Just as they had done at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park in August 2025, the Wallabies stunned world champions South Africa with a high-quality 42-38 win in Perth.
The final 10 minutes were the craziest of the test year so far with four yellow cards against the Wallabies, 21 points from the Boks, the referee communicating with his TMO via mobile phone and high emotions on and off the field. And there were some striking performances from the Wallabies.
But those back-to-back Bledisloe Cup losses to the All Blacks in Auckland (50-19) and Sydney (43-21) blew out the candle on any lingering party.
The biggest takeaway for the Australians was getting the balance of their game right to limit an opponent with such a clinical, high-octane style. They play a very different game to the Boks and enjoy success - but they play a very similar game to the Kiwis and have some catching-up to do.
There were still plenty of skilful bursts from the Wallabies. Sustaining and developing those is now key to a good showing in November’s Nations Championship.
Here are six players who showed their dynamism against the top two sides in the world in September and October.
Harry Wilson
The Wallabies skipper earned the “best number eight in the world” tag from All Blacks’ great Justin Marshall after his effort in a beaten side in the first Bledisloe Cup test and leading the win over the Boks.
It was really a nod to all that Wilson means to the Wallabies. The way he wears his emotions on his sleeve and so obviously urges his teammates is an aspect beyond the 20-plus tackles he made in that test in Auckland.
He’s the Wallabies’ talisman. Just before half-time, Wilson put fly-half Ben Donaldson through and backed up to score a try to tighten the scores to 17-14. It was the hint of a grand rally but the All Blacks stamped that out.
Angus Bell
He loved his season with Ulster where fans certainly learnt how good the big prop is.
The Wallabies rattled up a 37-17 lead over the Boks while he was on the field. And his best minutes against the All Blacks were in Sydney, coming off the bench in a calculated move to give the Wallabies more finishing punch.
His powerful carries in tight, with the deceptive step, got the Wallabies on the front foot better than anyone and a sturdy scrum on his watch earned several penalties.
With 60 Tests to his credit at 26, he’s in his prime and will be a major factor for November’s Nations Championship tests.
Max Jorgensen
After his skilful efforts against the British and Irish Lions last year, Jorgensen keeps showing off world-class wing craft.
Few in the world can catch a high kick or seize a loose ball and so swiftly accelerate into top gear to burn the defence for runaway tries.
He did just that against South Africa, where his work in the air helped the Wallabies decisively dominate the aerial battle as well.
His quick and pacy interchanges with full-back Tom Wright created a number early chances in the Sydney test against the All Blacks when more could have been made of them.
He’s a strike weapon on the wing. And he’s just 22 and destined to be a hometown poster boy for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Len Ikitau
His five-star display in the centres against the Springboks earned him Player of the Match from many judges.
He scored back-to-back tries when the Wallabies showed their intentions in the first half, taking a short ball from lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto for one and seizing on a loose ball created by an excellent attacking kick for the other.
A 50m gallop late in the first half, off a flat pass, was another sign of the Wallabies wanting to play with tempo, skill and variety to skip ahead.
An ankle injury and concussion were a legacy of this full-on Test block but he’ll hope to be fully fit and firing in November. The Wallabies will want him back, too, as he’s a key figure for their continued improvement.
Ben Donaldson and Declan Meredith
We’ll group these two fly-halves together as a symbol of the Wallabies ongoing efforts to find any consistency in the playmaker role at 10.
Nine players have worn that number on their backs for the Wallabies since the beginning of 2025, an astonishing turnover.
Injuries, fade-outs in form and emergency options have all contributed to the number.
Ben Donaldson will now always have the superb Perth win over the Springboks on his resume and some of the best periods of his test career against the All Blacks in Auckland.
There, he combined to put Wilson over on half-time and banged a perfect kick to the corner just after half-time that could have been a game-changer if the following lineout chance had been taken.
He’s a no-fuss player with a rare big play in him.
Meredith took over in Sydney against the All Blacks. After a scratchy start to his test career earlier in the year, he had some of his best moments.
An unrushed double-pump pass put Jeremy Williams over, he dashed deep more than once and he kept trying to initiate play against the tide.
Carter Gordon remains the top Wallabies fly-half on paper. He just needs to put an injury run behind him to show it on the field as well.
