The Wallabies have missed a golden opportunity to put one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy, brutalised 24-8 by South Africa in the first international sporting event at Sydney's new Allianz Stadium.
Instead of moving a win clear at the top of the table after New Zealand's 53-3 smashing of Argentina earlier on Saturday, the title is now anyone's after the Springboks turned in a flawless display highlighted by a dazzling debut try for 19-year-old winger Canan Moodie.
They'll now head into their two-Test Bledisloe Cup series with all four sides on 2-2 records after four games, the All Blacks topping the charts having netted two bonus point wins.
In fact, all four completed two-game series to date have ended 1-1, despite being played in one country rather than home and away, in what has quickly become a topsy-turvy Championship.
Coming off a strong win over the world champion Springboks a week ago in Adelaide, the Wallabies again failed to back up victory with another solid display, still yet to win back-to-back games this season.
They were down early as the Springboks capped a dominant opening nine minutes, Damian de Allende scoring under the posts with the damage doubled due to Wallabies lock Matt Philip's sin-binning for a cynical foul.
But the Springboks saved the big celebrations for Moodie's first Test try after he soared above Marika Koroibete to pluck a towering Jaden Hendrikse box kick and race away to score, putting his side 12-3 clear in the shadows of half-time.
The onslaught continued the other side of the break as Franco Mostert finished a sweeping team move, while winger Makazola Mapimpi completed the damage when he scored on 72 minutes.
The Wallabies' only points came via a first-half penalty and a late consolation try for Pete Samu.
Stung by their loss in Adelaide, the Boks were brutal early and forced four penalties in the first 12 minutes, also controlling two-thirds of possession in the first half as the Wallabies struggled to find their footing.
The visitors were in charge of the contest throughout and comfortably won the collision, with captain Siya Kolisi and prop Frans Malherbe among the stars.
Injury blows didn't help Australia, losing centre Hunter Paisami and five-eighth Noah Lolesio to head knocks, while impact bench prop Taniela Tupou never entered the fray after a calf injury sustained while warming up.
The fiery affair saw a number of skirmishes, the biggest a huge scrap after Mapimpi's try with Springbok Eben Etzebeth and Wallaby Allan Alaalatoa among those going head-to-head.
Mapimpi was sin-binned for his role in pushing Koroibete after he scored, in what appeared to be a degree of revenge after the Wallaby winger smashed him over the sideline with a monster hit as he attempted to score in the Adelaide Test.
The Wallabies are back in action on September 15 when they'll begin their quest for a first Bledisloe Cup win since 2002.
