Taniela Tupou showed his many talents as the Wallabies overcame a lopsided penalty count and another controversial yellow card to beat world champions South Africa for a second-straight weekend.
Australia were clinical early in a 10th-straight win at Suncorp Stadium with a bonus-point 30-17 win, with winger Marika Koroibete and outside centre Len Ikitau both notching doubles.
The victory shot the Wallabies up two spots to a three-year high of third in the world rankings – they were seventh this time last week – while the Springboks could relinquish top spot if New Zealand beat Argentina by at least 15 points in the later game in Brisbane.
Australia’s four tries were the most in a test against the Springboks in 10 years and came in Michael Hooper’s 60th game in charge, the flanker again a constant menace as he broke George Gregan’s record as most-capped skipper.
The win came despite a 17-9 penalty count in South Africa’s favour and moment of near-calamity as backrower Lachie Swinton narrowly avoided a second red card of his young career.
Referee Luke Pearce had all but sent off Swinton before reconsidering and downgrading to a yellow card for his high contact on Duane Vermeulen late in the first half.
The near 40,000-strong crowd still saw red despite Pearce rightly determining, after much deliberation, Swinton’s shoulder-to-shoulder contact came slightly before the pair clashed heads.
Prop Tupou was monumental in a 78-minute shift after getting a chance to start, two big runs setting up first-half tries and then a deft no-look pass on the run to Koroibete in the second half creating a third.
Fullback Tom Banks was also in fine form before copping a knock in a tackle and suffering a suspected broken arm.
The Wallabies led 15-6 but constant Handre Pollard penalty kicks – and a Am Lukanyo try after the break – saw the visitors edge ahead 18-17. Quade Cooper steadied the hosts with a penalty before two expansive tries to Koroibete shot them clear.
They then repelled 10 minutes of Springboks attack on their own line to seal one of the most impressive performances under second-year coach Dave Rennie.
The bonus point victory keeps Australia’s faint Rugby Championship hopes alive ahead of back-to-back tests against Argentina in the next fortnight.
