09/27/26 09:24:00
Printable Page
09/27 09:23 CDT 11-man Australia hangs on to upset South Africa 42-38 in
extraordinary rugby test
11-man Australia hangs on to upset South Africa 42-38 in extraordinary rugby
test
PERTH, Australia (AP) --- Australia won an extraordinary rugby match with South
Africa 42-38 after going down to 11 men and holding out the world champion on
Sunday.
The Wallabies were brilliant for a 42-17 lead until the 70th minute when
captain Harry Wilson was sin-binned for a high tackle that ramped up an already
dramatic contest.
South Africa took advantage in a five-meter scrum to bag a penalty try and
renew hope. That belief was kindled by more yellow cards to scrumhalf Ryan
Lonergan, winger Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i and center Hunter Paisami that reduced
Australia to 11 men by the 76th. By then, South Africa was only two scores
behind.
But incredible defense by the 11 Wallabies restricted the equally desperate
Springboks to one score by prop Ox Nch in the 80th and time ran out for the
visitors.
"It was a crazy last 10 minutes," Wilson told broadcaster Stan Sport. "But that
first 70 minutes ... we did exactly what we wanted."
The four yellow cards, communication problems between the match officials who
needed a cell phone on the field, and an illegal attempt by South Africa to
replace record caps holder Eben Etzebeth, dragged out the last 20 minutes for
nearly 35 minutes.
Australia, coming off a first series win in Argentina, is unbeaten in six
straight tests for the first time since 2017. That year was also the last time
South Africa conceded at least 42 points as its reputation for having the most
depth in men's international rugby took a hit in Perth.
The Springboks made 13 changes to their starting lineup after winning the
grueling Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand two weeks ago. But they
trailed 24-17 at halftime and even when the entire eight-man Bomb Squad bench
was unleashed in the 50th, they couldn't score in the second half until the
71st.
Wallabies lead by halftime
In a penalty-strewn start, Handr Pollard and Lonergan quickly found their
goalkicking range. Then a Springboks lineout drive finished with hooker Johan
Grobbelaar scoring for 10-3.
Australia's backs struggled to string passes for the first 30 minutes but
center Len Ikitau scored twice in two minutes, first from an offload by lock
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, then off an aerial contestable won by Sua'ali'i.
But the Boks also hit straight back, a beautiful pass by Pollard to Canan
Moodie setting up Edwill van der Merwe's seventh try in eight tests.
Then it was the turn of the Australia backs to show off, starting with a kick
from Tom Wright for Max Jorgensen and soft hands giving flyhalf Ben Donaldson a
try untouched and their first halftime lead against South Africa since 2022.
Two penalties by Lonergan stretched the lead to 30-17 but Ikitau had to limp
off. From a tap penalty, Wilson scored by reaching over the top of a ruck and
Lonergan's sixth straight goalkick made it 37-17.
He missed for the first time when he didn't convert a try by Jorgensen, who
scooped up a dropped catch by Moodie 60 meters out. But Australia had 42
points, its most against the Boks in 20 years.
The scarcely believable 25-point gap began to unravel with Wilson's yellow card.
Lonergan followed his skipper for interfering with South Africa's pushover
attempt that also earned the penalty try.
Van der Merwe could have had a second try but knocked on trying to catch Sacha
Feinberg-Mngomezulu's kickpass. But Sua'ali'i was sin-binned for being offside
and another pushover attempt by South Africa successfully set up a try for
scrumhalf Morn van den Berg and 42-31 with six minutes to go.
With four left, Wright appeared to finish off South Africa with an intercept
try but it was ruled out after Paisami high-tackled Feinberg-Mngomezulu and was
yellow-carded.
The desperate Boks saw Lood de Jager held up but Nch crash over, though there
were only 20 seconds left of regulation time.
Then Wilson and Lonergan returned from the sin-bin to lift Australia to 13 men
and pin back the Boks one final time.
___
See AP's full rugby coverage here
|
