The Wallabies' South African hoodoo continued when they were beaten by a pumped-up Springboks side 26-22 in their opening Tri-Nations Test at Newlands.

The home side was given little chance after disappointing in three Tests last month, but the Springboks threw the form book and their 10-man rugby game plan out the window, utilising the skills of electric back Brent Russell and man-of-match De Wet Barry.

The Wallabies scored three tries to two, but dead-eye five-eighth Louis Koen proved the difference, slotting four penalties and two conversions.

They took a bonus point from the match for finishing within seven points, with skipper George Gregan saying "at least we salvaged something from the wreck".

The Wallabies paid for a high error rate, particularly through the midfield, which severely limited possession, while they were troubled by the Springboks' rush-up defence.

In a worrying sign just under three months from the World Cup, Ireland also had similar success using that umbrella defence last month against Australia.

"We created a number of opportunities to put ourselves in scoring positions but our composure was poor, our skill on occasions was poor which resulted in turnovers, and we didn't play the tackle well tonight," Wallaby coach Eddie Jones said.

"It just wasn't good enough."

Australia has only won once on South African soil in eight years - in 2000 in Durban.

Jones said he was mystified about how to get the Wallabies to play at their best in South Africa, claiming they had never been better prepared yet they still struggled to match the physical Springboks.

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