South Africa 9 - 14 Australia: Wallabies hand Boks third-straight defeat

Centre Pat McCabe scored a 48th-minute try to help drag the Wallabies back from a 6-0 half-time deficit at Kings Park and on to a fourth win in their last five matches against South Africa.

The Springboks recalled 16 senior players from injury for their first home game of the season, but the rusty returning Boks couldn't convert their first-half dominance into a much-needed win ahead of the start of their world title defence next month.

Instead, McCabe's score, from an overlap in the right corner, and three penalties from James O'Connor gave Australia victory and a major boost ahead of next month's World Cup. The win also keeps alive Australia's chances of a first Tri-Nations title since 2001.

"The first half was very tight, they put us under some pressure but the boys responded," Australia hooker Stephen Moore said. "We spoke about it at halftime that we had to hang on for 80 minutes and it was good to come through there.

"We didn't necessarily play that pretty, we toughed it out there and dug pretty deep."

Under pressure to steady a shaky World Cup build-up, South Africa couldn't convert its territorial advantage in the first half as the returning players struggled to hit top gear. Butch James missed a penalty in front of the posts in the 21st minute, and centre Jaque Fourie was denied a try by a knock-on inside the Wallabies' in-goal area.

Australia occasionally threatened wide, through fullback Kurtley Beale and wing O'Connor, but the Boks had the better field position and attacking opportunities of the first 40 minutes.

The Wallabies responded after the break, sending McCabe in early in the second half and turning improved field position into three goals by O'Connor. South Africa faded as the rain came down in the east coast city, and Australia played with greater accuracy in slippery conditions.

"It was very difficult in these conditions, but again it was not good enough," said Boks lock Victor Matfield. "We are Springboks in South Africa, we should win. It was positive in the way we started (but) we will have to get better next week and then another few weeks of hard work before the World Cup."

Scorers: South Africa: Pens: Steyn, James (2). Australia: Tries: McCabe. Pens: O'Connor (3).

South Africa: F Steyn, JP Pietersen, J Fourie, J De Villiers, B Habana, B James, F de Preez, T Mtawarira, j Smit (capt) J du Plessis, B Botha, V Matfield, H Brussow, D Rossouw, P Spies. Subs: B du Plessis, G Steenkamp, G Mostert, J Deysel, F Hougaard, M Steyn, G Aplon.

Australia: K Beale, J O'Connor, A Ashley-Cooper, P McCabe, D Loane, Q Cooper, W Genia, S Kepu, S Moore, B Alexander, N Sharpe, J Horwill, R Elsom (capt), D Pocock, S Higginbotham.Subs: S Fainga'a, S Maafu, S Timani, b McCalman, R Samo, L Burgess, A Fainga'a.

Referee: B Lawrence (New Zealand).