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Australia's rugby media has heaped more praise on Wallabies coach Robbie Deans as the countdown begins to the All Blacks' arrival.
"Time to Bok'n'roll - Wallabies in party mood after dethroning world champs," said the back page headline in Sydney's Sun-Herald newspaper after Australia's 16-9 win over South
Africa in Perth.
Its rugby writer Greg Growden said there was no understating the quality of the victory, which continued Deans' unbeaten start to his new job.
"It was wild and dramatic, but in the end the Wallabies were able to enjoy one of their most courageous wins last night over the world champions," Growden wrote.
"The most clinical of defensive performances enabled the Wallabies to stifle the most extravagant of Springbok attacks and win their first Tri-Nations game of the season.
"There were many excellent efforts among the Wallabies, none more than the Australian back row of Rocky Elsom, George Smith and Wycliff Palu, while the effort of five-eighths Matt Giteau and inside-centre Berrick Barnes was exceptional.
"They were fearless and committed, and the reward was a special victory over quality opposition, and the ideal build-up before next weekend's Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney."
The Sunday Telegraph was equally excited, with the headline "Bokbusters" leading its sports liftout.
Its rugby writer Iain Payten said the new direction of the side under Deans was immediately evident.
"In an intense battle that saw both sides exhausted at the final whistle, the Wallabies overcame a brutal Springboks defence in a magnificent performance," Payten wrote.
"Though the Boks were consistently punishing in defence, the expansive mindset rammed home by coach Robbie Deans paid dividends, with tries to Lote Tuqiri and captain Stirling Mortlock on either side of halftime proving the killer blow."
Deans hailed his side's pride and determination to get past the Springboks who were kept tryless.
He was typically understated when asked about the immediate challenge next Saturday when he squares up against Graham Henry's All Blacks.
"I suspect it's going to be very special. There's obviously going to be a lot of interest," he said.
"We'll go back and look at it on Monday. Until then it's going to be a matter of recovery and relax and enjoy the moment because it is a job well done against a side that we have a lot of respect for.
"We'll find opportunities to grow and obviously we've got a different opponent coming next week and one that will have been sitting here watching. They will be looking to pick holes in us so it will be important for us to have an awareness of those needs that we have."
- NZPA, AAP
