A spare parts Wallabies side is on the brink of suffering their first ever Tri Nations series whitewash after going down to South Africa 22-19 at Subiaco Oval.

Two almost length of the field tries to Springbok winger Bryan Habana proved the difference and with Australia to face the All Blacks in Auckland for their last match in two weeks' time, another loss looms large.

The defeat left Australia with four straight Test losses - the first time that has occurred since 1981/82 while another defeat would leave them winless in the Tri Nations for the first time since the competition began in 1996.

Only New Zealand, in 1998, has gone through a series without a win.

Still, it was a courageous effort by the already injury-ravaged and under-the-hammer Australians who suffered another blow on the eve of the match when five-eighth Elton Flatley pulled out after complaining of blurred vision sustained during a warm up drill.

It forced yet another backline reshuffle that included Clyde Rathbone coming off the bench to play outside centre and Matt Giteau slotting into the pivot's role.

"You've got to be good enough to cope with those sort of issues," said Wallabies coach Eddie Jones who lamented Australia being in strong attacking situations when the Springboks won a turn over and scored.

"They (the injuries) all seem to be coming at the same time at the moment, but we should have been good enough to win the game."

The Wallabies were on the back foot after Habana's try in the third minute and after getting hammered 9-5 in the penalties by referee Alain Rolland, found themselves behind 14-6 at halftime.

An early second half penalty goal to Mat Rogers got the Australians within five points but a Percy Montgomery drop goal re-established the Springboks' eight point buffer in the 50th minute.

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