Tri-Nations/Australia 20 South Africa 18: Australia skipper George Gregan's international future is likely to come under renewed scrutiny after the Wallabies' laboured, win over South Africa on Saturday.
Australia, who crushed the Springboks 49-0 in Brisbane just three weeks ago, needed a late try from replacement Mat Rogers and a sideline conversion from vice-captain Stirling Mortlock to regain the Nelson Mandela Plate.
The Australian media, heavily critical of Gregan in recent seasons, launched another scathing attack on the team and called for mass changes.
The Sunday Telegraph said it was the worst display by an Australian team in 10 years. The Sun-Herald said Gregan was under mounting pressure to hold his place ahead of reserve scrumhalf Sam Cordingley.
"The Wallabies got the points, but that does not mask the fact that they were terrible," lamented the Sun-Herald.
"(Coach) John Connolly must now make numerous major changes if this team are to get anywhere near the All Blacks in Auckland in a fortnight's time. Gregan's spot is now under enormous pressure."
Connolly agreed his team had played poorly, struggling to match their bigger opponents in scrum and lineout and wasting possession with fundamental errors and aimless kicking.
"I don't think it'll be one of those Tests you'll remember forever," he told a news conference.
"It wasn't a great game, and we're really disappointed with the way we played at times, but we're delighted to come away with the win."
Gregan, now in his 13th season of international rugby but arguably well past his best, broke John Eales's Australian record of 55 Tests as captain, but it was a performance the scrumhalf would rather forget.
His spilt pass from number eight Wycliff Palu led to the first South African try, and he was replaced by Cordingley in the final 10 minutes.
Cordingley was an instant success as he cleverly scooped up a loose ball from the back of a scrum that put Phil Waugh through a hole and led to Rogers's try.
Connolly said he was impressed by Cordingley but gave no clues about the starting line-up for the next match.
Australia have lost twice to the All Blacks this season, including last week's 13-9 defeat in Brisbane, but need to win in New Zealand to keep the championship alive with the South African leg still to be played.
"I guess we're still in it but the game in Auckland in two weeks is incredibly important," Connolly said. "The encouraging thing for us is we know we're close to them - but we have to play better."
The Springboks were on the verge of a major upset when Jaque Fourie and Percy Montgomery crossed in the second half to give the visitors an unlikely 18-13 lead.
Australia led 10-0 at the break after a scrappy half but lost their way in the second term as their scrum and lineout began to unravel.
The signs were ominous from the start when South African inside centre Wynand Olivier knocked on from the initial kick-off and Mortlock sprayed his first penalty attempt wide.
Montgomery also missed his first two shots then failed with a long-range drop goal before the Springboks gifted the Australians their first try with another error.
Outhalf Butch James miscued an attempted crossfield kick, which sat up perfectly for winger Mark Gerrard, who sprinted 65 metres to score untouched.
James took over the kicking from Montgomery in the second half and made an instant impact, slotting two early penalties to launch his team's fightback.
They grabbed the lead in the 55th minute when Gregan spilt a pass from Palu behind the scrum and Fourie du Preez hacked it through for Fourie to score.
The momentum seemed to have shifted South Africa's way when Gerrard fumbled the ball over the tryline and Montgomery was driven over 12 minutes from the end. But their joy was shortlived when Rogers scored with just four minutes remaining.
AUSTRALIA: Latham; Gerrard, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri; Larkham, Gregan; Palu, Smith, Elsom; Vickerman, Sharpe; Blake, McIsaac, Holmes. Replacements: Paul, Shepherdson, Chisholm, Waugh, Cordingley, Rogers, Rathbone.
SOUTH AFRICA: Montgomery; Ndungane, Fourie, Olivier, Habana; James, du Preez; Cronje, Smith, Tyibilika; Matfield, Muller; van der Linde, Smit, du Randt. Replacements: Ralepelle, Andrews, van den Berg, Van Niekerk, Januarie, Bosman, van der Westhuyzen.
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)
