Overview
- Australia defeated world champions South Africa 42-38 in Perth on Sunday after a match that swung wildly in the final 20 minutes.
- Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus responded to the game by sending all eight replacements on together in the 47th minute as a reactive gamble to shift momentum.
- The Wallabies received four yellow cards late in the contest, leaving them with 11 players and forcing a tense, three-try South African comeback that fell short.
- Hunter Paisami has been cited for a high tackle on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and will face the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee, which could affect Australia’s centre options ahead of the Bledisloe Cup.
- Separately, all four South African URC clubs won their opening fixtures and the Wallabies’ win moved them up in the World Rugby rankings, underscoring both Springbok depth and Australian momentum going into 2027.