Australia’s Drew Mitchell (R) breaks past South Africa’s JP Pietersen to score a try only to be denied by the TMO. Photo: Reuters

The Wallabies, the masters of ruining green and golden opportunities, uncovered another way to lose the unlosable Test on the highveld on Saturday night.

Rugby Heaven – Greg Growden

They were sitting pretty, ahead 21-7 and within sight of ending a 47-year-old hoodoo which has involved regular bashings by the Springboks at altitude. Then they lost their heads.

Had the Wallabies shown composure, maintained some semblance of a defensive line, kept their set-pieces intact and used their chances wisely, one of the great Australian victories – and a first win at Loftus Versfeld – was in the offing.

But no. Yet again the Wallabies’ structure was shown to be flimsy, and their lack of experience in knowing how to put away an opponent led to the most exasperating of defeats. The best opportunity in years to beat the Springboks deep in their heartland, and on such an emotional day as South African second-rower Victor Matfield’s 100th Test appearance, was wasted.

Did the Wallabies choke? Sure. Did they implode? Sure. Are they improving? How can you tell? They can’t put together an 80-minute performance, and as soon as the storm clouds start to build, they fall into their bad habits.

The Wallabies are like a faulty engine. They cough and splutter, stalling at times, then accelerate out of control when you least expect it. It is a madcap, dangerous ride in which you often don’t reach your destination.

But what is particularly frustrating about this whiplash of a trip is that the Wallabies have no idea how to defend a lead. So often in recent years they have failed to take advantage when on top of an opponent. They score, and appear to immediately slacken off.

It was the old routine at Loftus when, just two minutes after the Wallabies had taken a 14-0 lead, Springboks flanker Juan Smith was almost led to the line when a giant hole emerged in the visitors’ defence.

The Wallabies scored again to go 14 points ahead of the Springboks, but within minutes their standards slipped a second time when their lineout defence was so shoddy that South African prop Gurthro Steenkamp ambled through the middle to tighten the gap. But Australia also didn’t help themselves at important moments when one-time strengths of their game let them down. The Wallabies’ lineout work, one of their most potent assets a few seasons ago, was at times diabolical, especially in the 70th minute, when they were handed a marvellous chance to regain the lead.

The Australians positioned themselves for a lineout throw 10 metres from the Springboks line, and provided hooker Saia Faingaa and his jumpers worked as one, they were in the ideal part of the field to strike. Like the All Blacks the week before, here was the moment to bound over the top of the South Africans and win the Test.

Alas, the throw was astray, the Springboks won possession and worked their way out of danger. There were three other occasions when the Australian lineout bombed – which makes it imperative that Stephen Moore regains the starting hooking spot for this weekend’s Test in Bloemfontein.

Big moments require experienced players, and Moore would have made an impact in those final minutes. Keeping Moore out of the action was a blunder by Australia’s coaching staff, who strangely continue to underutilise their utility back, Berrick Barnes. He was once again not used off the bench, and was another player who might have been handy on the field around full-time.

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers knew he had got away with one, praising the Wallabies for their attacking initiative and for having ”good running lines and a lot of dancers”. ”If they hear music, they can dance,” he said.

But, as far as the Wallabies were concerned, this was a night when the music died.