9 Sep 2012

Australia come back to edge Springboks in Perth

8:16 am on 9 September 2012

Australia got their Rugby Championship campaign back on track with a scrappy 26-19 victory over South Africa in Perth on Saturday, coming back from a first half deficit to register a fifth successive win over the Springboks.

Back-to-back losses to the All Blacks in their first two matches of the inaugural competition had made this a must-win test for the Wallabies and their coach Robbie Deans.

After a poor first half where they fell behind to Springbok winger Bryan Habana's 42nd test try to trail 13-6, scores from forwards Scott Higginbotham and Ben Alexander and a perfect kicking display from Berrick Barnes just about got them across the line.

South Africa, who drew 16-16 with Argentina in their last outing, were still knocking at the door looking for a converted try to tie the match at the end of the match but will rue a lack of a spark in their backline.