Springboks Fall To Wallabies In Wild Perth Test Match After 11-Man Yellow Card Chaos
In what proved to be one of the most helter-skelter games imaginable, the Springboks crashed to a 42-38 defeat against Australia in a breathless and dramatic encounter at Optus Stadium in Perth.
With the game moved to Sunday due to the AFL Grand Final the previous day, Australia were full value for their victory. For large parts, the contest was a high-tempo, if somewhat scrappy affair, with more than a hint of drama in the final quarter. Once they seized the lead, the Wallabies wrestled control of the momentum with impressive efficiency, and their growing confidence was evident as they repeatedly converted pressure into points.
There may not have been a Rugby Championship encounter between the two sides this year, but this contest more than made up for it. Having led the world champions 42-17 at one stage, a succession of yellow cards reduced the Wallabies to just 11 men, handing the Boks the impetus for an unlikely comeback.
Handre Pollard handed South Africa an early lead in the fourth minute after impressive work from Paul de Villiers at the breakdown earned the visitors a penalty, with Australia penalised for failing to release the ball.
Moments later, the winners of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry were penalised, allowing Ryan Lonergan to draw level with a 45-metre penalty from the kicking tee.
The Springbok maul, a key weapon in their arsenal as showcased against the All Blacks, was on full display as a dominant effort from the pack allowed Johan Grobbelaar to dot down for his first international try with just 10 minutes on the clock.
Pollard made no mistake with the conversion, splitting the posts to give the Springboks a 10-3 lead.
What followed were some scrappy passages of play, with both sides struggling to retain possession. This was typified by a wayward Springbok lineout that went awry, resulting in a South African knock-on. Defensively, however, the Springboks’ line speed was once again impressive, putting the opposition under immediate pressure.
Australia struck back in the 24th minute, moving the ball swiftly after executing a lineout five metres from the Springbok line. Hunter Paisami came agonisingly close, somehow falling just short of the line, before Len Ikitau powered over the whitewash to score.
Lonergan added the extras to draw the scores level.
The Wallabies turned the game on its head just four minutes later when a contestable kick inside the 22 ricocheted off Joseph Suaalii’s shoulder as he challenged Aphelele Fassi. The ball fell kindly to Ikitau, who crossed for a quick-fire brace.
Lonergan maintained his flawless record from the tee, converting to give the home side the lead for the first time at 17-10.
The Wallabies barely had time to draw breath before South Africa secured a turnover on halfway and set up a maul. With a penalty advantage, the Bok backline sprang into action, the ball zipping through the hands of Pollard, Canan Moodie and Fassi at glorious speed before Edwill van der Merwe cantered over to score.
Pollard matched Lonergan’s accuracy from the tee, converting to draw the scores level at 17-17.
Australia showed impressive endeavour in attack and, after an exquisite grubber from Tom Wright behind the Springbok defence was gathered by Max Jorgensen, the Wallabies sensed an opportunity.
Showing patience as they worked through the phases, the hosts repeatedly fed their forwards against a resolute Springbok defence. After 14 phases, they finally pulled the trigger, shifting the ball wide before Suaalii’s offload found Ben Donaldson in space, allowing him to cross unopposed and give the home side a hard-earned lead heading into half-time.
HALF-TIME: AUSTRALIA 24-17 SOUTH AFRICA
The imperious Lonergan extended Australia’s lead to 10 points, 27-17, after the Springboks were penalised for a ruck infringement.
The coaching staff had evidently seen enough, with the bench unleashed as the Wallabies looked to turn the screw.
Yet the Springboks continued to concede kickable penalties, and Lonergan made them pay again, stretching the lead to 13 points at 30-17 after 54 minutes.
The Wallabies were in complete control, denying the Springboks any opportunity to build momentum. After a desperate defensive effort from the visitors, Harry Wilson eventually dotted down for their fourth try.
Lonergan added the extras to stretch Australia’s lead to 20 points at 37-17, with just 20 minutes remaining.
With their backs against the wall, the Boks tried valiantly to fight their way back into the contest, but a handling error from Moodie fell straight into the hands of Jorgensen, who raced the length of the field to cross the whitewash.
Lonergan finally missed a kick at goal, but the damage had been done, with Australia holding a commanding 25-point lead at 42-17.
Then came the drama.
Australian captain Harry Wilson was sent to the sin bin following a high tackle, before Lonergan joined him after being yellow-carded for a cynical infringement. The latter resulted in a penalty try, while Suaalii was also shown a yellow card, leaving the Wallabies with just 12 men on the field.
A Morne van den Berg try then breathed further life into the Springboks’ comeback, before yet another Australian yellow card, this time for Hunter Paisami following a high tackle on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, reduced the hosts to just 11 men.
Ox Nche crashed over moments later to bring the Springboks within four points at 42-38, but it proved too little, too late in one of the most incredible finales ever witnessed in a Test match.
