The Wallabies have recorded the craziest win in living memory… feels like the sort of thing to say after that absolutely bonkers 42-38 win over South Africa in Perth on Sunday.
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But then I had to check to see if I said the same thing after the Wallabies’ memorable 38-22 win at Ellis Park last August. I hadn’t, as it turned out, but Sunday still might only have been the craziest win in… well, a year.
What made this particular result so crazy were the expectations leading into the game. Yes, Australia had been presented with a massive opportunity to beat South Africa. That in itself hadn’t happened on home soil since 2022, and not in Perth since 2014 (there was a 23-23 draw in 2017).
But they still had to make the most of this opportunity. Despite never trailing at half-time in their eight Tests so far this year, the Wallabies have still left themselves open to be chased down several times. Ireland and France were good enough to win; Japan and Argentina weren’t quite.
So all the nerves Australian rugby fans felt last week were entirely valid, and never too far away as the game began.
24th minute: Australia draw level through Len Ikitau
Despite Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii soaring to win the kick-off contest, he was pounced upon by Springboks ball-thief Paul de Villiers for an immediate turnover penalty in response.
Ben Donaldson was stopped well behind the gain line as the Wallabies looked to play wide from a lineout a short time later, and after popping a desperation ball to Max Jorgensen, he too was swooped upon by de Villiers. Handre Pollard converted this penalty into the first points of the game in the fourth minute, and Wallabies fans might already have been finding a new fingernail to chew.
From another turnover penalty in front of the Wallabies posts, the Springboks set their lineout drive for a patient advance that took a slight shift of direction and a definite second shove to get rolling, but once it was rolling, Johan Grobbelaar was always going to score.
But there were signs, too. Donaldson threw a great ball to put Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson away down the left edge. Their defensive adjustments out wide hurried a forward pass to Ethan Hooker on ‘Boks left edge, and they started winning turnovers, too; first McReight pilfered just as South Africa were winding up their transition attack, then Brandon Paenga-Amosa did the same after Jorgensen narrowly missed winning an aerial contest.
When the Springboks went off their feet in their own 22, the Wallabies five-metre lineout set up their pick-and-drive platform. This has become a genuine strength over the last 12 months, and as they edged to the middle of the field, Len Ikitau was only looking for one thing as he loomed on the outside of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s hip.
This was a really promising start from the Australians.
27th minute: Ikitau goes bang-bang to extend Australia lead
South Africa were pinged for being in front of the kicker at the restart, and this felt like one of those things that should be pulled up more often than it is. They were in front by a long way, too; Hooker out on the left edge was two or three metres into the Australian half by the time Pollard kicked it.
But that did mean the Wallabies were forced into a scrum contest. Is this Rassie Erasmus 4D-chess again? Was Springbok tardiness about to be rewarded? Thankfully not, but that was another fingernail gone.
This was really good. This was selection decision leading in-game decision-making, backed up by great game awareness.
The Wallabies played down the right shorter side, Lonergan was directing things around well, and with penalty advantage, launched a towering bomb for Suaalii, who interestingly came through one-in from the wing, with Hunter Paisami on the edge. Ikitau was looming one-off and one-back, in racing parlance.
Suaalii got up well, but Springbok full-back Aphelele Fassi actually dominated the aerial space beautifully, twisting in a way that knocked Suaalii away from the ball, but also forced him to catch the ball almost behind him, instead cannoning off his shoulder into the waiting arms of Ikitau, who raced away for a second try in a couple of minutes.
This was really good. This was selection decision leading in-game decision-making, backed up by great game awareness.
40th minute: Donaldson lingers out wide to finish things off
Unfortunately, it was Ikitau’s miss on Canan Moodie that created the opportunity for Edwill van der Merwe to hit straight back for the ‘Boks, and that really handy seven point lead evaporated in seconds.
But it was also a handy reminder that South Africa really don’t want to repeat the Ellis Park embarrassment and let the Wallabies get away a second time in 12 months. They’d been saying for a week they weren’t going to do that, remember?
Australia’s defence had generally been holding up pretty well. Even after the try, whenever South African wanted to go direct, they were being stopped regularly and often, and really not making the same gain line inroads we saw through the Greatest Rivalry series.
Ikitau made a line break like no-one remembers, and was that a Paisami double-pump? Either way, the Wallabies delivered stable scrum ball and again found space up through the middle of the Springboks.
Wright got a neat little grubber kick through for Jorgensen to convert into a break down the edge, and then after playing right-right-right, a couple of quick short passes through midfield saw Suaalii put Donaldson over in the corner. The Wallabies led yet another game at half-time.
Penalties are cool again; Wallabies keep building
Many an Australian rugby fan in the days since have chuckled at former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper applauding their decision on Stan Sport to kick two more penalty goals after half-time, as the Wallabies opened up a 30-17 lead to feed the first pangs of excited possibility.
This should be happening more than it is; Lonergan’s three penalties in Perth still only brings the tally of attempts to six this year, which is still not one per Test. But when you’ve now got an 88% goal-kicker, why wouldn’t you?
The Springboks emptied their bench, and it proved to be a risky move to leave no injury cover for the last 30 minutes.
Harry Wilson was denied a try in the corner, but reached through and scored the next minute to push the lead out to 20 with Lonergan’s conversion. Jorgensen then pounced on a loose ball from an otherwise pretty vanilla Springboks backline sequence and ran 60m. Lonergan pushed the conversion wide, but it almost didn’t matter.
Were the Wallabies really going to win this? Were they going to beat the Boks again? Was 25 points enough? Could it be even more? All nails were gone, we’d moved onto finger joints. The Bomb Squad hadn’t delivered a point yet, but surely they would. Australia just needed to close out the last 15 minutes.
Final 10 minutes: strap yourselves in
Eben Etzebeth was told he couldn’t come off. Was sending the totemic lock back onto the field when possibly injured, but now definitely angry, a good idea?
Suaalii was pinged for an awkward but still high tackle, and the Springboks took the scrum option. Thanks. A replay of the Malcolm Marx tackle showed Wilson might have got him genuinely high. The ref-to-TMO comms had been intermittent all night, and it took a while for the TMO’s carrier pigeon to get down to ground level with the check-check message.
Wilson did get Marx high. The Wallabies had to finish with 14 men (or so we thought), and the Springboks again took the scrum option. Replacement scrum-half Morne van den Berg was held up under penalty advantage, but actually knocked it on. This scrum looked ominous.
The Springboks took the scrum option again. It was try line-bound, and Lonergan curiously dived on the ball. Instead of just conceding five points, it was now a penalty try, automatic seven points, and Lonergan joined his captain on the naughty chair.
The Boks tried to play out of their half and Tom Wright took another intercept against the Springboks. It’s Ellis Park all over again. But hold the phone. Literally. The TMO was on the line.
But it’s OK. The Wallabies could still regroup, knuckle down and just close this out, right?
Nope. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Moodie broke away from the restart, leaving the Wallabies defending their line again. Someone was offside and the Boks kicked wide for Van der Merwe to score with the two-man advantage. Except he dropped it.
But Suaalii was the man ruled offside, and it was after a line-break, so he copped a card too. The Wallabies had had five cards in seven Tests. Suddenly it was three in three minutes. Now it was 15 on 12 and getting ridiculous.
The Springboks took the scrum option again. Hooper suggested the Wallabies needed to collapse legally to eat up more time. Van den Berg had his second try and the lead was back to 11. Oh, and the scoreboard needed adjusting, too.
The Boks tried to play out of their half and Tom Wright took another intercept against the Springboks. It’s Ellis Park all over again. But hold the phone. Literally. The TMO was on the line.
But Paisami caught Feinberg-Mngomezulu high. Another yellow card. Four now. In seven minutes. The Wallabies had to finish with 11 men, and social media is full of people saying they’ve never seen 15 on 11. Of course they haven’t! (*though it has happened a few times before in Test rugby)
Ox Nche scored and there was still time for a restart. Sunday night was edging closer to Monday morning. By small mercies, the game had gone on long enough for the sin-binned Wilson and Lonergan to return.
But Quan Horn ran across in front of his captain – the easiest obstruction call ever. Andre Piardi blew time.
No-one could remember such a crazy game. Aside from the one 12 months ago, which now feels kind of run-of-the-mill.
The Wallabies beat South Africa, again. Les Kiss remains unbeaten as head coach.
And no-one can explain that last 10 minutes. It may never be explainable. It won’t matter.
Catch up on the full match replay of the Wallabies vs Springboks Test from Perth!
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This was a good win for Australia. People talk about the Boks B team and their lack of game time but take nothing away from a very good effort from a team seemingly on the rise. The problem is the old foe comes next and this will be a true test of the Wallabies emergence as a power player for the 27 world cup. The All Blacks are hungry and ready to lay into the Wallabies once again to shore up the dam wall after the Springbok defeats and what better way to plaster your wall than with a fresh coating of Wallaby. Kiss selected well for this game, played to some intriguing plans and challenged the Springboks at their traditional strengths making life terribly uncomfortable for them. How does he now make life uncomfortable for Rennie and put the All Blacks off their game especially when the AB strengths are so similar to what the Wallabies try to do? If Australia had an answer to their big brothers they may have found one over the past 20 years. Lets see if Kiss can unravel the puzzle .
As a Bok supporter I’d say this was the best game of the year for me - bonkers. Wallabies good value for the win, called it before the game so wasn’t surprised at all, you don’t make 13 changes and expect to beat any of the top 8 nations.
Nice “commentary based” article, Brett. A good read.
“Les Kiss remains unbeaten as head coach.” Bit of trivia, his record is actually ten games unbeaten. He had two games as interim head coach with Ireland, winning both against the USA in May 2013.
Oh, that definitely counts, Mizz!! I wonder if he remembers..
This is a good breakdown article. If you want to see you more in depth play-by-play analysis have a look at Squidge Rugby on YouTube.
I’m already suspicious that Les Kiss is a better coach than Schmidt. I think Schmidt was overrated and some of his selections were outright ridiculous - the non-selection of Ikitau for example. There was some brilliant and quite sophisticated strategy implemented for this test match. You need to watch the YouTube video to see it demonstrated.
Schmidt did pick and develop and train some players well and set in better discipline and systems but he seemed too inflexible and too risk averse in terms of selections at least, possibly in-game adjustments too.
A great wrap and read Brett, thanks for posting. That was a cracker of a game. WBs are playing sustained, smart rugby and look like they’ve finally got the composure that’s been lacking the last few years. I’ve always thought our talent has been top notch but there’s a coordination between players I haven’t seen in a long time - previously, individual brilliance has kept us competitive (or not) but everyone is, to use Pats parlance, doing their job.
Agree that Kiss might be a better selector than Schmidt. Both men have forgotten more about rugby than I know but the JAS move, Ikitau at 13 and Lonergan at 9 makes initiative sense, doesn’t it.
Just hope the latter in particular can stay healthy as our back up 9s are nowhere near his class.
Just to clarify UK, I’m not actually suggesting Kiss is a better selector, just that in this game, the selection of JAS on the wing brought a clear shift in game plan, and then execution thereof in the game itself..
The latest instalment of The ‘Greatest Rugby Rivalry that neither country wants to acknowledge or celebrate’ certainly delivered'.
I loved the first 65 minutes, hated the last 15. Rugby got free to air exposure nationwide on a Sunday evening on channel 9’s main channel and the last 13 minutes took 26 minutes. Just not good enough. In a country where the look of the game matters, where non rugby folk use any reason they can to bag the game, the last 13 minutes taking an eternity was a massive own goal.
I loved Wharfie Time on Saturday and feared we saw rugby’s equivalent on Sunday night.
Loved that bit about the “greatest rugby rivalry that neither country wants to acknowledge or celebrate".
The 4 match officials were a poor team to put together.
Each of them individually as a referee is not very good so putting them together made them even less than the sum of their parts, which would've been pretty bad anyway.
And the worst thing is that for the casual observer rather than the genuine rugby fan the actual quality of the game itself was lost in that final 15 due to the officialdom chaos.
Pretty hard to see what's happening when you only have half an idea about the rules anyway and suddenly you have furious discussions between officials being made via phone rather than direct comms.
A set of walkie talkies wouldn't have gone amiss as a cheap and easy solution. I'm sure the ground must have a spare set.
But anyway, the important thing is that aside from the embarrassing communication dysfunction the actual quality of play delivered by the Wallabies and Boks was of a high calibre, exactly what you hope to see from top level test match rugby.
It was a promising showcase of what even casual fans have to look forward to next year. Any world cup event is the biggest thing in that sport for that year for whoever is hosting it. It will be no different next year.
So it doesn't really matter at this stage what the non rugby audience thinks because next year it will be impossible for anyone to ignore.
That last 15 minutes was embarrassing for rugby, imagine being someone new to the game and watching that, you be straight back to league. It was so infuriating to watch I turned the game off with 5 minutes to go because I didn’t care who won in the end… put down the phone and make decisions.
Last 5 was worth watching man, you would have seen the heart the guys showed to pull through
I hope you get to see the last 5 mins Clint, I’d hate the game to remain incomplete for you..
That’s the protocols that the officials have to follow though. And when you're a bunch of not very good referees having to struggle together to figure anything out, then it's a recipe for exactly this sort of thing to happen.
The real problem with all the officiating chaos is that it detracted from the game on the field. And if you've the attention span of a gnat because you're not actually a rugby supporter, then you'd easily miss what was actually happening in the game.
But the gnats aren't the main audience so it doesn't really matter what they think. And everyone will be watching the World Cup next year regardless because it will be the biggest thing happening all year in Australian sport.
The communication breakdown aside, which was just embarrassing from a technical management standpoint, the actual play on the field was a proper showcase of what rugby is about.
Total stab in the dark here .. and it is early days but it looks like Kiss + team is having a real positive impact on the culture of this team.
From the outside under Rennie, Jones and Schmidt the Wallabies always looked like they were on the up (excl Eddie debacle), put in the odd performance and take a tier 1 scalp only to fall off a cliff against lesser opposition, or lose a game in the dying seconds (example Ireland in the Nations Cup). Talent was there, effort was there but something was lacking.
All 3 previous coaches would be considered ‘hard men’ - the cricket equivalent being Justin Langer. Kiss comes across as a bit more emotional, more ‘heart on sleeve’, higher EQ whatever you want to call it.
Wondering if modern Aussie culture that these elite athletes grow up in respond better to this type of coach (like the Aussie cricket team) - a guy that can tap into that last 1% of ‘emotional’ effort … ‘today we die for our country’ kinda stuff. Probably helps that Kiss is Aussie and wore a national jersey himself.
The player group under Rennie is the core of this group. It’s taken a while to get the depth but they’ve been showing the potential for that long. Joe worked on the skills and you can see it baked in. All three have fostered new players for depth. Now it’s showing. It’s a credit to all three and seems that Kiss is the ideal mentor for this maturing group.
Les Kiss = Andrew McDonald, Henry?
The body language of the players looks very positive (except for Kiss himself during matches 🤣🤣).
You can see how positive they are together celebrating the small wins on the pitch and the bench players were all smiling and looking relaxed.
I think they have a clear game plan, know what they are trying to do and how they want to play and he will be putting a lot of energy into them to build their confidence and believe they have a game plan that will play to their strengths.
It looks a very happy camp again and they are emptying the tank on the pitch.
“This was selection decision leading in-game decision-making, backed up by great game awareness.” Love this line Brett. I think kiss is proving to be a better selector than Schmidt and it was great to see a tactically astute attack for the wbs, using the blindside and bounce back play as areas of pay as well as the short ball.
Two big positive for me from this game. 1) game management - this has been my bug bear all year with the wbs consistently losing the kicking/territory game all year and a big reason for the losses to fra and ire earlier this year. I can't remember the wbs failing to exit from a restart all game? Donno and loners kicked well and long and jorgo and suaalii chased like demons. This denied the boks the chance to respond and stay in touch on the scoreboard in those first 60. More of that please!
2) the composure and confidence in attack. donno try in the first half and Wilson's second both came from beautiful, sustained attacking pressure where they consistently got gainline, worked their way up the field and eventually scored. It felt almost inevitable. Schmidt's work on securing the attacking breakdown, now paired with a more adventurous attack is a killer combo. Wbs 22 conversion rate must be near world's best this season?
Totally agree NH but with JAS & Nawaqanitawase on the wings, I’think you will see a further dimension added to the attack once they go to the edges after the 12 channel platform is set and that back 3 let rip around the outside edges.
This is a great post too, NH. Your two observations are bang on, I can only agree..
Great game Bret and the WB revival is very real and making progress.
Personally I thought the overall D was exceptional, the back row was outstanding & Ikitau looks cemented at 13 and JAS was a brilliant option on the wing.
It will certainly help build confidence and let’s see what happens in the Bledisloe, which will be a great test for where this side are at but all feels like moving in the right direction.
Next week’s problem, PM!! 😁
Ikatau is just such a valuable player, PMcD. Being able to play either 12 or 13 with I would judge equal facility is such an asset to have. I hope his injury is not going to see him miss the Bledisloe games. With Paisami’s explosive game at 12, the WB’s have a useful combination.
Paisami does always worry me a bit though, as he is prone to hitting high and even a bit late at times. I hope Les Kiss is not forgetting Isaac Henry as a 12 option, or Josh Flook at 13. I think both are very good players, and less error prone than Paisami.
Just another comment, Exeter will miss Ikatau playing at 12 this year. On balance I would have liked to have seen him follow Tom Hooper, and have another year at Sandy Park.
You would have liked the 6-2 PMcD. Long overdue for SH teams to embrace the new normal. I seriously worry that if the ABs do not follow suit, they we will pay for it again.
We beat them more than anybody cares to recall. The Bok/Wallaby matchup since 1992 is basically level.
That said, this Wallaby group is playing some nice rugby and has no glaringly obvious weaknesses now, except perhaps at 10. And backup LH and 12.
Something happening to Lonergan causes me insomnia
Wallabies slightly ahead, even, Derek!
True, Rassie alluded to the technical abilities of the Wallabies, they’ve always had a way of outwitting the blunt force trauma from the Boks - Ireland is a similar team who outsmarted the Boks there for a while.
Early days, but there is a nice balance to this team - they have ball carrying / defensive collision power to burn, especially with Bell, LSL, McReight, Valetini, Wilson, Hooper, Tupou, a solid set piece especially at lineout (with Canham esp), a really good aerial game and a solid centre pairing. Mixed in with attacking flair from the back and good goal kicking general in Lonergan, this looks like the best Wallaby team in a fair while. Kiss has also worked out he needs a team that can win the collisions on both sides of the ball and he is building a team that can do that, and did it for 70 minutes - including 23 minutes against an Bok A+ impact pack. The BC is going to be very interesting.