The first half was virtually all the Wallabies as they performed with great skill as their exquisite backline continually broke through the Springboks defence to finish off marvellous attacking raids while the forwards were on song with their tenacious play. Drew Mitchell dives over to score the Wallabies fifth try. Credit:Getty Images The first try featured a Quade Cooper cut-out pass that put Adam Ashley-Cooper into space and Beale finished a classy backline movement of more than 50m. It was 17-3 after 14 minutes when Cooper picked up the scraps of a Springboks defensive lineout gone wrong and sent James O'Connor over. Obviously still confident, South Africa opted to narrow it to 17-6 with an 18th minute penalty goal and they missed a golden opportunity a minute later when Juan Smith dropped a ball cold in great attacking position.

Australia went out to a 24-6 lead when Moore burrowed over and, when an electrifying O'Connor run sent Elsom on a 20m run to the line, the Bloemfontein crowd were left shaking their heads. Rocky Elsom dives over to score the fourth Wallaby try. Credit:Getty Images The tries were outstanding showing great support play, however just before the break it all went astray and in a baffling 14-minute period, South Africa scored 24 unanswered points starting with a try after the halftime siren to centre Jaque Fourie. It took a remarkable effort from champion lock Matfield to give the home side some hope to cling to, the big man chipping and regathering on the full before sending Fourie over with a brilliant pass. James O'Connor scores a try as South Africa's Jean de Villiers attempts to stop him. Credit:AP

As was the case in Pretoria last week, the Wallabies struggled to defend an enormous lead, and their defence disintegrated under pressure. By the 61st minute the Springboks had taken a 33-31 lead following a succession of ridiculous mistakes. Suddenly the Wallabies were dropping the ball under pressure, not taking control of the high ball, while some wayward passes put the Springboks on the front foot. Stephen Moore of the Wallabies forces his way over the tryline to score the third Wallaby try. Credit:Getty Images And it appeared in the 68th minute that they had completely shot themselves in the foot when Saia Faingaa was sent to the sin bin by referee Wayne Barnes after a stupid dangerous tackle on Springbok replacement forward Flip van der Merwe. With Springbok five-eighth Morne Steyn kicking everything in sight, Faingaa's indiscretion, it seemed, would hurt the Wallabies eventually.

Kurtley Beale of the Wallabies dives over to score the first try. Credit:Getty Images However, down a player, the Wallabies regained the lead in the 71st minute when a classic snipe by replacement back Berrick Barnes put winger Drew Mitchell away to make the score 38-36 in Australia's favour. For the next few minutes the Wallabies were perched near their line and the Springbok pressure took its toll when a penalty was awarded in the 76th minute. Steyn kicked his ninth goal from as many attempts for the home side to again take the lead 39-38. Again the Wallabies looked doomed until in the final minute when the Springboks were penalised at the breakdown, giving Beale the chance to be a hero or villain for the Wallabies. This was the chance for Beale to redeem himself after making several major blunders in the second half that helped the Springboks to get back in the game.

Earlier, Beale threw a pass over the head of five-eighth Cooper near his own goal line and it went dead, the Springboks scored off the ensuing scrum to make it 31-30 after 54 minutes. But Beale was up to the pressure, kicking it through the posts from just inside the Springboks half, leading to scenes of ecstasy from the delighted Wallabies. The Wallabies had many heroes with David Pocock having another exceptional game in open play and at the breakdown, while O'Connor did everything with the chances he was given. Adam Ashley-Cooper was tremendous in attack and defence while Quade Cooper was more assured than last week. Replacement halfback Luke Burgess was outstanding after coming on in the 54th minute. Apart from their 20-minute period of indecision, the Wallabies stood tall. Loading