Australia ran in three tries in the last 12 minutes to chalk up a record 44-23 victory over South Africa in the inaugural Nelson Mandela Rugby Challenge at the Colonial Stadium in Melbourne.
The world champions, trailing 17-23 at half-time, scored 27 unanswered points in the second half to post their highest score in 46 internationals against South Africa. It eclipsed the previous highest against South Africa of 32-20 in Brisbane in 1997 and 32-6 in Brisbane last year.
Winger Stirling Mortlock's 29 points from two tries, two conversions and five penalty goals bettered the previous best of 27 held by Rob Andrew and Johnny Wilkinson for the most individual points against South Africa.
It was Australia's 10th consecutive international win since they lost 10-9 to South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town on August 14th last year. This year's TriNations series kicks off with Australia taking on New Zealand in Sydney next Saturday.
South Africa looked to have recaptured their best form after their dismal 27-22 loss to England in Bloemfontein a fortnight ago to outplay the Australians in the first half, scoring three tries, two of them to winger Breyton Paulse.
Werner Swanepoel, who was preferred to former captain Joost van der Westhuizen from the kick-off, scored from a Rassie Erasmus pass in the 12th minute and Paulse was gifted a 70-metre intercept-try off a wayward Rod Kafer pass for a 15-6 lead after 23 minutes.
Paulse scored again in the 35th for a 20-12 lead, but Mortlock put Australia three points behind with a try out wide after an initial break by Larkham. Outhalf Louis Koen kicked a penalty on the siren for South Africa to lead by six points at the interval.
But Australia regrouped at halftime and controlled possession in the second half to gradually wind South Africa in.
They hit the front for the first time in the match in the 68th minute when outhalf Stephen Larkham scored near the posts. Toutai Kefu plunged over minutes later, Jason Little surged over in the 77th minute and Mortlock scored his second try right on full-time, out-jumping Chester Williams to a high kick from Larkham in the corner.
The match was the world's first rugby union international played under a closed roof.
AUSTRALIA: C Latham; S Mortlock, D Herbert, R Kafer, J Roff; S Larkham, G Gregan; J Williams, D Wilson, M Connors, J Eales (capt), D Giffin, F Dyson M Foley R Harry. Replacements: J Little for Kafer, J Paul for Foley (both 40 mins); T Kefu for Connors (55); G Panocho for Dyson (63); S Cordingley for Gregan, T Jacques for Wilson (both 78).
SOUTH AFRICA: Fleck, J Mulder, T Delport; L Koen, W Swanepoel; A Vos (capt), A Venter, R Erasmus, K Otto, A van der Berg, C Visagie, Charl Marais, R Kempson. Replacements: O Le Roux for Kempson (60 mins); D Wet Barry for Fleck, C Krige for Otto, J Smit for Marais (all 72); C Williams for Delport (77); J van der Westhuizen for Swanepoel (78).
Referee: P O'Brien (Nzl)
