Springboks 53 Australia 8: Happy Now South Africa?

It was one heck of a performance on Saturday by the world champions South Africa. They rallied from there previous poor 19-0 home defeat to Australia to hammer the Wallabies, 53-8.

The Wallabies may have had one eye on their Tri Nations decider with New Zealand, but there can be no excuse for such a dismal showing.

South Africa, on the other hand, proved they are still well and truly world beaters.

Maybe now the South African public and the rugby hierarchy will get off Pete De Villiers' back. The Springbok coach has been hit from pillar to post since his controversial appointment, not only by the questioning public but by his so-called employers.

De Villiers has had his ups and downs since taking over the reigns and it's a disgrace that his employers take the credit for transformation when South Africa win and hang their chosen coach out to dry when they lose.

I'm really glad Victor Matfeild has come out in support for the team management.

This result proves the potential of South African rugby and with the resources available there is simply no excuse for the Springboks not to be the best in the world.

Sadly, that future won't contain Percy Montgomery, who has retired from international rugby after 102 games for the Springboks. The versatile back and veteran goal kicker scored 893 international points in a career that spanned 11 years.

Luckily, the end of one era always leads to the beginning of another, and that era may well belong to Jongi Nokwe.

The winger scored four tries against Australia to set a Tri Nations record. It could have been even better, but Nokwe injured himself touching down for his fourth and was unable to continue. Not a bad 24 minutes work!

Australia will now have to pick themselves up for the title decider in Brisbane against the All Blacks, and after this result I'd be putting my money on New Zealand.

South Africa may have finished bottom of the table, but they've finished the competition on a real high and I can only hope they suffer another severe blip when they run out at Murrayfield in November to face my beloved Scotland.