Australia reclaim Mandela Challenge Plate after surviving four late yellow cards

Australia beat South Africa 42-38 in Perth on Sunday, September 27, surviving a late collapse in numbers after four yellow cards left them with just 11 players on the field. The Wallabies had led 42-17 before the world champions rallied. Rugby Australia reported that the victory returned the Mandela Challenge Plate to the hosts for the first time since 2022.

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Len Ikitau scored twice in the first half as Australia recovered from conceding the opening try to Springboks hooker Johan Grobbelaar. Edwill van der Merwe replied for South Africa, but Ben Donaldson finished an Australian attack before the interval. According to BBC Sport's match report, the Wallabies went into half-time with a 24-17 lead after repeatedly finding space through sustained attacking pressure.

Australia increased their advantage after the break through Ryan Lonergan's penalty kicking and tries from captain Harry Wilson and winger Max Jorgensen. Jorgensen collected a South African error and raced away to take the home side's total to 42. The visitors had already turned to their replacements, but Australia had built a 25-point cushion with 16 minutes remaining, BBC Sport reported.

The match changed as Wilson, Lonergan, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami were sent to the sin-bin. ABC reported that Wilson was penalised for a high tackle and Lonergan's infringement resulted in a penalty try. Suaalii then received a yellow card for offside, while Morne van den Berg scored a converted try to bring South Africa within 11 points.

Tom Wright appeared to have settled the contest when he intercepted a pass and crossed the line, but that score was disallowed following a review of Paisami's earlier tackle. Paisami's yellow card reduced Australia to 11. Ox Nche subsequently scored for South Africa, and the conversion cut the deficit to four, leaving the Wallabies facing one final defensive test.

ABC's live account reported that South Africa were penalised for obstruction after the restart, allowing Australia to kick out and end the match. The Wallabies now turn to two Bledisloe Cup Tests against New Zealand: the first in Auckland on October 10, followed by the return match in Sydney on October 17.