The Wallabies have delivered their best performance since the 2003 World Cup semi-final, obliterating South Africa by a record 49-0 at Suncorp Stadium.

Australia scored six tries to nil as John Connolly's men handed the Springboks their worst ever defeat between the two sides.

It was only the second time in South Africa's proud 100-year rugby history that its Test side has been held scoreless and its second biggest loss. Centre Matt Giteau made hero's return to the Wallabies starting side with a two-try man-of-the-match performance in front of a crowd of 45,978.

Australia's biggest-ever win in 11 seasons of Tri-Nations contests was a perfect way to end its six-match losing streak in the tournament, dating back to 2004, and bounce back from last weekend's 32-12 loss to New Zealand in Christchurch.

Not since a state of emergency was declared in 1971 due to anti-apartheid protests had a South African side enjoyed Test match success in Brisbane.

`Boks coach Jake White would have loved to have called for a state of emergency as the Wallabies rattled up three converted tries and a 30-0 lead after a nightmare first half.

The final score could have been worse for the visitors with replacement halfback Fourie du Preez holding up Sam Cordingley and Nathan Sharpe over the line, Sharpe also denied by the television match official and Chris Latham bombing another.

The Wallabies backs carved up the Springbok defence at will with five-eighth Stephen Larkham in vintage form and Latham dangerous each time he touched the ball.

Larkham showed an early sign of things to come with a 38m field goal in the sixth minute that brought back memories of his 45m drop kick in the 1999 World Cup semi-final against the Springboks.

But it wasn't just Australia's exciting backline that stood tall, with the home side's forwards outsmarting, and often outmuscling, the Springboks monster pack.

Australia's first try would have made all former Wallabies forwards proud, a perfect 5m driving maul effort to see hooker Jeremy Paul dot down.

Larkham then brought the Brisbane crowd to its feet in the 25th minute by masterminding the best try of the night.

The veteran flyhalf sliced through a gaping hole from a lineout and then made a fool of winger Bryan Habana before George Gregan sent Greg Holmes over for his second Test try.

The bumbling and ill-disciplined Springboks never looked like scoring as they made a litany of elementary errors.

The first-half obliteration allowed John Connolly to replace skipper Gregan and his deputy Dan Vickerman with Cordingley and Mark Chisholm at half-time.

Latham ensured a bonus-point with a crowd-pleasing try after the break before Giteau and Chisholm rubbed further salt into SA wounds.

In the only hint of bad news for Australia, Vickerman will undergo scans for a suspected shoulder injury. White was upset by the refereeing of New Zealander Paul Honiss, claiming the injury-riddled Boks were unduly forced to play catch-up due to dubious early decisions.

But he admitted his players were their own worst enemies, missing 15 tackles and losing the penalty count 13-6.

"There's nothing to say after you lose like that. There's no pretty picture," he said.

"I'm not going to make any excuses for missed tackles and not going to make any excuses for our errors.

"In reality it was a poor performance by everybody in the team." SA skipper John Smit couldn't recall a more painful defeat but also took aim at Honiss. "Everytime we applied pressure we were pinged for offside or a hand was found in the ruck," he said.

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