Rugby Championship: South Africa inflict heavy defeat on Australia
Australia slipped to their third defeat in the Rugby Championship, beaten 38-12 by South Africa at Suncorp Stadium.
Last Updated: 07/09/13 3:30pm
Coenie Oosthuizen, Jean de Villiers, Zane Kirchner and Willie Le Roux all scored tries and Morne Steyn kicked 18 points to give South Africa their first Test victory on Australian soil since 2009.
Australia, who lost their opening two games of the tournament to New Zealand under new coach Ewen McKenzie, mustered only four Christian Lealiifano penalties and sit bottom of the Rugby Championship table without a point after three rounds.
South Africa had failed to win in seven previous visits to Suncorp Stadium but broke the game open with three second-half tries in the space of nine minutes.
Australia's defence disintegrated in the face of sustained pressure from South Africa, who move one point clear of New Zealand at the top of table.
Fast start
South Africa reaped rewards from their very first foray into attacking territory as Oosthuizen barged over the line following a scrum.
Video replays gave referee George Clancy no reason to believe the giant forward had failed to plant the ball and he was awarded the first try of the match.
Willem Alberts inexplicably booted the ball down field after a penalty was awarded to Australia, earning himself a spell in the sin-bin. Lealiifano slotted the kick to make it 7-3 after nine minutes.
Steyn slotted a penalty from 45 metres to restore South Africa's lead to seven points.
Lealiifano and Steyn swapped penalties as the match see-sawed, with neither side sharp enough in possession to take control.
Israel Folau was penalised right in front of his own sticks for not releasing the ball, gifting the Springboks another three points.
The visitors took a deserved 16-6 lead into the break over a Wallabies side who showed plenty of attacking intent but lacked the composure to turn it into points.
A bright start to the second half saw Australia attacking the try line, and they soon won a penalty which Lealiifano converted to cut the margin to seven points once more.
Sin-binned
Australia flanker Michael Hooper was sin-binned 10 minutes into the second half for driving Bryan Habana into the turf with a late tackle.
South Africa captain De Villiers touched down for a try following a flowing passing movement and a clever chip over the top from Habana to put the visitors well in control with 20 minutes remaining.
Another sharp South African attacking move down the right resulted in a try to Kirchner, who received an inside ball from Le Roux.
The full-back then galloped down the right passage to score a try of his own moments later and put the result beyond any doubt.