Sport: Australia 27 South Africa 21

Australia have defeated World Champions South Africa in the first of the World Cup semi-finals at Twickenham this afternoon. The defeat put an end to the ten-match unbeaten run in the competition the Springboks have continued since their victory in their home land four years ago. As predicted there was nothing in it and the game had to go two ten minute extra time periods for a winner to emerge.

It was the Australians who made it after seeing what seemed a certain victory within normal time dramatically taken away by a Jannie de Beer penalty seven minutes into injury time that will go down as one of the kicks of the game. The penalty leveled the scores at 18 a piece, and despite the heavy rainfall nobody in the crowd minded having to witness another twenty minutes of the tension filled action.

It was Australia who made the first impression on the scoreboard with a Matt Burke penalty after 12 minutes of nervous kicking. Within that period Burke himself missed a penalty chance with the swirling Twickenham wind causing problems, while the South African game plan was becoming clear as de Beer unusually was wide with a drop goal effort.

Both defences dominated the game and there was an abundance of tactical kicking from de Beer and the Australian pair of out-half Steve Larkham and full-back Matt Burke.

Australia had much the better of the first half and led 12 - 6 at half-time, only for South Africa to claw their way back, never accepting for one minute that they might be beaten and setting the stage for de Beer to book extra time.

The match produced no tries, but it hardly mattered as a capacity, rain-lashed Twickenham audience lapped up every pulsating moment.

Although de Beer edged South Africa in front with his sixth penalty early in overtime, Australia finished far the stronger as two more Burke penalties and a sensational 50-metre Steve Larkham "de Beer special" drop goal saw them home.

At the end the players bodies must have been crying for rest and freedom from the bruising atmosphere of the battle. Some bodies did not even make it that far - in one instance after a five minute unbroken spell of Australian pressure South African winger Deon Kayser had to retire, no doubt heavily influenced by intensity of the effort it took to hold the Wallabies out.

Australia deserved their victory and threatened the South Africa line on a number of occasions. In fact a John Eales try was hauled back by referee Derek Bevan for a lineout indiscretion, and a last ditch tackle by Joost van der Westhuizen just kept out scrum-half Gearge Gregan.

The Springboks now face a deflating third place play-off in Cardiff next Thursday night against the lossers of tomorrow's second semi-final between New Zealand and France.

Australia march on to the Millennium Stadium final, where they await the winners - overwhelmingly expected to be New Zealand. Whatever happens today's semi-final was a sporting event of the highest quality and for drama and an occasion that neither the players or those who witnessed the game will ever forget, it'll take some beating.

Scorers

Australia: Burke 8 pens., Larkham drop goal

South Africa: de Beer 6 pens., 1 drop goal