Springboks fall to Australia despite late comeback in rugby clash
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 27, 2026, 3:30 PM
Last updated Sep 27, 2026
South Africa's Springboks lost 42-38 to Australia in Perth on September 27. The Springboks trailed 24-17 at halftime and were down 42-17 with 10 minutes left before scoring three late tries to narrow the margin. Coach Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to the lineup following a recent victory in a four-test series against New Zealand. Both Erasmus and captain André Esterhuizen acknowledged discipline issues impacted the team's performance. Erasmus emphasized that their defense of the Rugby World Cup is approaching, and the match provided valuable experience ahead of potential future encounters with Australia.
- •Springboks trailed at halftime 24-17
- •Australia led 42-17 with 10 minutes remaining
- •South Africa scored three converted tries late
- •Thirteen lineup changes followed a series win against New Zealand
- •Erasmus sees match as valuable experience ahead of World Cup
- 3:30 PMYahoo Sports — Erasmus: Springboks can’t blame 13 changes after wild rugby loss to Australia
"South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus and first-time captain André Esterhuizen refused to blame the 13 changes to the starting XV for the 42-38 loss to Australia in a wacky rugby match on Sunday. The world champion Springboks trailed 24-17 at halftime, unloaded the Bomb Squad all at once, and fell further behind at 42-17 with 10 minutes left. Erasmus chose a new-look team two weeks after winning the brutal four-test series against New Zealand but packed the bench with front-liners Malcolm Marx, Ox Nché, Wilco Louw, Jasper Wiese, Lood de Jager and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
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