Tri-Nations Series/ South Africa 22 Australia 19:Australia captain Stirling Mortlock said the Wallabies had shown they would be a force at this year's World Cup despite a last-minute 22-19 loss to South Africa in the Tri-Nations at Cape Town on Saturday.
The Wallabies were given little hope of beating the in-form South Africans on their own soil but led for most of the match until being snuffed out by two brilliantly executed drop goals from the Springboks replacement Frans Steyn.
The defeat continued Australia's seven-year run of losses in South Africa as well as bringing back painful memories of their last-gasp loss to England in the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney, when Jonny Wilkinson broke the deadlock with a drop goal in the final minute of extra time.
"To get so close but not get there, obviously everyone is down," Mortlock said but added there were still plenty of positives to take from the opening match of the Tri-Nations.
The Australians defended bravely against wave after wave of South African attack, and the much-maligned Wallaby scrum stood up well against the Springbok pack.
"Everyone's very disappointed, but there are some hallmarks of our game that are very pleasing and positive moving forward in the Tri-Nations and then looking on to the World Cup later in the year," Mortlock said.
"There's certain areas in our game that we will look to improve upon and we'll regroup and look forward to playing the All Blacks down in Melbourne in two weeks' time."
Wing Steyn came on in place of Ashwin Willemse in the 60th minute, and landed the first of his drop kicks from 45 metres on a tight angle with six minutes to go. His second was directly in front of the uprights with two minutes on the clock to play.
"The kicks just happened," Steyn told reporters. "The Lord moves me around like a pawn and I don't know where I'm going to end up next."
Australia have now failed to win in South Africa since 2000.
Both sides scored one try, and Wallaby centre Mortlock scoring 14 points from four penalties and a conversion.
Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery scored 11 points from three penalties and a conversion.
Despite the close scoreline the home team enjoyed the bulk of possession and territory and it was the brilliant defence of the visitors that kept them in the game, Australia making 137 tackles to South Africa's 52.
The Wallabies withstood a tremendous Springbok onslaught in the opening 20 minutes, surviving on committed and organised defence.
They did concede a try when centre Jaque Fourie squeezed into the corner in the 14th minute, but that was all the Springboks had to show for their early superiority.
Australia continued to repel the pressure before mounting a stunning counterattack, which earned 13 points in an eight-minute period.
Mortlock slotted a second penalty in the 28th minute and three minutes later centre Matt Giteau was on hand to complete Australia's best move of the game by scoring close to the uprights.
Mortlock praised his team's defensive effort but said they were powerless to stop Steyn's winning kicks.
"He's shown us in the Super 14 he can land field goals from anywhere," he said.
"I've never been involved in a more determined and committed defensive effort than we put in today."
SOUTH AFRICA: Montgomery; Willemse, Fourie, de Villiers, Pietersen; James, Pienaar; Steenkamp, Smit, B Botha; B Botha, Matfield; Burger, Smith, Spies. Replacements: G Botha, van der Linde, Muller, Rossouw, Claassens, Olivier, Steyn.
AUSTRALIA: Huxley; Mitchell, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri; Larkham, Gregan; Dunning, Moore, Shepherdson; Sharpe, Vickerman; Elsom, Smith, Palu. Replacements: Freier, Baxter, Chisholm, Hoiles, Waugh, Ashley-Cooper, Gerrard.
Referee: W Barnes(RFU).
