A powerful surge by the Springboks in the second half guaranteed them a 24-16 victory over Australia in their Tri-Nations encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday.
After a subdued and slow start to the game with the teams deadlocked at three-all at the break, tries from Fourie du Preez and Breyton Paulse and a snap drop-goal from Andre Pretorius ensured the Boks victory.
The Springboks found their second wind after winning valuable ball on the ground and frustrating the Australians who committed a horde of errors.
The Springbok turnaround came in the 47th minute when a Pretorius penalty brought the hosts within a point of Australia to 9-10 after Stephen Larkham scored in the 44th minute.
With the Springboks getting into their stride, Pretorius struck a snap drop-goal in the 53rd minute with the Wallabies on the back foot.
The Australians were soon back in their territory and they eventually buckled under the unrelenting pressure and conceded a penalty seven metres from their line in the 56th minute.
From the resultant penalty, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez had the presence of mind to take it quickly and scrambled over the line with three Wallaby defenders on his back.
The Wallabies, feeling that the match was slipping away from them, mounted a comeback and Stirling Mortlock struck two penalties in the 60th and 61st minutes to haul the visitors within three points at 19-16.
But the Springboks retaliated with a long-range try from Paulse which was started deep in the Springbok half from a turnover.
Paulse’s try took the wind out of the Wallabies after they had fancied themselves to win the encounter after a seesaw first half which saw Pretorius and Mortlock swap penalties.
The Australians handed the Springboks their second consecutive victory of this year’s Tri-Nations while six years have gone by since the Wallabies last won a game on South African soil. – Sapa