The Blitzboks took revenge for their loss to Australia in the semi-final in Perth 2025, securing a hard-fought 28-12 win, with Australia struggling in the final minutes after a yellow card.
Brilliant footwork by Shilton van Wyk cut the defence of Australia in two, to run forty meters to open the scoring for the Blitzboks.
Australia replied immediately to score in the corner and cut the Blitzboks’ lead to 07-05 with two minutes still to play in the first half.
Australia knocked the ball in the Blitzboks’ twenty-two, and Sebastiaan Jobb ran eighty meters plus to extend the Blitzboks' lead to 14-05 following Ricardo Duarttee’s conversion.
A brilliant start by Australia, following one minute of play in the second half, led to a try by Ben Dowling, who converted his try, to cut the Blitzboks’ lead to 14-12.
With four minutes to play, Sebastiaan Jobb once again showcased his class to cut the Australian defence in two, scoring his second long-distance try against Australia. Ricardo Duarttee’s conversion extended the Blitzboks’ lead to 21-12.
Australia paid the price for their yellow card when Ricardo Duarttee scored the Blitzboks’ second try while being one man extra. Ricardo Duarttee converted to extend the Blitzboks’ lead to 28-12 with two minutes still to play.
The Blitzboks won 28-12 and will face their nemesis, Fiji at 11:04 in the final.
Scorers:
Blitzboks: Tries: Shilton van Wyk, Sebastiaan Jobb (2), Ricardo Duarttee. Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee (4).
Australia: Tries: Henry Hutchison, Ben Dowling. Conversions: Ben Dowling.
Teams:
Blitzboks: Ryan Oosthuizen, David Brits, Zain Davids, Sebastiaan Jobb, Tristan Leyds, Shilton van Wyk, Ricardo Duarttee. Replacements: Donavan Don, Luan Giliomee, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Renaldo Young, Christie Grobbelaar.
Australia: Henry Hutchison, Aden Ekanayake, Ben Dalton, Ben Dowling, Wallace Charlie, Josh Turner, Jayden Blake, Replacements: Ethan McFarland, Jarrah McLeod, Hadley Tonga, James McGregor, Harry Wilson.