By Tournament / Tri-Nations

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.

New Zealand and Australia's Rugby Unions seem intent on clocking up the miles as the current TriNations top two aim to increase their marketability overseas.

Hong Kong will stage the first Bledisloe Cup fixture to be held overseas in 2008 and reports coming out of the southern hemisphere are suggesting that the land of the corn dog and baseball, the USA, is hoping to host the biggest annual rugby fixture on the antipodean calendar in Denver next year.

99% of South Africa would've been ready to give Pieter de Villiers his P45 following Saturday's humiliating defeat to Australia, but it appears SA Rugby has shot itself in the foot, with throwing the book at de Villiers simply not financially viable.

Four defeats in five games is hardly world champion form and disgruntled fans delivered a clear message of unrest during de Villiers' post-match television interview in Durban.

South Africa's first ever black coach earns a reported R1.4 million a year and although many are ready to push the panic button after a dismal TriNations, getting rid of him now could potentially cost up to R5 million given the performance-related clause doesn't come into effect until next year.

It's over. Australia ended their eight-year travel bug in South Africa with a clinical performance led from the fore by inspirational skipper Stirling Mortlock.

Mortlock's sensational solo score put the gloss on a polished Wallaby display with bodies bruised, battered and bloodied as the final whistle signalled mixed emotions of both elation and relief.

James Horwill has been the find of the Robbie Deans era with the 23-year-old putting in another mature shift alongside elder statesman Dan Vickerman in the Australian second-row.

South Africa had their chances - they coughed up several in the opening exchanges - but their structure, especially at the breakdown was a shambles.

Australia's first two visits to the Springboks twenty-two yielded 10 points.

While the Boks pushed the panic button, Australia's pragmatism and patience enabled Deans' men to watch in amazement as the Boks butchered possession and territory all too often - and when they conserved the ball they racked up the points.

Someone must remind Pieter de Villiers, sport is about results. Many a coach has endeavoured to play the beautiful game, even more have spoken about it, but very few have achieved it as well as picking up the points.

South Africa's first black coach is adamant about changing the face of Springbok rugby, but only 10 months ago, with 90% of the same personnel, the passionate talented bunch lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy for the second time in the country's history.

It speaks volumes when stubborn South Africans claim moral victories, especially in Durban where they at least registered some points, but again the pretty didn't pack any punch with missed opportunities giving the Wallabies hope and time to build up ahead of steam.

Any positives or excuses for de Villiers were drowned out by a showering of boos that poured over his and Victor Matfield's post-match summary.

Matfield hit the nail on the head - "It's our jobs, it's our work, it's our passion, it's our lives" - but such dismal standards in any circle of employment surely illustrates the love for both the job and the boss is working overtime.