The Springboks’ next assignment has been confirmed, with World Rugby naming the match officials for South Africa’s one-off Test against Australia in Perth later this month.
South Africa will take on the Wallabies at Optus Stadium on Sunday, 27 September, with kick-off scheduled for 11:30 SA time.
The fixture comes just days after the Springboks completed a historic four-Test series against New Zealand, meaning head coach Rassie Erasmus is expected to manage his squad carefully as the team shifts its attention to Australia.
Piardi gets the whistle in Perth
Italy’s Andrea Piardi has been appointed as the referee for the highly anticipated clash.
He will be assisted by New Zealand officials Ben O’Keeffe and James Doleman, while Italy’s Matteo Liperini has been named as the Television Match Official (TMO).
New Zealand’s Richard Kelly will serve as the Foul Play Review Officer.
The appointments were confirmed by World Rugby ahead of the Test, giving both teams clarity on the officiating team they will work with in Perth.
Piardi has refereed the Springboks once before
The Perth Test will not be Piardi’s first experience officiating South Africa.
The Italian referee previously took charge of a Springboks match in October 2025, when South Africa edged Argentina 29-27 at Twickenham in London.
That contest proved to be a closely fought encounter, with the narrow winning margin highlighting the competitive nature of the fixture.
Piardi will now return to the middle for another Springboks Test, this time with Australia providing the opposition.
Erasmus faces selection decisions
While the referee appointment has been confirmed, much of the attention surrounding the Perth fixture will focus on the Springboks’ team selection.
South Africa are coming off a demanding four-Test series against the All Blacks and are expected to use the Australia match to give opportunities to several players who have had limited game time.
Erasmus has already emphasised the importance of player management following the gruelling New Zealand series, with recovery and preparation key factors ahead of the trip to Australia.
A number of fringe players could therefore be handed an opportunity to stake their claim, while established stars may be managed as South Africa looks beyond the immediate Test.
Wallabies face a major challenge
Australia will have home advantage at Optus Stadium and will be looking to make the most of the opportunity against the reigning Rugby World Cup champions.
For the Springboks, the match represents another chance to build momentum before the next phase of their international campaign.
The Perth encounter will be followed by South Africa’s end-of-year tour and the conclusion of the Nations Championship.
With the 2027 Rugby World Cup also set to be hosted in Australia, the fixture carries additional significance as both teams continue their preparations for the next global tournament.
For now, though, the immediate focus is on Perth — and Piardi will have the responsibility of controlling proceedings when the Springboks and Wallabies meet on 27 September.
Springboks vs Wallabies match officials
- Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
- Assistant referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
- Assistant referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
- TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
- Foul Play Review Officer: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
The Springboks will enter the contest having just completed their series against New Zealand, while Australia will be determined to use home conditions to make life difficult for the visitors.
All eyes will be on Perth when the two sides meet.
