Australia reached their second World Cup final with a tension-filled 27-21 victory after extra-time over holders South Africa in a try-less epic at Twickenham.
A long-range Stephen Larkham drop goal -- the first of his Test career -- and Matt Burke's eighth succcessful penalty in the second period of extra-time handed South Africa their first ever World Cup defeat.
The Springboks had earlier forced the extra 20 minutes when fly-half Jannie de Beer levelled the scores at 18-18 with a penalty in the sixth-minute of time added on at the end of the second half.
De Beer, who had kicked England to death with five drop goals in the quarter-finals, missed four drop goal attempts out of five this time.
Australia, the 1991 winners who came closest to scoring when scrum-half George Gregan had a touchdown disallowed, will face either New Zealand or France in the final next Saturday at Cardiff. It was only their 14th win in 45 meetings with the Springboks.
De Beer tried his luck twice in the first 20 minutes but failed to hit the mark, and he also missed an early penalty attempt despite having a swirling wind largely in his favour.
Australia played most of the adventurous rugby of the opening period and after an early miss with a penalty and drop goal attempt, full-back Burke found his range twice to give the Wallabies a 6-0 lead.
Wallaby fly-half Larkham managed to run off an early knee knock and helped direct Australia's impressive backline in which Tim Horan, showing no signs of the stomach upset which had threatened his place in the team, and Burke both raided effectively. Normal service was resumed when de Beer slotted from 40 metres to get South Africa on the scoresheet and halve the deficit but Burke replied in kind immediately. Another de Beer penalty just before the interval looked to have put the gradually improving Springboks in touch at 6-9 down. But in injury time Burke was again on target and the teams headed to the dressing-room with Australia 12-6 up.
De Beer had a third drop goal effort charged down at the start of the second half but earned a reprieve when Australia's Ben Tune was penalised for squaring up to Rassie Erasmus. The South Africa fly-half hit his penalty true to make it 12-9.
Australia's hopes suffered a further blow when Burke missed from the halfway line soon after and then De Beer tried his fourth drop goal of the match and this time the ball sailed between the uprights.
At 12-12 South Africa were level for the first time since the 13th minute and as the skies over south-west London darkened they suddenly began to exert some real pressure on Australia.
De Beer missed his fourth drop goal attempt as the final quarter approached and the crowd, impatient for tries, roundly booed the Springbok stand-off.
It wasn't pretty but it was effective and Australia were rattled and South Africa centre Robbie Fleck twice breached the game line with strong surges to show his side could also attack from the backs. A bent Naka Drotske throw gave Australia relief and Burke's fifth penalty gave the them the edge once more at 15-12.
The Wallabies poured onto the attack and after a breathless series of charges foundered on the rock-like Springbok defence Gregan, scorer of two tries in the quarter-final win over Wales, looked to have gone over in the corner.
Australia celebrated but Welsh referee Derek Bevan awarded South Africa a penalty instead, apparently for a double movement. Soon after though Horan broke again and South Africa were offside, allowing Burke to slot another penalty to give Australia a six-point lead with five minutes left.
It seemed all over but with a minute to go de Beer gave South Africa hope with another penalty. Australia still looked safe but, incredibly, in the sixth minute of time added on, repleacment Owen Finegan infringed and from 35 metres de Beer nervelessly slotted his fifth penalty to force extra-time.
When the players returned from the dressing-rooms Australia looked dazed, conceding a penalty in front of their posts inside three minutes.
De Beer potted it and for the first time South Africa led, 21-18 but the Springbok hero was quickly hit by a Gregan pass and Burke levelled from the resulting penalty to Australia.
The tension was touchable as half-time in extra-time arrived with the deadlock unbroken.
Larkham, who prides himself on running not kicking, decided the contest by taking leaf out of de Beer's book as he spiralled a sensational 50-metre drop goal between the posts after 93 minutes. It was his first drop goal in international rugby.
Burke's eight successful penalty out of 10 three minutes later sealed a sensational Wallaby victory three minutes later and this time South Africa had no response.
The teams:
Australia: 1 Andrew Blades, 2 Michael Foley, 3 Richard Harry, 4 John Eales (c), 5 David Giffin, 6 Matt Cockbain, 7 David Wilson, 8 Toutai Kefu, 9 George Gregan, 10 Steve Larkham, 11 Joe Roff, 12 Dan Herbert, 13 Tim Horan, 14 Ben Tune, 15 Matthew Burke
Reserves: Mark Connors, Owen Finegan, Nathan Grey, Jason Little, Unused Rod Moore, Jeremy Paul, Chris Whitaker
South Africa: 1 Os Du Randt, 2 Naka Drotske, 3 Cobus Visagie, 4 Mark Andrews, 5 Krynauw Otto, 6 Johan Erasmus, 7 Andre Venter, 8 Bobby Skinstad, 9 Joost Van Der Westhuizen (c), 10 Jannie De Beer, 11 Deon Kayser, 12 Robbie Fleck, 13 Pieter Muller, 14 Pieter Rossouw, 15 Percy Montgomery
Reserves: Henry Honiball, Ollie Le Roux, Stefan Terblanche, Albert Van Den Bergh, Andre Vos
Unused: Chris Rossouw, Werner Swanepoel
Attendance: 73000
Referee: Bevan d
Points Scorers:
Australia
Pen K.: Burke M.C. 8
Drop G.: Larkham S.J. 1
South Africa
Pen K.: De Beer J.H. 6
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