for a high tackle on Malcolm Marx. Next, scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan followed after an infringement that also led to a penalty try. Then Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii went for an offside tackle on Marx near the tryline. Finally, Hunter Paisami left the field after a late and high tackle on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
As a result, the Boks piled on 21 unanswered points against a shrinking Australian defence. Morné van den Berg scored, and Ox Nché crossed as the siren sounded to bring the score to 42-38.
Earlier in the match, Johan Grobbelaar and Edwill van der Merwe had also scored tries for South Africa.
Still, the comeback fell short. When the Springboks tried to launch one last attack, obstruction penalties against Esterhuizen and replacement Quan Horn ended their hopes.
After the match, Erasmus admitted that the better team won. He said it hurt to lose, but South Africa simply were not good enough on the day.
For now, the Wallabies beat Springboks to take back the Mandela Challenge Plate, while the Boks will reflect on a slow start that left them too much to do.
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