The Springboks followed up their New Zealand conquest with a deserving 23-12 win over Australia in Saturday's Rugby Championship Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, after leading 20-12 at halftime.
As it turned out, the Boks held out well enough in largely scrappy second-half play to protect their lead and at the same time render Australia scoreless in this stanza.
The sides managed two tries each and Bok flyhalf Handré Pollard made the big difference with a near flawless goalkicking display with three penalties and two conversions for a personal haul of 13 points.
The Boks were gifted a try in the opening minute when leftwing Aphiwe Dyantyi brought off an interception after Aussie pivot Kurtley Beale flung out a pass deep inside his own half. Flyhalf Handré Pollard converted for an early 7-0 lead.
Moments later, the Wallabies had a chance to reduce the deficit but their marksman Matt Toomua fluffed a penalty.
The Boks started imposing themselves on the match with a few attacking sorties in the opposition half and over a 9-minute pressure spell they were awarded three penalties which they steered into touch. Nothing came of the resultant mauls and master poacher David Pocock relieved the pressure for Wallabies with back-to-back turn-overs close to his try-line.
The Boks continued to show a great deal of attacking intent and fullback Willie le Roux sparked a break out deep inside his own half with a long pass wide out to flank Siya Kolisi who set off on a 50 metre run before he was hauled in by the cover defence.
But the Boks were not to be denied and midway through the half Pollard brought off a wonderful break which left two would-be tacklers in his wake. His halfback partner Faf de Klerk ran a wonderful support line and was up for a try-scoring pass when Pollard was brought down. Pollard's conversion saw the Boks take a 14-0 lead.
Soon afterwards Australia sprung a superb fightback which earned them two tries in the space of three minutes. First centre Reece Hodge dived over in the corner and then scrumhalf cantered in. Toomua managed one conversion and the deficit was reduced to two points, some 10 minutes ahead of the halftime break (14-12).
In the remaining first-half play, the Boks changed tact by opting to take their penalty kicks rather than go for touch and Pollard struck two to give his side a 20-12 lead by the time the teams changed ends.
The Boks looked full of running when the second half kicked off and a Jessie Kriel grubber did not bounce kindly for Dyantyi as the Aussie defence looked stretched out wide.
Moments later the Boks again set off on a strong surge down the channels out wide and again luck was not on their side as a speculative pass fell unkindly for flank Pieter-Steph du Toit a mere 10 metres out.
There was some consolation for the Boks when Pollard steered his third penalty through the posts after Hooper high-tackled Dyantyi in the 44th minute (23-12).
In the ensuing play, the Boks seemed to lose their way and Australia was able to apply pressure with a wave of attacks although they lacked the variation to make headway in the face of the opposition's fierce defence.
Just past the hour mark, the Boks were able to release the pressure by transferring play to Wallabies' half and they quickly regained the initiative until they were pegged back by an errant Pollard penalty which landed fractionally beyond the corner flag and in the dead-ball area.
Dyantyi was yellow-carded 16 minutes before the end but the Wallabies were unable to exploit the one-man advantage in remaining play and the Boks ran out 23-12 winners.
Scorers: South Africa 23 (20): Tries: Aphiwe Dyantyi, Faf de Klerk. Conversions: Handré Pollard (2). Penalties: Pollard (3)
Australia 12 (12): Tries: Reece Hodge, Will Genia. Conversion: Matt Toomua – African News Agency (ANA)
(Pic: Twitter SA Rugby)
