A Kurtley Beale penalty goal on the final siren has seen the Wallabies overcome another calamitous second-half collapse to secure a historic 41-39 victory over the Springboks at Vodacom Park on Sunday morning (AEST).
With no time left on the game clock, the long-range specialist lined up an ambitious 49m attempt from just inside the touchline with his side trailing by a solitary point.
And despite the best efforts of the raucous home crowd, the 21-year-old former schoolboy prodigy produced the moment of his fledging Test career, firing the ball over the black dot to end the Wallabies' 47-year drought at altitude and reclaim the Mandela Trophy.
Beale's heroics also ensures the Springboks will claim the Tri Nations wooden spoon, with the Wallabies assured of second spot behind runaway leaders New Zealand ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup blockbuster in Sydney.
But it was so nearly another case of what might have been for the Wallabies, who saw a 25-point lead evaporate as the hosts scored 30-unanswered points to take a five-point advantage with 10 minutes to play.
The writing was on the wall for the Wallabies when replacement hooker Saia Faingaa was sent to the sin bin for a spear tackle in the 69th minute, but a try to Drew Mitchell against the run of play saw the visitors reclaim the lead.
Morne Steyn, who kicked a perfect nine-from-nine with the boot, put the home side back in front with his sixth penalty goal on 77 minutes before Beale handed coach Robbie Deans a career-saving victory on his 51st birthday.
It was a dream start for the Wallabies who scored four unanswered tries in the opening 24 minutes to open up a 31-6 lead.
After Matt Giteau and Steyn traded early penalty goals the Wallabies silenced the home crowd in the eighth minute when Beale crossed for his fourth Test try.
A sublime cut-out pass from Quade Cooper put Adam Ashley-Cooper into space who in turn found O'Connor to deliver the final pass to Beale.
A botched Springboks lineout deep in their own territory led to the next five-pointer as Cooper picked up the loose ball and immediately sent it wide to Ashley-Cooper to deliver the final ball for O'Connor.
The Wallabies were unable to secure the ensuing kick-off and Steyn made them pay with a penalty goal after another breakdown infringement.
But the Wallabies' response was swift and deadly as Stephen Moore (21st minute) and Rocky Elsom (24th) both crossed to leave the 'Boks, who were booed by their home fans, in a deep hole.
Nothing was going right for the Springboks but when Victor Matfield produced a remarkable chip-and-chase to send Jaque Fourie over in the shadows of half-time, the hosts took all the momentum into the break despite trailing 31-13.
Tries the Gurthro Steenkamp and Jean de Villiers after the interval cut the deficit to one point in the 54th minute, and when Steyn landed a penalty on the hour the hosts led 33-31.
The horror show continued for the Wallabies when Faingaa was binned before Beale's right boot saved the day - and several careers.
Wallabies 41
Tries: Beale, O'Connor, Moore, Elsom, Mitchell
Con: Giteau 4, O'Connor
Pen: Giteau, Beale
Springboks 39
Tries: Fourie, Steenkamp, De Villiers,
Cons: Steyn 3,
Pens: Steyn 6,
@ Vodacom Park, 05/09/10.