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The Wallabies passed a test of character with their first win in the Rugby Championship, but are suffering from "captain's curse" with Will Genia out for six months, commentators said Monday.

Australia came from behind to win the Test against the Springboks in Perth on Saturday 26-19, a welcome return to winning ways after their embarrassing 22-0 loss to New Zealand in Auckland a fortnight ago.

But the win came at a cost to the Wallabies, with skipper Genia Australia's third successive Test captain to suffer an injury that keeps him out of the game for a prolonged period when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee late in the game.

Genia was standing in as leader for David Pocock, who is out with a knee injury following the Wallabies' first Rugby Championship Test against the Kiwis.

Pocock had replaced first-choice captain James Horwill, who was sidelined during the Super Rugby season with a hamstring injury.

"Wanted: Fit captain and a halfback ready to hit the ground running," ran the headline in the tabloid Daily Telegraph, which said that Genia was "the third victim of the cursed Wallaby captaincy".

"Character was the key word for the Wallabies in their preparation against the Boks, particularly after the public backlash to players smiling with the All Blacks on the field after losing in Auckland," the paper said.

The Sydney Morning Herald headline agreed: "Wallabies pass important test of character", it said.

The Australians handled the pressure better than they had in the Tests against New Zealand, the paper said.

"They showed in Perth there was still some life in this wounded beast, demonstrating the resolve required for a victory comparable to their three triumphs earlier in the year over Wales," Greg Growden wrote.

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Press lament Wallabies' captain's curse