South Africa has posted its first win over the Wallabies in Australia since 2013 with a 24-8 victory in their Rugby Championship Test at the redeveloped Sydney Football Stadium.
In a physical, gruelling contest, the Springboks put the disappointment of last week's loss in Adelaide behind them to dominate almost every facet of the contest.
Damian de Allende crashed over early on as the Springboks set out their intent, before debutant winger Canan Moodie out-leaped Marika Koroibete just before the break to streak away and score unopposed in the corner.
Franco Mostert extended the Springboks lead just after half-time before Makazole Mapimpi finished in the corner, sparking a wild brawl as the simmering tensions of the last fortnight spilled over.
Not even a late try to Pete Samu, who crossed in the corner with the Springboks down to 14, could soften what was a total thrashing in Sydney.
"It felt like we didn't fire a shot," Wallabies skipper James Slipper told Stan Sport after the game.
"We knew what sort of game it would be in those conditions — big set piece and kicking game and it got stuck down our end."
The Wallabies only had one entry into the Springboks' 22 in the first half as the visitors controlled a scrappy game with multiple penalties.
The Springboks had been stung by the nature of the defeat in Adelaide and were intent on restoring the form that saw them power past the All Blacks in round one.
"We just took the opportunities this week," Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi told Stan Sport after the match.
"Last week we created so many opportunities in the first half and we didn't take any of them. Today we took most of the opportunities that we got."
The Springboks made eight changes to their starting XV, most as a result of injury, but the inclusion of Malcolm Marx at hooker was vital, with the giant front rower busy in the loose and a menace at the breakdown alongside Kolisi.
The Springboks tackled hard and forced the Wallabies back, with Hunter Paisami an early casualty of the visitors' aggression in contact.
Noah Lolesio was also taken off with a head knock, and Reds prop Taniela Tupou was injured in the warm-up, leaving the Wallabies short in a brutally physical match.
That physicality spilled over on the field on more than one occasion, no more so than when Mapimpi bulldozed Koroibete in the corner and rubbed the Wallabies winger in the face after scoring.
A hangover from the Adelaide contest — when Koroibete smashed into Mapimpi to deny him a score — the exchange lead to a huge all-in brawl, with Eben Etzebeth and Allan Alaalatoa in particular getting stuck in to each other, although both escaped further punishment.
Antagonist-in-chief Nic White was roundly booed by the Springboks supporters every time he got the ball for his part in last week's match, and he was in the thick of every scuffle, despite being several weight divisions out of his depth.
For all the battling though, the Wallabies were unable to match the physicality of the Springboks where it counted on the pitch.
"I am so proud of the way that we stood up as a group," Kolisi said.
"People are hurting back home. It has been a long drought for us. Eleven games without a win here and it is great for us."
With New Zealand thrashing Argentine 53-3 in Hamilton earlier in the day, all four Rugby Championship teams have a record of two wins and two defeats.
For the Wallabies, two Bledisloe matches against the All Blacks await.
"We wanted to build momentum [ahead of the All Blacks in Melbourne]. That is why I am so gutted right now," Slipper said.
"It doesn't get any easier. We are going into the Bledisloe now and two tough games coming up.
"We will regroup and we have a good group and we will rip in".
Look back on how the action unfolded in our blog.
Key events
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Live updates
By Simon Smale
'It felt like we didn't fire a shot': James Slipper
James Slipper is now speaking.
"It was disappointing. I felt like the first half we played down our end of the field and put ourselves under pressure<" he says,
"A poor week of discipline. We spoke about it this week and it is disappointing to put ourselves under pressure.
"It felt like we didn't fire a shot. We knew what sort of game in those conditions.Big set piece and kicking games and it got stuck down our end.
"We wanted to build momentum [ahead of the All Blacks in Melbourne]. That is why I am so gutted right now, lost the game for our country.
"It doesn't get any easier. We are going into the Bledisloe now and two tough games coming up.
"We will regroup and we have a good group and we will rip in".
By Simon Smale
All set for a stunning Rugby Championship conclusion
Two huge turnarounds tonight. For a change, the Rugby Championship has no certain winner at this stage. All Blacks go favourite if they can kick the Wallabies while they're down next week - even though nothing's certain as we've seen!
- Donald Rae
You're spot on Donald - isn't it wonderful.
I can't remember a championship so evenly poised.
Let's not rule out Argentina, who will be fuming all the way back to South America after the thrashing they got handed earlier today.
By Simon Smale
'It has been a long drought for us': Kolisi
Here's Siya Kolisi.
"We just took the opportunities this week," he says.
"I think last week we created so much opportunities in the first half and we didn't take any of them. Today we took most of the opportunities that we got.
"Our system was good. It has been good the past couple of weeks. Just the courage that the boys showed.
"People are hurting back home. It has been a long drought for us. 11 games without a win here and it is great for us as a group."
By Simon Smale
Full time: Wallabies 8-24 Springboks
The Springboks win in Australia for the first time in nine years and they've done it with aplomb.
I wanted to say in style, but there wasn't much that was stylish about that from a typical sense.
It was ugly, messy and very, very physical. I loved it.
By Simon Smale
80' Try Wallabies
Wallabies finally cross!
It came after a spell of sustained pressure but eventually the numbers told as Pete Samu goes over in the corner.
Willie le Roux has been sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on in the build up, but we've just heard the hooter so it doesn't matter too much.
The kick was missed.
By Simon Smale
76' Knock on Wallabies
That was good from the Wallabies, retaining possession and moving it nicely through hands, but then Koroibete knocks on after a suspiciously forward looking pass.
By Simon Smale
73' Springboks steal Wallabies lineout
Oh that's a disaster for the Wallabies.
They lose the ball at the lineout.
The error does not last long though as Canan Moodie knocks on off the box kick and we'll have a scrum on half way.
By Simon Smale
72' Yellow card Makazole Mapimpi
The try still stands, but Makazole Mapimpi is being penalised for starting that ruckus.
He can't believe it.
I imagine that started last week in Adelaide, when most South Africans believe Koroibete tackled Mapimpi with no arms - even if the video shows otherwise.
No further action for anyone else, which I think is lucky to several players.
There will be a penalty to the Wallabies on half way.
BY the way, the kick was good from Francois Steyn, Boks lead 24-3.
By Simon Smale
71' Try Springboks!
Or was it?
Doesn't matter, because it's on for young and old here on the sideline!
Punches being thrown! My goodness! This has been threatening to happen all game and it has finally exploded.
This might take some picking apart.
Nic White is still trying to fight every Springbok near him like that annoying yappy puppy that just doesn't keep quiet.
Now we're going to check, absolutely everything.
First things first, Makazole Mapimpi did get the ball down after a lovely move down the right.
Then he put his hand into the face of Koroibete, who tried unsuccessfully to stop him.
After the initial grappling, Eben Etzebeth gets the crazy eyes and grabs at Allan Alaalatoa's face.
Oh, and was that a headbut from Alaalatoa?
"There's a lot of pushing and grabbing from mulitple players," says the video referee. Good observation.
By Simon Smale
70' Knock on Wallabies!
Valentini spun the ball wide left after the Wallabies stole the lineout but Koroibete is absolutely hammered and gets his finger tips to the ball to knock it on.
Springbok feed to a scrum just outside the 22.
By Simon Smale
69' Penalty Springbok
Oh my, another attack is broken up by the referee's whistle.
This one is warranted though, David Porecki tried to clean out Kwagga Smith by lassoing him by his neck.
Can't do that. Penalty Springboks and a kick to touch that ends up on the Wallabies 10 metre line.
By Simon Smale
68' Penalty Wallabies
The Boks put up a monster kick to challenge Wright, who is equal to it and is almost isolated but the referee sides with the Wallabies for an incorrect cleanout.
The Wallabies kick upfield for the lineout in Springbok territory.
By Simon Smale
67' Goal line drop out
Lovely stuff from the Springboks.
They moved the ball neatly up field with the rolling maul but then chipped ahead down the line, with Tom Wright speeding across to defuse the situation by touching down inside his own ingoal.
By Simon Smale
65' Penalty Springboks
The Wallabies move the ball right off the lineout.
Pete Samu is penalised though!
He was hit and knocked down and then tried to get up and go again without releasing the ball.
Was he held? Tough call from the referee, who has not exactly encouraged attacking play so far tonight.
By Simon Smale
65' Penalty Wallabies
Pete Samu does superbly again, winning the ball at the ruck and then earning the penalty.
The Wallabies kick for touch and have a lineout just outside the 22.
By Simon Smale
64' Attempted drop goal
Pete Samu with the steal!
The Wallabies kick the ball down field.
Willie le Roux though gathers and attempts a long-range drop goal but that's no good and the Wallabies will restart on the 22.
By Simon Smale
62' Wallabies steal the lineout!
Stolen by a combination of Swain and Valentini!
Superb and timely intervention there from the lineout jumpers.
The Wallabies kick the ball away though and the Springboks come back hard.
By Simon Smale
62'Springbok penalty
The Boks win the lineout and then drive towards the line but are held up.
The referee has spotted an infringement though so we'll have another penalty, the Boks will kick for a five metre lineout.
By Simon Smale
60' Penalty Springboks
Wild passage of play that.
The Boks stole the Wallabies scrum, kicked the ball back to the Wallabies, who then kicked it up field but out on the full.
The Springboks wanted to take it quickly but were thwarted in doing so, but as the ball bounced around, it hit James Slipper who was in an offside position.
Clear?
The Boks will kick for touch.
By Simon Smale
58' Penalty Wallabies!
Oh I thought the Springboks had won that there, Tom Wright took a superb high ball (and was then clobbered by Siya Kolisi in the head as he fell).
White had to wait for the ball to be presented and the big boys of the Springbok pack nearly won the ball.
However, it's a Wallabies penalty and a kick to touch.
