Rugby: Wallabies snatch win but coach demands more polish

Wallaby Rob Horne, right, celebrates his crucial try against the Springboks. Photo / Getty Images

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has refused to sugarcoat his side's "frustrating" last-gasp victory over the Springboks after several squandered tries made the win tougher than it needed to be.

The Wallabies capitalised on a controversial yellow card to Springboks winger Bryan Habana in his 100th test by piling on 10 late points to record a dramatic 24-23 win in Perth on Saturday.

First five-eighth Bernard Foley kicked the match-winning goal from a 78th minute Rob Horne try to end the Springboks' eight-match winning streak.

The character-redeeming win comes just two weeks after the All Blacks humiliated the Wallabies 51-20 at Eden Park, yet McKenzie is still wanting a more polished performance from his side.

He pointed out the win was made tougher than it needed to be after two certain tries were blown, while several other golden opportunities went begging.

They included Adam Ashley-Cooper knocking on the ball over the line in the first half, while prop Pek Cowan was denied his first test five-pointer after Rob Simmons was penalised for obstruction.

"There were a couple of really good opportunities which we didn't finish off," McKenzie said. "We got over the line a couple of times, it was frustrating not to get the points."

While it was McKenzie's first win as coach over either the Springboks or New Zealand, he lamented that his side handed South Africa the keys to their own jail cell numerous times.

"There were a couple of soft moments where we piggy-backed them out of their territory - we had them down there pinned and let them off the hook," McKenzie said.

"We did all right in the first half against the wind, but in the second half we managed to find different ways to turn the ball over and keep ourselves pinned down.

"We got an outcome today, which is great, but I like to be consistent so we need to win again next week."

McKenzie played down prop James Slipper's early exit from the field ahead of next week's clash against Argentina on the Gold Coast.

"That's just the perils of putting your head in the front row - he's all right, just a bit stiff."

Australia 24
South Africa 23

- AAP