South Africa surged to a 33-20 victory over Australia to retain the Mandela Challenge Plate in the second leg test in Johannesburg today.
Fielding a new-look backline in a side with eight changes from the 30-12 first-leg defeat in Sydney, the Springboks adopted a pacy, ball-in-hand approach and scored three tries to race into a 33-8 lead with 24 minutes remaining.
Fullback Percy Montgomery succeeded with all seven kicks at goal to finish with 18 points.
Jean de Villiers, who was switched from the wing to inside centre, popped up with an intercept try in the 13th minute and the Springboks increased their lead to 20-3 when new flyhalf Andre Pretorius intercepted and set up winger Bryan Habana.
Australia fought back when winger Breyton Paulse was yellow-carded following repeated infringements by the Springboks and number eight David Lyons was driven over for a try from a lineout.
The home side was still in control at halftime with a 23-8 lead, but replacement flanker Schalk Burger was yellow carded for a high, stiff-arm tackle almost immediately after coming on.
The Springboks increased their lead to 30-8, however, when De Villiers made the break for outside centre Jaque Fourie to score and the lead was big enough to absorb a late Australian fightback via tries from flyhalf Stephen Larkham and hooker Jeremy Paul.
