Proteas 'run to match officials': Finch

Aaron Finch has revealed the ongoing tension between Australian and South African players has 'bubbled away under the surface' for years.

Finch, who is a regular fixture in Australia's limited-overs sides, said the frosty relations between the two playing groups dated back at least to the 2014 series in South Africa, which Australia won in thrilling fashion in the third Test to snatch the ICC No.1 ranking from the Proteas.

Last week's controversy involving David Warner and Quinton de Kock in Durban has continued as a talking point into the second Test, while Kagiso Rabada's send-off of Steve Smith and subsequent ICC charge on day one in Port Elizabeth has added a fresh chapter to the narrative.

"I think it's been running for a while," Finch told Triple M of the heated nature of the rivalry. "We heard about the last Test series that South Africa played here in Australia, it was very aggressive.

"The one before (in 2014), where Australia had an unbelievable come-from-behind win in the last Test in Cape Town to seal the series, that was on for young and old from ball one of the Test.

"So I think the guys that have been around for the last couple of series, there's a real – I wouldn't say hatred because I think there's a genuine respect for the way both teams play – (but) there's a lot of heat and a lot of build-up over the last couple of series that sits and bubbles away under the surface for a while."

Finch also compared the way Warner has handled himself in the face of controversies both in the past and present with the South Africans, who he believes have a tendency to "run to the authorities".

"We're known for being an aggressive team, but Davey Warner, I've heard him cop everything under the sun and I've never heard him whinge about it once, I've never heard him complain about it," Finch added.

"When he has gone close to the line in the past, he's never shirked away from that, he's always owned up to it.

"He's sat in front of the media and said 'Yep, you know what I said was defending my family' like he did in this last one.

"But I think a lot of other teams, I think South Africa are one of those sides that dish out a little bit, then they're the first to run and cry poor at the match officials or their team management … there are a few that give it out and then run to the authorities after that."

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage