South Africa 23 Australia 19
Who was to deny them? Certainly the Wallabies had no magic answers as South Africa claimed their second Tri Nations title in Durban, with a lot of passion and just the right amount of precision.
The South Africans, bidding to complete a clean sweep of home victories in the three-nation competition, scored just two tries to three but got home on the back of Percy Montgomery's accurate kicking boot as they established a 23-7 buffer midway through the second spell and then held on with no little discomfort.
The South Africans had to survive two late yellow cards and a George Smith try that got the Wallabies within striking distance at the death to win the match and another Tri Nations title.
Kiwi referee Paddy O'Brien sin-binned fullback Percy Montgomery with 11 minutes to go and right wing Breyton Paulse with a minute on the clock, but still there was no denying the fact the home team had this match under control.
Well at least they did after lock Victor Matfield and No 8 Joe van Niekerk hit back with answers to Lote Tuqiri's first-half try that had seen the visitors out to an early 7-0 lead.
The Springboks had reduced the deficit to 3-7 at the end of a tight but dour first half, but struck back upon the restart when Matfield and van Niekerk both crossed to take the Boks out to 20-7 barely a quarter of an hour into the spell.
A further Montgomery penalty made it 23-7 midway through the half, and from then on there was too much for the Wallabies to do, despite a sustained rally over the closing period that saw Stirling Mortlock give the visitors a sniff with a 31st-minute try.
But even though Smith summoned one moment of magic near the end, it was not to be for a Wallabies side that had been out-hustled up front and had largely relied on its swift back attack that met a wall of green jerseys.
Clearly the South Africans had wanted this match the most, and had subsequently been rewarded for that endeavour with a second Tri Nations title.
Much credit must go to coach Jake White and skipper John Smit for the manner in which they have led this turn-around in Springbok rugby.
These two leaders have set the tone and after the decider in Durban it was hard to escape the reality that the rest of the Boks troops had fallen nicely into line to reward their country with another title.
There will be more emphatic days for South African sport, but maybe no more decisive. Well done the Springboks.
South Africa: Victor Matfield, Johann van Niekerk tries; Percy Montgomery 3 con, 2 pen.
Australia: Lote Tuqiri, Stirling Mortlock, George Smith tries; Matt Giteau 2 con. Ht: 3-7.
hmmm, the cupboard is looking veeeery bare
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or should that be 
