Wallabies coach Les Kiss had prepared his side for contingency plans, such as losing five-eighth Ben Donaldson without an experienced playmaker in reserve. Nothing could have prepared them for what actually took place.
The Wallabies led by 25 points before yellow cards to Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami left the team with 11 players against the world champions.
Wilson received a yellow card in the 69th minute for a high tackle on South African hooker Malcolm Marx. Wilson had been his team's top tackler with 13 and no misses. Marx dipped late, and Wilson made glancing high contact.
A minute later, with the Springbok scrum metres from the Australian line, Lonergan dived illegally at the ball while South African back-rower Jasper Wiese had it at his feet. A penalty try was awarded, and Lonergan was off for 10 minutes.
In the 71st and 72nd minutes, the Wallabies continued to defend desperately. Fullback Tom Wright described the mindset: "We were just trying to bust ass. I think when you're down, and there is no real plan, it's about how hard can you hustle and make it as difficult for the opposition to score as possible."
Suaalii was then yellow-carded for offside, leaving the Wallabies with 12 men. Referee Andrea Piardi was having to use a mobile phone to speak to television match official Matteo Liparini due to communication problems. He explained the difficulties to stand-in captain Jeremy Williams and South Africa skipper Andre Esterhuizen.
Williams later expressed sympathy for the officials. "The refs had a really tough job; they obviously had problems," he said.
Kiss said the team remained calm amid the chaos. "The pleasing thing for me was that the group out there on the pitch there was a nice calmness and focus about what they had to do next," he said.