The Wallabies held off a Springbok fightback to reclaim the Mandela Challenge Plate in Perth on Sunday.
Centre Len Ikitau scored two of the hosts’ five tries, while scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan was excellent off the tee in a 42-38 victory over the world champions.
The Wallabies led 42-17 after 63 minutes before four yellow cards for the hosts and three Bok tries set up a thrilling finish.
Australia, who remain unbeaten under coach Les Kiss, climb above Scotland to sixth in the World Rugby rankings, while the Boks remain No 1 but see their lead over the All Blacks reduced to 1.94 points.
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Bok coach Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to the starting XV that secured a famous series win against the All Blacks in Baltimore two weeks ago, with several fringe players given an opportunity to impress in Perth.
Kiss picked his strongest team, with regular outside centre Joseph Suaalii starting on the left wing with the aerial battle in mind. The code-crosser made an immediate impact in that area straight from the kick-off.
Bok flyhalf Handré Pollard, making just his second start of the season, missed an early penalty touch-finder but made amends with a penalty goal.
Lonergan levelled the scores, but the Boks responded through hooker Johan Grobbelaar’s first Test try from a lineout maul, with Pollard adding the extras.
After a scrappy period of play, a Wallabies attack from a lineout culminated in Ikitau scoring under the posts.
The midfielder struck again soon afterwards when Suaalii outjumped Bok fullback Aphelele Fassi to gather a Lonergan box kick, with the scrumhalf again slotting the conversion to give the hosts a 17-10 lead.
The Boks hit back on the half-hour mark when centre Canan Moodie broke past Ikitau and found Fassi, who put winger Edwill van der Merwe over in the corner. Pollard made no mistake to again level the scores.
The Boks strike from deep
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But the Wallabies took a 24-17 lead into the break after a contentious penalty against Hooker for a high tackle led to a try for flyhalf Ben Donaldson.
Lonergan’s second penalty goal put the hosts 10 points clear nine minutes into the second half, prompting the Boks to empty their bench.
Australia continued to dominate, though, with Lonergan adding another three points before captain Harry Wilson barged over for his side’s fourth try.
Wing Max Jorgensen then capitalised on a Moodie handling error to race away for a try that made it 42-17.
Max Jorgensen has pace to burn
The Wallabies are in control in Perth
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The game changed when, with 10 minutes remaining, Wilson was yellow-carded for a shoulder-to-head tackle before a powerful Bok scrum resulted in a penalty try and a yellow card for Lonergan.
Van der Merwe then failed to collect replacement flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s cross-kick in the in-goal area before Suaalii was yellow-carded, reducing the hosts to 12 men.
Another dominant Bok scrum resulted in a converted try for replacement scrumhalf Morné van den Berg, reducing the deficit to 11 points with six minutes remaining.
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Wallabies fullback Tom Wright’s interception try was then ruled out after the TMO spotted a high hit by centre Hunter Paisami, reducing Australia to 11 men against 15.
Replacement prop Ox Nché scored the Boks’ fifth try with 30 seconds remaining, but they were penalised for obstruction with the clock in the red and the Wallabies survived.
WALLABIES – Tries: Len Ikitau (2), Ben Donaldson, Harry Wilson, Max Jorgensen. Conversions: Ryan Lonergan (4). Penalties: Lonergan (3).
SPRINGBOKS – Tries: Johan Grobbelaar, Edwill van der Merwe, penalty try, Morné van den Berg, Ox Nché. Conversions: Handré Pollard (2), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalty: Pollard.
Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images
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The Wallabies held off a Springbok fightback to reclaim the Mandela Challenge Plate in Perth on Sunday.
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