A whopping last-gasp penalty from Kurtley Beale gave Australian an amazing 41-39 win over South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday, condemning the hosts to bottom spot in the Tri-Nations’ table.
The game was the Springboks' last of the series and saw them leapfrogged by the Wallabies, who nearly threw away a 25-point lead in a clash where Beale, James O'Connor, Stephen Moore, Rocky Elsom and Drew Mitchell all crossed the line for the visitors.
Jaque Fourie, Gurthro Steenkamp and Jean de Villiers notched tries as Peter de Villiers' men launched an amazing comeback, however they were just denied at the death by Beale.
Scores were being registered from the off as Matt Giteau kicked Australia in front within two minutes of the start, Morne Steyn quickly tying up matters for the Boks.
However, an Antipodean raft of tries soon began to be racked up, the first coming from Beale after O'Connor bounded clear on the right and fed the full back inside him to race over, Giteau soundly converting.
O'Connor had a good day at the office and soon benefitted from some sloppy line-out play from the home side, running onto a loose ball and darting away from all struggling defenders to register a second Australia try for Giteau to add extras to.
That meant two tries for Robbie Deans' side in the opening 15 minutes and it was not long before they had a third. Steyn had cut their lead slightly with his second penalty of the day, but a fine Wallabies break led to Moore touching down to celebrate his 50th cap, the TMO okaying it and Giteau adding further icing.
And the bonus point was secure in the 25th minute, Mitchell leading a fine break and involving O'Connor before Elsom collected 25 metres from the line and raced clear with the defence failing miserably to get near him. Giteau continued a perfect game's kicking.
Things died down a little thereafter in the first half, but crucially the Boks got a try on the board right on the half-time hooter. Victor Matfield's magnificent chip and run led to the lock feeding Fourie. He ran over, Steyn converted, and at 31-13 down at half-time there was still hope for South Africa.
And a sensational second half showing saw the home side overturn that 18-point reversal. A relentless surge of attack eventually led to the giant Steenkamp crashing over, while Steyn's conversion and subsequent penalty quickly had the gap down to eight.
The momentum was completely now with coach de Villiers' team and his namesake Jean helped them to within a point of their visitors after a blistering run and finish, Steyn's kick making it 30-31 on 55 minutes.
Steyn's next kick - a 55-metre penalty - then amazingly had the men in green in front and he followed it up with another after Australia replacement Saia Fainga'a was rightly sent to the bin for the sin of a spear tackle.
After half an hour's worth of no positive involvement in the second half, the Wallabies finally woke up, however.
Luke Burgess took a quick tap to Berrick Barnes, who sent Mitchell clear and the flying wing raced over the line, stemming the tide. That put the sides level and O'Connor, taking over the kicking duties from Giteau, put them two clear again.
Steyn's sixth successful penalty and ninth on target kick looked like the winner from deep inside the Australian 22.
And yet there was still time for Beale - from fully halfway out the field - to kick over a sumptuous winner and ensure that the Wallabies will not finish bottom ahead of the final game of the series against already crowned champions New Zealand.