Unbelievable. Unbearable.

Kurtley Beale's astonishing penalty goal on fulltime not only won the Wallabies the Test match against the Springboks and the Nelson Mandela Plate, but likely saved Australian rugby from tumbling into a pit of despair so deep, so dark, it's difficult to imagine how the game would have recovered.

Deservedly, the Australians celebrated with gusto as Beale's attempt, 55 metres on the angle, sailed through the posts to give them a bizarre 41-39 win, but the same questions that would have been asked had that kick gone wide, need to be posed in victory, their first at altitude in South Africa since 1963.

Just how did the Wallabies for the second week running manage to butcher an enormous lead against a one-dimensional, though experienced and committed opponent?

From 31-6 up in the 38th minute to handing the Springboks a 33-31 lead just 22 minutes later in the game. If they were racehorses, you would be swabbing them. All of them.

And as that fantastic kick from Beale launched into the high veld atmosphere of Bloemfontein how many of the Australian coaching staff and players were riding it like it was their absolute, last chance for redemption?

As for Saia Faingaa, the bustling replacement hooker whose stupid, dangerous tackle bought him a yellow card, presented the Springboks with a late 36-31 advantage and forced his teammates to play most of the final 10 minutes with 14 men -- perhaps he should go out and get Beale a gift and a card saying "thanks for saving my career" after he gives himself an enormous uppercut.

The Wallabies' utter brilliance in the first half and their second term implosion made for a game of immense tension and drama. It will go into the annals as one of the most wondrous matches between the two nations and quite possibly the result will have implications not only for Australia's Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday, but for the Wallabies' chances of fulfilling their potential at next year's World Cup.

On the other hand, the fallout for South Africa should be gruesome. If Peter de Villiers holds on to his coaching position, he is surely blessed. The Springboks finished at the tale of the Tri Nations table, but more tellingly only really played a total of about an hour of winning rugby through six Tri Nations matches.

They dominated meaningful possession in Bloemfontein, making just 70 tackles to Australia's 150: were gifted a tight head and silly turnovers and won the penalty count 12-8 but could still only manage three tries to the Wallabies' five.

Australia's coach Robbie Deans, meanwhile, should have a word to Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill about boosting his health insurance coverage, because enduring games such as that two weeks in a row surely cannot be healthy.

Four fabulous tries were the foundation for a 31-6 lead after just 25 minutes, a mirror of last week's first quarter annihilation of the Boks in Pretoria, but so fragile is the psyche of this young Wallabies outfit it was hard not to think the worse as they let the Boks scored a try to get back into the game a minute before the break.

Understandably, Deans looked aghast as his charges dropped ball, missed tackles, gave away penalties and generally attempted to commit rugby suicide after trotting back onto the field having taken a 31-13 lead into half time.

Fortunately, Deans this week made judicious use of his bench in the second half. As the Australians threatened to completely derail, fresh legs came on to at least break the cycle of self destruction.

Special mention should be made of Luke Burgess's cameo. It was the much-maligned replacement scrum half's smart thinking to take a quick tap which set up the play to send Drew Mitchell over for a converted try and give Australia a shortlived lead in the 72nd minute. (Another couple of candidates there for gifts from Faingaa).

David Pocock was again an enormous presence for Australia, scavenging and tackling like a man possessed and captain Rocky Elsom was back to his destructive best.

Quade Cooper conducted the orchestra beautifully in the first term but things got difficult when the Boks had a mountain of possession in the second half and targeted their attack at his channel.

Stephen Moore and Mitchell won't forget their respective 50th Tests, both shining at times, but it was Beale who should preserve the video of this one to show the grandkids.

How fitting it was that the young New South Welshman, in all his flawed glory, was the man who got to decide the fate of this hot and cold Australian team?

With Australia clinging to a slender lead in the dying minutes, Beale slipped as Cooper unloaded a long pass to him. The ball thudded into the off-balance fullback's head and into the arms of the enemy. In the ensuing play the Boks won a penalty which Morne Steyn (nine from nine) slotted to give South Africa what was surely a match-deciding one- point advantage.

But with 40 seconds left and the Boks trying to kill off the game by keeping possession in tight, replacement forward Flip van der Merwe collapsed in a heap over the Boks' ruck ball prompting referee Wayne Barnes to award the Wallabies the penalty. (Mr Faingaa might consider a special gift for van der Merwe who was also the player he tackled illegally).

Beale, Australia's player of the match having scored their first try and bringing zeal to the Wallabies' backline play, walked up and grabbed the ball for the kick. So brilliantly erratic he is at times, it was even money whether he would shank the thing and leave it 15 metres short or coolly launch it as he did -- the ball carrying 10 metres further than it needed to, handing the Bloemfontein crowd a rare South African loss there.

Now for the All Blacks. Sure, they'll start favourites to take their 10th straight victory over Australia, but how much more calamitous would the Wallabies' situation be if they hadn't managed one of the great wins of recent years against the current world champions?