The David Knox factor had the desired effect of reminding Australia how to play adventurous football, prompting a morale-boosting and resounding 32-20 victory over South Africa at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
The Australian selectors' brave move to call for Knox to return from Durban, to replace the injured Tim Horan at out-half worked, as the Wallabies were a transformed side, playing with the attacking zeal which made them a world force in the early 1990s.
However, with the return of a playmaker, Australia discovered that by changing its attacking options, and properly using two excellent wingers - Joe Roff and Ben Tune, a team can perform at the pace it wants, rather than having to play catch-up football. Knox was the difference.
However the most compelling question being asked was how did South Africa get so close to the all-conquering All Blacks in Johannesburg recently.
In the interim, their standards have dropped alarmingly. This is definitely not one of the great South African teams, as their level of defence was extremely poor.
They were forced to think and re-gather, unlike earlier in the season, where New Zealand would simply sit in a straight-line defensive formation and wait for Australia to aimlessly run the ball back in towards their forwards.
South Africa now travel to Auckland to play the All Blacks next Saturday. South African scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen still believes his team knows how to win. Tackling an opponent would help.
Scorers: Australia - Tries: Tune 2, Larkham, Manu. Conversions: Knox 3. Penalties: Knox 2. South Africa - Tries: Du Randt, Andrews, De Beer. Conversion: De Beer. Penalty: De Beer.
Australia: S Larkham; B Tune, J Little, J Holbeck, J Roff; D Knox, G Gregan; R Harry, M Foley, A Heath, O Finegan, J Eales (capt), M Cockbain, D Wilson, D Manu. Replacements: T Coker for Manu (56 mins), B Robinson for Cockbain (58 mins), A Blades for Heath (73 mins). SOUTH AFRIMontgomery, D van Schalkwyk, O Rossouw; J de Beer, J van der Westhuizen; O du Randt, K Otto, N Drotske, D Theron, M Andrews, R Kruger, A Venter, G Teichmann (capt). Replace- ments: A Garvey for du Randt (61 mins).
Referee: C Hall (NZ).
