Flatley (left) produced a faultless kicking display

Australia produced a determined performance in Brisbane to convincingly beat South Africa and end their losing streak.

The home side never looked like losing a fourth successive match from the moment Mat Rogers ran over for a try at the start of the second half.

Centre Elton Flatley produced a faultless kicking display for the Wallabies and Phil Waugh, who was outstanding at openside, grabbed a late try as the home side ran out resounding winners.

The only downside for the Wallabies was the sight of number eight Toutai Kefu being stretchered off near the end following a high tackle.

Kefu injury mars win

The first-half was closely contested, with Flatley and Louis Koen trading penalties to leave the score locked at 6-6 on the cusp of half-time.

The game was full of free-flowing rugby but the sides lacked the imagination and incision required to score a try.

Match facts Australia 29 Tries: Rogers, Waugh Cons: Flatley (2) Pens: Flatley (5) South Africa 9 Pens: Koen (3) The match as it happened

Australia then had an excellent chance to go into the interval in the lead when South African hooker Danie Coetzee was yellow-carded for tackling the man without the ball.

Yet Wallaby skipper George Gregan surprisingly opted for a scrum rather than a straightforward kick, even though there was only a minute left on the clock.

And he was left to rue the decision as the Springbok defence held out before eventually clearing the ball.

Australia made a perfect start to the second-half though.

Koen threw a long pass which missed its target and a grateful Rogers intercepted, running in unchallenged under the posts from 30 metres out.

The home side never looked like losing a fourth straight game from then on.

Springbok coach Rudi Straueli brought on Joost van der Westhuizen in a late attempt to turn the match, but the veteran scrum-half had a limited impact.

When Robbie Kempson was sin-binned for slowing down play in the 68th minute the game was over as a contest.

And man-of-the-match Waugh scored a richly deserved try by finishing off a slick backline move at the end of the game

Australia: Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Elton Flatley, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain); Toutai Kefu, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Daniel Vickerman, David Giffin, Patricio Noriega, Brendan Cannon, Bill Young.

Reserves: Jeremy Paul, Glenn Panoho, Nathan Sharpe, Owen Finegan, Chris Whitaker, Matt Giteau, Matthew Burke.

South Africa: Andre Pretorius, Stefan Terblanche, Jorrie Muller, De Wet Barry, Ashwin Willemse, Louis Koen, Craig Davidson, Juan Smith, Joe van Niekerk, Corne Krige (captain), Victor Matfield, Selborne Boome, Richard Bands, Danie Coetzee, Robbie Kempson.

Reserves: Dale Santon, Lawrence Sephaka, Bakkies Botha, Wikus van Heerden, Joost van der Westhuizen, Gcobani Bobo, Brent Russell.