MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Winning has been South Africa's most effective riposte to accusations of playing a boring brand of rugby but that defence was taken away on Sunday by an Australian team with a similar game plan.

After two easy wins over Argentina, the world champions were stunned 28-26 by the Wallabies on the Gold Coast despite welcoming back key reinforcements in number eight Duane Vermeulen and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk from injury.