Ex-Australia Captain Calls for Referee Ban After Wallabies Yellow Card Chaos Against Springboks

• Michael Hooper has raised fresh questions about the officiating after a dramatic finish to the Wallabies’ clash with the Springboks
• Four Wallabies players were shown yellow cards as the Springboks produced a remarkable late fightback in Perth
• The extraordinary final stages have now sparked a fresh debate about referee appointments involving Australia and World Rugby

Former Australia captain Michael Hooper has called for Italian referee Andrea Piardi to be kept away from future Wallabies matches after a chaotic finish against the Springboks in Perth on Sunday, 27 September 2026.

Piardi issued four yellow cards to Australian players during the closing stages of the 42-38 victory. Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami were all sent to the sin bin as South Africa launched a late comeback.

Speaking on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts, Hooper said:

“I don’t think Andrea Piardi should be allowed to referee Australia again.”

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However, Hooper stressed that his comments were not necessarily an assessment of Piardi’s ability.

“The reason I say that is not because of what I think about his reffing or him as a referee because I haven’t watched enough of his games as a referee in my time, but it should be a World Rugby thing to look after their referees,” he said, according to Planet Rugby.

Four yellow cards changed Springboks Test

Australia appeared to have the match under control after building a 42-17 advantage. The momentum changed dramatically when Wilson was yellow-carded following a tackle on Malcolm Marx.

Lonergan was then sent to the sin bin after the Springboks were awarded a penalty try. Suaalii was subsequently yellow-carded for an offside infringement, before Paisami became the fourth Australian player dismissed temporarily.

Australia were reduced to 11 players during the final stages. South Africa scored three late tries and cut the deficit to four points, but Australia held on for a 42-38 win.

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The extraordinary sequence was compounded by a communications failure that forced Piardi to communicate with the TMO using a mobile phone.

Hooper points to previous Australia matches

Hooper also referred to Piardi’s previous matches involving Australia. He said Australia had lost their previous three Tests with the Italian official in charge, against Ireland in 2024, the British & Irish Lions in 2025 and New Zealand in 2025.

“Unfortunately you do carry scars from previous games and previous fixtures as players going into the next match-ups, and I think the referees probably do too,” Hooper said.

“They’re human, and it becomes hard.”

He added that Piardi remains capable of officiating at the highest level but should not do so when Australia are involved.

The Perth Test produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the Rugby Championship, with the Springboks almost overturning a 25-point deficit after Australia lost four players to yellow cards.

Springboks lessons from dramatic Wallabies defeat

Briefly News previously reported that Springboks flanker Paul de Villiers opened up about South Africa’s dramatic 42-38 defeat to Australia in Perth, revealing what the team took from the difficult Test.

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Wallabies expose Springboks depth gap as Perth defeat raises 2027 World Cup questions

The defeat exposed areas the Boks need to improve, but De Villiers also pointed to the lessons gained from playing in Australia ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup. He also revealed how the team plans to respond when the Nations Championship resumes in November.

Source: Briefly News