A first-innings collapse of 10-86 will dominate Australia coach Darren Lehmann's review of the first Test, regardless of what transpires on day five in Perth.
But three costly dropped catches, which left the hosts deflated and disappointed at the WACA during South Africa's mammoth second innings, are also likely to feature.
Australia's fielding has been a concern for much of Lehmann's tenure, which started in the 2013 Ashes.
Former skippers Ian Chappell and Steve Waugh have been highly critical, while Lehmann himself described Australia's fielding as "shoddy at best" in 2014.
Mitch Marsh and Shaun Marsh both held sensational chances on day one of the first Test.
But Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges and Josh Hazlewood offered reprieves to Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander respectively in the Proteas' second-innings of 8(dec)-540.
The three errors cost a total of 153 runs and ensured Australia remained in the field for 160.1 overs.
"We've always working to improve that. It is deflating but you just have to keep trucking on," paceman Peter Siddle said.
"We did that well.
"Perth is always hard with the big wind that comes in across the field and the hills that keep it open.
"But yeah it's disappointing ... we've got to be better and that's something we'll be working on."
Shane Warne was particularly unimpressed with Hazlewood's drop, which came when he was on the rope at fine leg.
"This is sloppy stuff from the Australians ... a lack of awareness from Hazlewood, he's not fully concentrating," Warne said in the Nine Network commentary box.
"Every one of them (catches put down by Starc, Voges and Hazlewood) should have been taken."
In sharp contrast, South Africa's Temba Bavuma created something from nothing on day four of the Test with a sensational dismissal of a well-set David Warner.
Bavuma, stationed at point, flung himself at the ball and threw down the stumps at the bowler's end - all in the space of 0.264 seconds.
"It was unbelievable. It was the play of the day," South Africa's bowling coach Charl Langeveldt said.
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