The Wallabies produced one of their biggest statements of the season on Sunday, beating the Springboks 42-38 in a thrilling Test in Perth.
Australia built a commanding lead before surviving a late South African comeback, giving Les Kiss an important victory and Rassie Erasmus plenty to consider with the 2027 Rugby World Cup now less than a year away.
Here are three major takeaways from the match.
1. Les Kiss has Australia believing
The Wallabies are showing signs of becoming a much more competitive side under Les Kiss.
Since taking over from Joe Schmidt in July, Kiss has remained unbeaten in five Tests, including a 28-28 draw against Argentina earlier this month.
The victory over the Springboks was arguably his biggest result yet.
Australia were clinical for much of the contest, with Len Ikitau scoring twice while Ben Donaldson, Harry Wilson and Max Jorgensen also crossed the try line.
Even after Australia were reduced to 12 players at one stage because of yellow cards, they managed to withstand South Africa’s late surge.
The result also has added significance with Australia hosting next year’s World Cup. The Wallabies will open their campaign in Perth, the same venue where they produced this impressive victory.
2. Ryan Lonergan could be Australia’s tempo-setter
While Ikitau claimed the official Man of the Match award, Ryan Lonergan played a major role in controlling the contest.
The scrumhalf contributed 17 points from the tee, converting seven of his eight attempts at goal.
He also put his kicking game to good use, sending 11 kicks for a combined 302 metres, while completing 74 passes.
His ability to dictate the pace of the match gave Australia a reliable source of direction, particularly when the Springboks attempted to build momentum.
Rather than necessarily relying on a traditional No 10 to control every phase, Australia appeared comfortable allowing Lonergan to influence where and how attacks developed.
Ben Donaldson then operated outside him and finished the match with a try.
If this partnership continues to develop, Australia may have found a useful solution to their long-standing questions around game management.
3. Aphelele Fassi faces a crucial period
The defeat also highlighted some concerns for the Springboks, particularly around Aphelele Fassi.
The 28-year-old returned to the starting XV after missing the recent series against New Zealand, but his comeback was a difficult one.
Fassi struggled under the high ball and missed several tackles, while one handling error contributed directly to an Australian try.
He also threw a forward pass when South Africa appeared to have an attacking opportunity.
There were positives, too. Fassi showed his pace and attacking ability and played a role in creating Edwill van der Merwe’s try.
However, the performance will give Erasmus plenty to assess as he continues to build his World Cup squad.
The bigger Springbok picture
South Africa’s late comeback showed their ability to remain competitive even after falling well behind, but the defeat exposed areas that will need attention before the World Cup.
For Australia, meanwhile, the victory provides another indication of their progress under Kiss.
With the global tournament approaching, both coaches now have valuable information from a match that tested depth, tactical control and resilience.
What was the biggest lesson from the Springboks’ defeat in Perth?
