One year from a home World Cup, in circumstances comically heroic, this was the match Australia needed.
With four minutes to go, and four players down, Australia lead by two tries against the world champions in Perth. The Wallabies have been unbeaten in four matches under new coach Les Kiss, but they have not yet been tested against a rugby power. If they were looking for a test, this is now it.
On the arena where the men’s rugby World Cup will begin in just over one year, Australia are showing promise.
The margin is 11, as is the number of Australian players on the field, after a rapid quartet of yellow cards.
The Springboks have a lineout, 35 metres out. The announcer pleads with the 50,000-odd in attendance to show some faith.
The home side’s backline is playing zone against the best side in the world, their loose chain of four covering the width of the field. A straight run from South African hooker Malcolm Marx draws the Wallabies’ utility back Harry Potter into the tackle.
The visitors spread it left and there is Australian fullback Tom Wright, 20 metres in from the touchline. Towards the corner the green rushes, yet the fatiguing Wallabies scamper across, bringing down the Boks winger Ethan Hooker five metres out.
If a rugby field is 10,000-ish square metres, the Wallabies have more than half of their players in the corner 25, this postage stamp on a queen bed.
The Wallabies’ last outing was in Argentina, where they could not break a 28-28 deadlock in the final 10 minutes, despite their opposition being down to 13.