By Country / South Africa

It might not be a death threat or a 'play him or you're fired' tactic a la Luke Watson, but the latest soap opera from South African rugby is like something out of Sunset Beach.

Think Max Clifford's sense of timing coupled with sexual revelations that even Bill Clinton wouldn't struggle denying and you're not even close.

Pieter de Villers had a death warrant as soon as he became Springbok coach after promising transformation and new brands of rugby never seen before in the Rainbow Nation.

But it seems the Socrates of the Springboks has been found out prematurely (no pun intended), embellishing in a bit of left-field rucking and mauling in an Eastern Cape car park, if allegations are true.

Blackmail? Perhaps? But Chinese whispers has reached us suggesting racist forces from over the rainbow are ready with the chopping board and carving knife.

If Gossip Girl's text service is reliable, then the scrum-half of 'team anti-de Villiers' is none other than SA Rugby's Communications Manager, Chris Hewitt, who has been suspended with full pay (or given leave and taking the rap for it all now Watson's dad, Cheeky Watson, and Mike Stofile are back-tracking with rockets tied to their arses).

So sex tape or not, Paris Hilton or Pamela Anderson, this nasty PR plot is as vicious since Captain Hook went after Peter Pan.

Good always triumphs over evil? Not in South Africa...

South Africa 53

Tries: A Bekker, J Nowke 4, A Jacobs, O Ndungane, R Pienaar,
Cons: B James 5
Pens: B James

Australia 8

Tries: D Mitchell
Pens: M Giteau

Pieter de Villiers looked like Hugh Hefner had just handed him a lifetime's pass to the Playboy Mansion after seeing Australia dish out of the freebies to South Africa in Johannesburg.

What on earth the Wallabies were up to would even struggle to get an answer from the holy word of David Campese. They clearly forgot to disarm the self-destruct button before leaving the changing room.

Only time will tell whether Robbie Deans’ handful of changes was a tactical masterstroke or merely evidence of his international naivety - the Wallabies were playing blindfolded with their hands tied in between their legs for most parts.

The title was always going to be decided in Brisbane when the All-Blacks come to town next weekend, but Australia were like scared schoolchildren running away from the bigger, louder and scruffy playground bully.

Only seven days ago in Durban, Australia exorcised their travelling demons, but tours can be long old slogs and evidently many were feeling a little homesick.

South Africa at least proved they are world champions for a reason, especially when all 15 men – oh and the coach – are singing off the same hymn sheet.

Enjoying the bulk of possession, this contest was over by half-time with the Springboks 27-3 up and Jongi Nokwe three tries to the good.

While the Wallabies were overzealous with their ambition and screwed things up in similar fashion to an England football team, South Africa had learned how to off-load and keep the momentum alive. It was stirring stuff.

As soon as Andries Bekker went over for the first of eight tries, there was a feeling it could all end miserably for Deans.

Adi Jacobs score sandwiched Nokwe’s third and fourth while Odwa Ndungane and Ruan Pienaar ramped up the celebrations a notch or two.

Percy Montgomery bid farewell after 102 caps and even though many left Ellis Park with broad smiles after a good day's work, it was the Wallabies, who still walked off with the gold and a chance of the glory.

Do you think Pieter de Villiers would swap places with Robbie Deans? Scratch that. He’d probably take Ant & Dec’s slot if it was available.

The Wallabies are aiming to do the unthinkable and win back t back Test matches in South Africa while the Boks are staring down the barrel of following England’s lead and making a right dogs dinner out of defending the realm.

Dingo Deans has already won the Mandela Trophy courtesy of two wins in Perth and Durban and now he even has the luxury of freshening things up for the crucial contest against South Africa in Johannesburg as the Wallabies aim to firmly grip one tight hand on the TriNations title.

Dual international Timana Tahu has been handed a first Wallabies start in Johannesburg, joining Adam Ashley-Cooper, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh and Tatafu Polota-Nau in the 1st XV as Drew Mitchell, George Smith and Stephen Moore drop to the bench and Dan Vickerman,is crook.

De Villiers’ face already has about 150 holes dotted around the critics’ dartboards and will hope reinforcements, Odwa Ndungane and Brian Mujati, who return in place of the injured JP Pietersen and CJ Van der Linde respectively, can postpone the arrows until Novemeber at least.

Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawirara have been cleared to play but what must Joe Van Niekerk be thinking? How can the under-fire Pierre Spies and Danie Rossouw be more deserving? And who says favouritism exists in sport?

South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Andries Bekker, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Percy Montgomery.

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Timana Tahu,11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Sam Cordingley, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Hugh McMeniman, 4 James Horwill, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 George Smith, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Drew Mitchell.

So ScrumoftheEarth buddy, Jake White, has pinpointed his next rugby role - the Director of Rugby for South Africa - according to Afrikaaans journal, Die Burger.

Current Boks coach Pieter de Villiers is under fire after a morale-shattering Tri-Nations campaign and despite his position being safe courtesy of the dreaded vote of confidence, White desperately wants to help out.

Although SARU president Oregan Hoskins dismissed the existence of the role and clarified that no discussions with the former coach have taken place.

Read Jake White's Exclusive interview with ScrumoftheEarth here