Wallabies 16 South Africa 9
It was wild and dramatic, but in the end the Wallabies were able to enjoy one of their most courageous wins last night over the world champions.
The most clinical of defensive performances enabled the Wallabies to stifle the most extravagant of Springbok attacks and win their first Tri Nations game of the season.
There were many excellent efforts among the Wallabies, none more than the Australian back row of Rocky Elsom, George Smith and Wycliff Palu, while the effort of five-eighth Matt Giteau and inside-centre Berrick Barnes was exceptional.
They were fearless and committed, and the reward was a special victory over quality opposition, and the ideal build-up before next weekend's Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was relieved and delighted that his team lifted when required.
"It's a good way to start the Tri Nations. It was never going to be perfect, but obviously against a very physical opposition you have to be very proud with their attitude and mentality," Deans said.
"The Springboks asked a lot defensively, and the guys stood up to it by showing good scrambling defence.
"We could have achieved more, but when you play a Test match with such intensity, you are never going to get a flawless performance."
The Wallabies certainly used the most of their limited opportunities in the first half, exasperating the Springboks, who wasted so many of their chances. In contrast, the Wallabies had only one real moment to score before the break, and they took it when in the 35th minute their winger Lote Tuqiri scored his 29th Test try.
From a lineout, Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore threw long to Smith, who was lurking in midfield. Smith took the lob and sliced his way through the Boks defence before offloading to winger Peter Hynes.
Hynes took the play in the Springboks quarter, before a succession of quick hands along the Australian back line provided the necessary overlap, enabling Adam Ashley-Cooper to put Tuqiri over.
This was a moment of enormous relief for the home team, because before then it appeared that at any time the Springboks would wrest control of the game. For the fourth Test running, the Wallabies struggled to get any possession, and spent most of the half furiously defending as wave after wave of attackers charged them.
On at least four occasions in the first half, it appeared that the ever-adventurous Springboks were just one pass away from delivering the telling blow, but they were either squashed by an exceptional tackle, or they wasted the moment by fumbling the final delivery.
As usual the Wallabies' defensive line was near impenetrable, with back-rowers Elsom, Palu and Smith, as well as Giteau and Barnes effecting countless devastating ball-and-all tackles.
This had the desired effect of infuriating the Springboks, who instead decided that as their "fling it all ways" option was not working, they would opt for a kicking duel.
Several minutes were wasted as the teams exchanged a volley of bombs and chip kicks in the hope of seeing the other make a blunder, giving them important territorial advantage.
But for the most part, all of the players put under pressure were up to it, and fumbles were in the minority.
However, there were some disconcerting signs, in particular that halfback Luke Burgess's service from the breakdown was erratic, with Giteau and Barnes having to overcome several wayward passes. They got away with it, but the wild passes could have led to dire circumstances.
But there was relief, as the Wallabies could not have started the second half any better. Showing supreme confidence in their scrum, the Wallabies put down the set-piece in the middle of the field after being awarded a free kick. Stirling Mortlock received the barge ball and charged his way through Jean de Villiers, before taking Juan Smith and JP Pietersen over the line with him to make the score 10-3.
Scoring a try from a scrum move did wonders for the confidence of the Wallabies forwards, while getting more consistent possession after the break also helped.
Still, there were dangerous moments, especially in the 65th minute when Bryan Habana lost the ball centimetres from the line in the tackle of replacement centre Ryan Cross, who had come on for the dazed Mortlock.
AUSTRALIA 16 (Lote Tuqiri, Stirling Mortlock tries Matt Giteau pen Berrick Barnes drop goal) bt SOUTH AFRICA 9 (Francois Steyn 2 Butch James pens) at Subiaco Oval. Referee: Bryce Lawrence (Nzl). Crowd:
