Robbie Deans was happy with his Wallaby side's gutsy performance © Getty Images

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Match Pack: Wallabies cruise past deflated Boks

Matches: South Africa 15 - 27 Australia

Players/Officials: Stirling Mortlock

Australia coach Robbie Deans was a happy man following his side's 27-15 victory over the Springboks in Durban but refused to get carried away with the Wallabies' first win on South African soil since 2000.

"You've got to be happy with that," he said following the Durban success. "The performance was by no means error-free, but it was never going to be with South Africa such a desperate team.

"If you look at the intensity of the game, we did what had to be done but we did it the hard way. Today I am pleased.

"We let them in towards the end somewhat softly but in any event we were up against a side which is capable," he said.

"Most importantly we were patient in the way we met their physicality."

Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock, who scored a notable solo try to seal the win, was proud of his side, saying, "I've been here many times and we have fallen short and I am very impressed with this group's performance, especially because it is some of the guys' first times in South Africa.

"Today, all 20 guys showed spirit and determination and played their hearts out."

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers was left to pick through the pieces of his side's fourth defeat in five matches in this year's Tri-Nations.

As a result his side were booed off the field in Durban.

"It was not nice being out there, especially after I felt we had the firepower to win the game and the opportunities," De Villiers said.

"If we maybe took some of our chances in the first half we would not have found ourselves in this situation.

"The fans have the right to be unhappy. South Africa are a proud nation. They want to be winners and want to back a winning side. We will never go out and lose a game on purpose.

"We have a new playing style that we are trying put out there and Rome wasn't built in a day. We ask that they be more patient on the time they give us to come to grips with what we want to do."

His skipper Victor Matfield added, "It's understandable that people are booing us.

"We are the world champions and we have lost two in a row at home. I can tell people that if you look in our changing room we are definitely feeling worse than those in the stands.

"But it is unacceptable. This is our job, our work, our passion and our lives. It is never acceptable."