Australia kick-started their Tri-Nations campaign with a 16-9 victory over South Africa at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

The Wallabies triumphed by two tries to nil to join the Springboks and New Zealand on one win apiece in the early stages of the competition.

Australia held a narrow 5-3 lead at the break and maintained their advantage throughout the second period, but it took a last-minute drop goal from Berrick Barnes to finally kill off the South African challenge.

Rocky Elsom, Lote Tuqiri and Peter Hynes were the stand-out performers for the Wallabies in front of a crowd of 41,838, with Elsom getting the nod for man of the match.

The first half try came from Tuqiri after a terrific team set-up from a line out, with captain Stirling Mortlock carrying three Springboks on his back to score the only try of the second half.

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