Wallabies stun Springboks in frenzied Test for the ages

PERTH, OPTUS STADIUM, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Australia upset four-time World Cup champions South Africa 42-38 in a chaotic Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday, a result that serves as a striking warning shot exactly one year before the next Rugby World Cup.

The victory, secured in front of a partisan home crowd, breathed fresh hope into Australian rugby after a period of turbulence and came on a weekend when domestic football codes delivered their own dramatic comebacks. For a side that has struggled for consistency, the five-try performance against the world’s top-ranked team — built on aerial skills borrowed from Australian Rules and the physicality of rugby league — suggested a potential turning point under Kiss’s leadership.

South Africa arrived in Perth having just pounded New Zealand 3-1 in a home series, prompting Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus to make 14 changes to his starting XV while still fielding 10 World Cup winners. Australia, meanwhile, was forced into its own reshuffle: Ben Donaldson started at fly-half after Carter Gordon suffered a broken leg against Argentina, and lineout caller Josh Canham was ruled out with a hamstring tear on the eve of the match.

The most talked-about selection was the shifting of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the wing, a move designed to exploit his aerial prowess.

The contest was shaped early by Italian referee Andre Piardi, whose strict interpretation unsettled the Wallabies. Suaalii took a spectacular diving mark from the kick-off but was penalised on the ground, and a rattled Donaldson leaked errors that allowed Handré Pollard to slot an early penalty. In the 10th minute, South Africa’s maul rolled over the line for Zachary Porthen to score, giving the visitors a 10-3 lead.

Australia steadied slowly. Max Jorgensen found space on the right and captain Harry Wilson spurned a shot at goal to chase a try, winning a lineout and feeding Len Ikitau, who was stopped inches short. The Wallabies recycled and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto slipped a pass to Hunter Paisami, who crossed under the posts to level at 10-10.

Two minutes later, Angus Bell broke the line and Ryan Lonergan hoisted a high bomb; Suaalii rose above the defence to deflect the ball back to Ikitau, who scored. The 17-10 lead lasted barely a minute before Edwill van der Merwe finished a Springboks counter-attack from a turnover.

A head-high tackle on Donaldson gave Australia a penalty on halfway, and the home side crafted a 14-phase assault that ended with Lonergan finding Donaldson unmarked via a no-look pass from Suaalii. Lonergan’s conversion made it four from four off the tee and sent Australia to the break leading 24-17.

Erasmus unleashed his bench stars with 30 minutes remaining, a gamble that initially backfired as Australia absorbed the fresh legs and won two penalties that Lonergan slotted. Wilson then crashed over from a sustained pick-and-go drive, extending the lead to 20 points with 20 minutes left. The boilover appeared complete when Jorgensen scooped a loose ball and raced 60 metres to score.

Then the match descended into farce. Wilson, Lonergan and Suaalii were all sin-binned in quick succession, followed by Paisami for a high tackle, leaving Australia with 11 men against 15 world champions. South Africa calmly crossed for three tries to narrow the gap to four points, but the Wallabies forced errors, made last-ditch tackles and scrambled enough to survive the final onslaught.

The win secured the Mandela Challenge Plate for Australia, their second piece of silverware in as many months, and injected genuine belief that the World Cup trophy they crave is suddenly within closer reach.