Australia 42 - 38 South Africa

Full time

27 Sep 2026

International Friendlies

Stage: Regular Season Round 1

Optus Stadium

Australia vs South Africa head to head

🎉 5

👏 6

🔥 5

In a thrilling encounter, Australia triumphed over South Africa 42-38 at Optus Stadium. The match began with South Africa's Pollard kicking an early penalty, but Australia quickly responded with penalties from Lonergan and a series of tries from Ikitau and Donaldson. South Africa's Grobbelaar and van der Merwe kept the pressure on with their tries, leading to a tightly contested first half ending at 24-17 for Australia. The second half saw Australia extend their lead with a try from Wilson, followed shortly by Jorgensen's effort, pushing the score to 42-17. However, Australia faced a barrage of late pressure, receiving multiple yellow cards which allowed South Africa to score through a penalty try and Nche's late try, closing the gap significantly. Lonergan's performance was pivotal, contributing with his kicking and playmaking. Ultimately, Australia's early lead and key tries secured their victory despite a spirited fightback from South Africa.

Broadcasters

Where to watch in: Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom

Weather

Temperature: 18.9°C (Feels like 18.1°C) Condition: PartlyCloudy Wind: 11.5 km/h, gusting to 25.3 km/h Humidity: 68% Cloud Cover: 53%

Events

Kickoff
3'

Penalty

Handre Pollard · South Africa

0 - 3
6'

Penalty

Ryan Lonergan · Australia

3 - 3
9'

Try

Johan Grobbelaar · South Africa

3 - 8
10'

Conversion

Handre Pollard · South Africa

3 - 10
23'

Try

Len Ikitau · Australia

8 - 10
24'

Conversion

Ryan Lonergan · Australia

10 - 10
26'

Try

Len Ikitau · Australia

15 - 10
27'

Conversion

Ryan Lonergan · Australia

17 - 10
29'

Try

Edwill van der Merwe · South Africa

17 - 15
30'

Conversion

Handre Pollard · South Africa

17 - 17
38'

Try

Ben Donaldson · Australia

22 - 17
39'

Conversion

Ryan Lonergan · Australia

24 - 17
Halftime 24 - 17
Second Half
42'

Substitution

Taniela Tupou on for Allan Alaalatoa · Australia
47'

Penalty

Ryan Lonergan · Australia

27 - 17
47'

Substitution

Ox Nche on for Jan-Hendrik Wessels · South Africa
47'

Substitution

Malcolm Marx on for Johan Grobbelaar · South Africa
47'

Substitution

Wilco Louw on for Zachary Porthen · South Africa
47'

Substitution

Morne van den Berg on for Herschel Jantjies · South Africa
47'

Substitution

Lood de Jager on for Franco Mostert · South Africa
47'

Substitution

Jasper Wiese on for Marco van Staden · South Africa
47'

Substitution

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on for Handre Pollard · South Africa
47'

Substitution

Quan Horn on for Aphelele Fassi · South Africa
51'

Substitution

Billy Pollard on for Brandon Paenga-Amosa · Australia
51'

Substitution

Tom Hooper on for Rob Valetini · Australia
53'

Penalty

Ryan Lonergan · Australia

30 - 17
53'

Substitution

Harry Potter on for Len Ikitau · Australia
59'

Try

Harry Wilson · Australia

35 - 17
60'

Conversion

Ryan Lonergan · Australia

37 - 17
62'

Substitution

Aidan Ross on for Angus Bell · Australia
63'

Try

Max Jorgensen · Australia

42 - 17
64'

Substitution

Franco Mostert on for Eben Etzebeth · South Africa
67'

Substitution

Carlo Tizzano on for Fraser McReight · Australia
67'

Substitution

Eben Etzebeth on for Franco Mostert · South Africa
68'

Yellow Card

Harry Wilson · Australia
68'

Substitution

Lachlan Shaw on for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto · Australia
70'

Yellow Card

Ryan Lonergan · Australia
70'

Penalty Try

No Player · South Africa

42 - 24
71'

Yellow Card

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii · Australia
73'

Try

Morne van den Berg · South Africa

42 - 31
73'

Conversion

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu · South Africa

42 - 26
75'

Yellow Card

Hunter Paisami · Australia
76'

Substitution

Franco Mostert on for Eben Etzebeth · South Africa
78'

Yellow Card Complete

Harry Wilson · Australia
79'

Try

Ox Nche · South Africa

42 - 38
79'

Conversion

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu · South Africa

42 - 33
80'

Yellow Card Complete

Ryan Lonergan · Australia
81'

Yellow Card Complete

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii · Australia
Fulltime 42 - 38

Player ratings

Australia

15 Tom Wright 7.2
14 Max Jorgensen 9.1
13 Len Ikitau 9.3
12 Hunter Paisami 5.0
11 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4.9
10 Ben Donaldson 6.3
9 Ryan Lonergan 6.2
1 Angus Bell 6.8
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa 7.1
3 Allan Alaalatoa 6.0
4 Jeremy Williams 6.4
5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 7.3
6 Rob Valetini 7.3
7 Fraser McReight 7.4
8 Harry Wilson 6.7
16 Billy Pollard 6.0
17 Aidan Ross 6.4
18 Taniela Tupou 6.3
19 Lachlan Shaw 6.3
20 Tom Hooper 7.2
21 Carlo Tizzano 6.4
22 Tate McDermott –
23 Harry Potter 6.8

South Africa

15 Aphelele Fassi 6.4
14 Edwill van der Merwe 7.1
13 Canan Moodie 7.2
12 Andre Esterhuizen 6.8
11 Ethan Hooker 5.8
10 Handre Pollard 6.2
9 Herschel Jantjies 5.9
1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 6.2
2 Johan Grobbelaar 7.2
3 Zachary Porthen 6.3
4 Eben Etzebeth 6.6
5 Franco Mostert 6.2
6 Paul de Villiers 6.2
7 Elrigh Louw 6.4
8 Marco van Staden 5.8
16 Malcolm Marx 7.0
17 Ox Nche 6.6
18 Wilco Louw 6.3
19 Lood de Jager 6.3
20 Jasper Wiese 5.7
21 Morne van den Berg 6.9
22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 7.1
23 Quan Horn 6.0