JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South Africa scored eight tries in their 53-8 win over Australia in a Tri-Nations match here Saturday.

The world champions turned around three successive defeats in the competition to end on a high at the ground where they won the World Cup for the first time in 1995.

Australia, who are still in with a chance of winning this year's Tri-Nations title as they have a game to play against New Zealand on September 13 in Brisbane, have not won at the old Ellis Park since 1963.

It was a much-needed win for the Boks, whose coach Peter de Villiers, had to endure harsh criticism in the last fortnight for his team's lackluster performances.

The players, too, have been criticized for the recent losses to New Zealand (19-0) and Australia (27-15 in Durban last week).

"It's been a tough few weeks for us," said Bok skipper Victor Matfield.

"But we went out there and showed our character and the kind of talent we have in this team. We believed in ourselves today and it showed on the field."

Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock said the defeat was particularly disappointing after the high of winning in Durban a week earlier.

"Hats off to the Boks. They came out all guns blazing and well done to them."

Left winger Jongi Nokwe was just one of a number of stars in the Bok side. He scored four tries in just his third match for the Boks.

While the visitors were first on the board in the sixth minute through a Matt Giteau penalty, the whole first stanza belonged solely to the home side.

The hosts ran in four splendid tries, three by winger Nokwe and one by towering lock Andries Bekker.

Bekker found his way through the defences in the 10th minute after taking a wonderfully-timed pass from fullback Conrad Jantjes, who started the counter-attack by hoisting an up-and-under on the Wallabies and winning the ball back in the air.

Flyhalf Butch James converted the try to put the Boks into a 7-3 lead. Just three minutes later Nokwe got the first of his tries when he went over in the left corner after No 8 Pierre Spies had picked up at the base and broke through the first line of defence.

Then on 26 minutes, Nokwe got his second after his pack had won a tighthead at scrum-time. The ball was shifted wide and the winger had the easiest of run-ins for the try. James then added three points with a penalty before Nokwe sealed an outstanding first half for the Boks with his third try.

Australia though could have scored early on after Victor Matfield had failed to win a ball in a lineout just 10 metres out from the Boks' line.

The throw in by Bismarck du Plessis went straight into the hands of James Horwill, but he stopped just short of the line and, after a few more lunges at the line by his teammates, the Wallabies eventually turned the ball over.

Winger Lote Tuqiri also bungled a golden chance after 15 minutes when he failed to control a pass on the left touchline with no defenders in front of him. The Boks kept up their assault on the Australian defence from the off in the second period and quickly added two further tries to their score.

First centre Adrian Jacobs cut through the Australian midfield after collecting a pass from Jean de Villiers and then he stepped beautifully to beat Peter Hynes to score the Boks' fifth five-pointer.

Left winger Nokwe then wrapped up his afternoon's work with his fourth try when he went looking for work on the right side of the field, took an inside pass from winger Odwa Ndungane and scored to put the Boks 39-3 up. Nokwe left the field shortly afterwards with an injury.

The Wallabies pulled a try back before 60 minutes were up; replacement Drew Mitchell going over in the left corner.

The Boks though finished in style, scoring tries number seven and eight by replacement Ruan Pienaar and Odwa Ndungane.

South Africa will now turn their attention to the end of year tour to Europe, while Australia have one final match to contemplate, in Brisbane, against the All Blacks in what is now a title-decider.