Wallaby match-winner Kurtley Beale said he didn't know until the last moment that he was going to take the penalty kick which clinched a 41-39 Tri- Nations win over South Africa.

"I didn't know who was supposed to take the kick," he said. "I was busy looking for Gits (Matt Giteau), but he'd left the field."

Then he wondered whether he or flyhalf Quade Cooper would be entrusted with what would the last kick of the match, from near the right touchline and just inside the South African half.

But when skipper Rocky Elsom told him to tee it up he said he was determined to succeed, especially as, because by his own admission, he had made some errors at fullback as the Springboks stormed back from a 31-6 deficit to take the lead.

"When I stepped up to take that final kick, I knew I couldn't let the boys down," said Beale.

"The guys wanted me to take the kick and I knew I had to stick to the process and not worry about the crowd. It's definitely a career highlight. To win a match for the Wallabies, it doesn't get better."

Coach Robbie Deans said it was an important win for the Wallabies.

"It was a remarkable game of rugby - both the last two games have been. It's great for the paying spectators. We are delighted to have got home in the end. It took a lot of resilience from the boys and it will serve us well going forward." - Reuters

• Wallaby hooker Saia Fainga'a has been suspended for two weeks for a dangerous tackle on Springbok Flip van der Merwe during Australia's 41-39 win over South Africa. Fainga'a was cited by match commissioner Steve Hinds for tipping Van der Merwe in the 69th minute of the match.