Australia again have South Africa's brittle batting line-up under immense pressure, with the Proteas crumbling to 4-58 at lunch on day one of the Boxing Day Test.
South Africa made an encouraging start at the MCG after being beaten in record time at the Gabba last week, but they lost three wickets, including captain Dean Elgar, in the last half-an-hour of the session.
After crawling to 1-56, the Proteas lost 3-2 to vindicate Australia captain Pat Cummins' decision to bowl first for the second consecutive match after winning the toss.
Prolific quick Scott Boland (1-15) struck early to claim the opening wicket of the second Test, removing South Africa opener Sarel Erwee (18) as Usman Khawaja hung on to a catch at second slip.
The 33-year-old Victorian whipped his home crowd into a frenzy after he retained his spot in the Australia XI following fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood's decision to rule himself out of the match as he continues his recovery from a side-strain injury.
This match marks Boland's return to the scene of his famous Test debut last December, when he ran through England with 6-7 to secure man-of-the-match honours and help Australia retain the Ashes.
South Africa's inexperienced batting line-up looked to be showing more resistance after being rolled for 152 and 99 to lose inside two days on a green-top in Brisbane last week.
That result put them 1-0 down in the three-match series.
But No.3 Theunis de Bruyn, who was promoted into the team for this match, was out to allrounder Cameron Green (1-9) after badly mistiming a pull shot to be caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 12.
Elgar endured several nervous moments after playing onto his stumps from a Boland delivery but the ball rolled so slowly the bails did not dislodge.
The left-handed opener, who passed 5000 Test runs during the session, was shortly after dropped when Nathan Lyon put down a tough chance off Green's bowling.
But Elgar failed to capitalise on his good fortune and was run-out for 26 by some brilliance in the field from Marnus Labsuchagne.
Temba Bavuma (one) was out the next ball, nicking a Mitchell Starc delivery to Carey.
The Boxing Day Test, always a memorable occasion, is extra special this year as Cricket Australia pay tribute to legendary spin king Shane Warne.
© AAP 2022