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The rampant Springboks put the Wallabies to the sword to bolster their position at the head of the Tri Nations table with an emphatic 29-17 triumph in Cape Town on Saturday.
The high-flying Boks capitalised on a mistake-riddled and ill-disciplined performance from the Australians to follow up their back-to-back defeats of the All Blacks with another clinical victory.
Superboot Morne Steyn was again instrumental, contributing 24 of South Africa's points from seven penalties and a drop goal.
The defeat extended Australia's sorry-losing streak to five Tests at Newlands since the Wallabies' last-up win at the famous venue 17 years ago.
And the Wallabies only had themselves to blame, once again failing to kick on from a promising start after fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper scored after just 98 seconds.
When five-eighth Matt Giteau drilled the sideline conversion, the jubilant Australians led 7-0 and had every reason to believe they could finally end their Newlands drought.
But, just as they had in Auckland three weeks ago in their 22-16 loss to the All Blacks, the Wallabies were unable to produce the kind of composed performance coach Robbie Deans is looking for.
It was effectively all over at halftime with the Boks leading 23-10 and with Australia down to 13 players following the sin-binning of Giteau and flanker Richard Brown.
The Wallabies looked sharp early.
From a lineout work win 25 metres out from the South African line, the Wallabies spread the ball the full width of the field to Ashley-Cooper, who fended off Springboks winger JP Pietersen and crashed over fullback Francois Steyn to touch down in the corner.
But the rest of the half belonged to the Springboks.
The Wallabies completely lost their way in a clumsy five minute-period to gift the home side a 9-7 lead through three Steyn penalties.
Centre Berrick Barnes slotted a left-footed drop goal in the 15th minute to briefly steady the Wallabies and put them back in front 10-9.
Another Steyn penalty, followed by a drop goal put the world champions ahead 15-10 after 25 minutes.
It was 20-10 soon after when Wallabies winger Lachie Turner was unable to clean up an unlikely grubber kick from prop John Smit and Boks lock Victor Matfield seized to score an unconverted try.
Worse was to come for Australia, though, with skipper Stirling Mortlock forced off with a knee injury on the half hour and Giteau and Brown sent for stints in the bin, leaving the rattled Wallabies with just 13 players on the field.
Giteau was sent to cool his heels for felling Boks halfback Four du Preez in an off-the-ball aerial challenge that went horribly wrong and Brown marched for a blatant ruck infringement.
Steyn's fifth penalty goal gave South Africa their 23-10 halftime advantage and a sixth straight after the break nudged the world champions more than two converted tries ahead of Australia.
Australia got one back in the 66th minute when Giteau lunged over, but it was not enough for the Wallabies to leave South Africa empty-handed.
Fittingly for the Boks, Steyn had the last say with his seventh penalty 30 seconds from fulltime.
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