What was the score between Australia and South Africa in Perth?

Australia won 42-38 on 27 September 2026, finishing with 11 players after four yellow cards.

Did the Springboks beat the All Blacks in 2026?

Yes. South Africa won the four-Test series against New Zealand 3-1, ending with a 43-28 win in Baltimore on 12 September 2026.

Australia 42-38 South Africa: chaos in Perth

Few Tests end like this one. At Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday 27 September 2026, Australia beat South Africa 42-38 despite finishing with only 11 players on the field, after four Wallabies were sent to the sin bin in the final ten minutes.

Australia led 24-17 at half-time through two tries from Len Ikitau, and tries from Harry Wilson and Max Jorgensen stretched the lead to 25 points. Then the game turned. Yellow cards for Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami opened the door, and South Africa scored a penalty try and further tries through Morne van den Berg and, in the last minute, Ox Nche.

At 42-38 the Springboks had one last chance, but they were penalised for obstruction after the siren and the game was over.

“We weren't good enough and Australia were better.”
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa coach

Erasmus made 13 changes for the one-off Test after South Africa won the four-match series against New Zealand 3-1, finishing with a 43-28 win in Baltimore on 12 September.

Springbok Women make history in Italy

A day earlier, the Springbok Women won on Italian soil for the first time, beating Italy 41-29 in Pordenone in the WXV Global Series. Anushka Groenewald scored two of their six tries, a week after a heavy defeat by Wales. They play Spain in Seville on 4 October.

“We were not going to be beaten today.”
Sizophila Solontsi, co-captain

How it unfolded

Johan Grobbelaar scored South Africa's first try in the 10th minute and Edwill van der Merwe added another before the break. With Australia down to 11 players, a Tom Wright interception try was ruled out for an earlier offence, keeping the Boks in the game. Italian referee Andrea Piardi was in charge.

“A bizarre finish. But I don't want us to forget about the first 60.”
Les Kiss, Australia coach

Rugby is growing in Nigeria too; read about the Black Stallions and Nigerian-heritage stars such as Maro Itoje.

Reporting by the SitesNG Sports Desk, based on reports from Daily Maverick, ABC News, Sky Sports, Planet Rugby, EWN, gsport4girls. Published 27 September 2026 in the African Sports News weekly edition of 30 September 2026.