Australia captain George Gregan admitted the manner of his side's epic 30-26 win over South Africa made his 100th Test "a really special night." "The challenge was to try and stay focused and try and help the team's performance," Gregan said.
"I felt I was able to do that but I was very aware of the magnitude of the moment out there.
"It's great to enjoy the milestone when everyone has worked as hard as they did because South Africa made us work."
Gregan felt the key to victory was how his men came back from 16-7 down in the first half.
"The last 20 minutes of the first half was really good," he said. "We were playing our style of football, attacking and finding our rhythm.
 |  What hurts the most is seeing that bloody number 14 diving over in the corner |
"We tried to do that more consistently in the second half and I think we did it better but we still have some improvement to do." Wallabies coach Eddie Jones admitted to "more a feeling of relief than elation" afterwards.
"For us to get a bonus point in this game is a real result for us - it puts us in a good position," he added.
South Africa had to settle for a second successive bonus point after another defeat within seven points.
Coach Jake White, who tried to lure his former Under-21 captain Clyde Rathbone back to South Africa earlier this year, admitted watching him score the winning try made the pain of defeat even greater.
| TRI-NATIONS STANDINGS 1: New Zealand W 2 L 0 Pts 8 2: Australia W 1 L 1 Pts 5 3: South Africa W 0 L 2 Pts 2 |
Rathbone, whose father is an Australian citizen, switched allegiances two years ago after helping South Africa win the Under-21 World Cup. "The thing that hurts the most is seeing that bloody number 14 diving over in the corner to score the match-winning try," White said.
"He almost dives the same as when he was in the under-21s - can you write a script better than that?
"You get an ex-player who dives in the corner and takes the game away from you."
Rathbone insisted he felt no mixed emotions at defeating his old country.
"I have said it before, I consider myself Australian," he said. "There is no question where my loyalties lie.
"I am going to live in Australia for the rest of my life and that's where I consider home."
Despite losing their opening two away matches, South Africa could still remain in contention for the Tri-Nations title if Australia beat New Zealand next Saturday.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
