By Carl Markham, PA Sport

Australia will meet southern hemisphere neighbours New Zealand in the men's hockey final after they came through a stern examination of their credentials against South Africa.

The Kookaburras enjoyed the vast majority of possession and chances but, strangely for them, were unable to exact the quick kill and victory was not secured until two minutes from time.

It took the defending champions just 11 minutes to open the scoring, Matt Smith driving in a slipped penalty corner for his fifth goal of the tournament.

From that point they dominated the game and saw numerous opportunities go begging as the pressure they created turned into chances but not goals.

The South Africans defended as best they could but it appeared at times as if the Aussies could just run through them at will.

The Springboks' first chance came in the 30th minute from a penalty corner - their first - but goalkeeper Mark Hickman saved well.

However, from their next set-piece seconds later they did much better and Justin King, formerly of Chelmsford and soon to be seen playing for Old Loughtonians, flicked in a low shot.

And Nicol had the chance to snatch a half-time lead from close range, but somehow Hickman pulled the ball back off the line from behind him with his stick.

Just before the interval South Africa lost Gregg Clark to the sin bin for a clumsy foul, but the half ended equal.

The Aussies started the second half as they had the first, winning a penalty corner just 42 seconds after the re-start, but Troy Elder's drag flick crashed off the crossbar and over.

Amazingly, he repeated the feat from a set-piece two minutes later as the Kookaburras' barrage continued.

Defender George then surprised everyone with the goal which put the defending champions back in front.

Having stolen possession just inside his own half with an exquisitely-timed jab tackle, he charged straight down the other end and with Chris Hibbert advancing he claimed the slightest of touches to prod the ball past the keeper.

Australia lost forward Michael McCann to the sin bin for an illegal tackle, but it appeared not to affect their momentum.

South Africa had their chances while their opponents were down to 10 men, but following McCann's return the Aussies clinched victory with a goal from the guilty man two minutes from time.

Jamie Dwyer robbed Wayne Denne outside his own 25-yard line and raced into the circle before unselfishly switching the ball to McCann to net the third.

Bevan George, the scorer of Australia's crucial second goal, admitted he surprised himself to get into a shooting position.

The defender charged 50 yards up the pitch in the second half to nudge one past Springboks keeper Chris Hibbert and help the Kookaburras into the final against New Zealand.

It was a critical strike as the scores were level at 1-1, with Justin King's penalty corner drag flick cancelling out Matt Smith's set-piece opener.

Michael McCann added a third late on but it was George's which was pivotal - especially as Australia had seen a host of chances go begging, with Troy Elder twice hitting the crossbar from penalty corner flicks.

"I didn't know what I was going to do. I don't very often get up there. That is only my third goal," said George.

"The goal took a little bit of pressure off. We missed a lot of opportunities in the first half and it was starting to build up a little bit.

"But, at the end of the day, one had to go in eventually and as soon as it did it seemed to relax the boys a bit better.

"You have got to believe you are going to score. You always have games like that in semi-finals.

"Normally they are pretty tough and you know you have got to get a scrambled goal here or there.

"We had to defend like dogs a bit and keep the ball out of the net when Mickey (McCann) was sent off."