They were on the canvas in Centurion, but now South Africa have swung the hardest in the much-hyped battle of the two best pace attacks in the world.
The victor will be crowned next week, but the Proteas take form into the three-Test series decider in Cape Town given their thumping last-start second Test win was triggered by a reverse-swing rout.
Dale Steyn (4-55 from 20 overs) was the most damaging, but Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel also had the ball zipping around.
It was in sharp contrast to what Australia managed with either the new or old ball in Port Elizabeth, but coach Darren Lehmann was not concerned.
“Not at all, considering we bowled on day one when the pitch was not as course and day three when our bowlers were cooked because we only batted for two sessions,” Lehmann said.
“I knew it would go reverse day four and day five and we didn’t get to day five.
“It’s not an issue. The time we batted first we got the ball going reverse. That’s just the way the game goes.”
Michael Clarke was undone by Steyn in Australia’s embarrassing second-innings collapse and said there were some lessons for his team.
“South Africa showed us how to get the ball reversing, we didn’t get one to reverse in both innings so we can learn from that,” he said.
Proteas captain Graeme Smith noted the introduction of part-time spinners Dean Elgar and JP Duminy helped scuff the ball quickly and allowed for reverse-swing earlier in the match.
Smith was unsure of whether Steyn and his two offsiders would be able to repeat the effort at Newlands.
“It’s always a tough one (to predict),” Smith said.
“End of the season (if) the square’s going to be quite worn you would think maybe reverse-swing was going to be a factor, but when we get to Newlands now it could be looking immaculate.”