TRI-NATIONS SERIES South Africa 53 Australia 8: WINGER JONGI Nokwe became the first player to score four tries in a Tri-Nations match as South Africa routed Australia 53-8 in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Nokwe's tries were complemented by four more from lock Andries Bekker, centre Adrian Jacobs, replacement outhalf Ruan Pienaar and Odwa Ndungane.
Replacement fullback Percy Montgomery added two conversions and outhalf Butch James kicked three conversions and a penalty.
Australia, aiming to win successive tests in South Africa for the first time in 45 years after the previous weekend's win in Durban, scored just one try, through fullback Drew Mitchell. Outhalf Matt Giteau added a penalty.
Giteau slotted home a simple 15-metre penalty five minutes into play and Australia held the lead for 10 further minutes before Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes released Bekker through a short gap and the lock ranged over for the first try of the match.
The hosts struck again four minutes later when scrumhalf Fourie du Preez took a quick tap free-kick inside the visitors' 22 and passed to centre Jean de Villiers, who found Nokwe for his first try.
The speedster went over in the corner for his second following a five-metre scrum to make it 17-3.
James added a penalty before Nokwe completed his hat-trick, and secured the bonus point, with four minutes left in the first half.
The inaccuracy at a lineout on his 22-metre line of the Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau cost the visitors when centre Jean de Villiers latched onto a loose ball, before it was worked wide for Nokwe to canter over and extend the lead to 27-3 at the break.
A strong scrum set the platform for the first try after the break. De Villiers again straightened the line before flicking a pass off his outside shoulder to Jacobs in close support.
The outside centre burst through the line before weaving around the last defender to score.
Another powerful scrum by the home team again unleashed the Springbok backs as James took a well-executed pass on the loop to send Jantjes surging over the gain line; the fullback toed the ball ahead and Ndungane gathered and passed to Nokwe to score.
A string of substitutions punctuated play before Mitchell sprinted over for a consolation try at the end of the third quarter.
The Springboks replied with two tries in the final 10 minutes when Pienaar jinked through the Australian line and Ndungane dived over in the final minute.
"We are not yet where we want to be but that's what we expect from the team," said South African coach Peter de Villiers, who has been heavily criticised after a three-game losing streak that has ensured they will finish last in the Tri-Nations.
"We are 60 to 70 per cent of the way to where we want to be but the players believe in where we are going."
Australia coach Robbie Deans defended De Villiers, saying, "The reality of this industry is that someone has to be the bottom side in the Tri-Nations but that doesn't mean they're a bad side.
"It was a great . . . performance by the Springboks. They got in the game and built some momentum, while we dropped off."
South Africa end the tournament in third place with 10 points, while Australia remain in second with 13 points, one point behind New Zealand.
The Wallabies face New Zealand in Brisbane on September 13th for the series decider.
After Saturday's win South Africa's Montgomery announced his retirement from test rugby.
"Not many players get to choose when they want to leave test rugby, and I think that's what makes it so special for me because I know that at test level it's time to go," the country's most capped player and leading points-scorer told reporters.
"I've had many memorable moments in the Springbok jersey and some very testing ones as well, but I'd never exchange one moment of either the highs or lows."
Montgomery scored 893 points in an illustrious 11-year career that spanned South Africa's successful Tri-Nations championships in 1998 and 2004, as well as winning the World Cup in France last year.
SCORES: South Africa - Tries: A Bekker, J Nokwe (4), A Jacobs, R Pienaar, O Ndungane. Conversions: B James (3), P Montgomery (2). Penalty: James. Australia - Try: D Mitchell. Penalty: M Giteau.
SOUTH AFRICA: C Jantjies; O Ndungane, A Jacobs, J de Villiers, J Nokwe; B James, F du Preez; T Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis; B Mujati; A Bekker, V Matfield; S Burger, J Smith, P Spies. Replacements: Jannie du Plessis for Mujati (45 mins;); P Montgomery for Nokwe (52 mins); R Pienaar for James (59 mins); E Januarie for du Prees, L Watson for Ndungane (70 mins); A Strauss for Bismarck du Plessis (74 mins); D Rossouw for Bekker (76); Ndungane for Jacobs (77 mins).
AUSTRALIA: A Ashley-Cooper; P Hynes, S Mortlock, T Tahu, L Tuqiri; M Giteau, S Cordingley; B Robinson, T Polota-Nau, M Dunning; J Horwill, H McMeniman; R Elsom, P Waugh, W Palu. Replacements: A Baxter for Dunning (33 mins); S Moore for Polota-Nau (41 mins); G Smith for Waugh (47 mins); D Mitchell for Hynes, R Cross for Tahu (both 50 mins); B Sheehan for Cordingley (54 mins); Dunning for Robinson (61 mins); D Mumm for McMeniman (70 mins).
Referee: B Lawrence(New Zealand).
