Fresh from a career-best performance that put Australia one up in the three-Test series against South Africa, Mitchell Johnson vowed he can improve in Port Elizabeth with a series victory in his sights.

Blood was drawn, skulls rattled, and the world’s No.1 Test team dismantled on Saturday, when Johnson helped roll the Proteas for 200 at Centurion to complete a 281-run win.

Johnson snatched five wickets on day four to finish with his greatest Test figures of 12-127.

The left-armer suggested once he retires he may revel in the likely piece de resistance of a career that almost stopped when he last left South Africa, in 2011 with figures of 3-255 from two Tests, a broken toe and much melancholy.

But for now the 32-year-old’s only focus is inflicting South Africa’s first Test series loss since 2009, a feat the visitors can achieve in the second Test starting on Thursday.

“I said to Michael (Clarke) after the first innings that there was definitely room for improvement,” Johnson said.

“I’m still going to be trying to improve throughout the series.

“Playing away from home, that’s where you really can test yourself.”

The visiting side won two of 41 Tests on non-neutral grounds last year, both results coming against Zimbabwe.

“We spoke about that at the start of the tour … that you have to start winning away from home to get noticed and climb up the ranks and be respected by your opponents,” coach Darren Lehmann said.

Johnson’s first-innings haul of 7-68 was just the tonic for such a result at a venue that had been the Proteas’ fortress, with Lehmann saying he was as dangerous a bowler as he’s ever seen.

“He’s hard to face when you don’t pick up the ball as quickly because of his slinging action,” Lehmann added.

Graeme Smith, twice dismissed by Johnson, said the express paceman was the difference but denied he had created mental scars.

“He’s hot at the moment and we need to find a way to curb that and put him under pressure,” Smith said.

Johnson took his incredible pace bowling to a higher level than the Ashes, as bowling coach Craig McDermott intimated in the lead-up.

But what the record books won’t show is Ryan McLaren’s blood on the pitch; Robin Peterson’s instinctive shuffle to leg side; Vernon Philander’s jarred fingers and Hashim Amla’s splitting headache.

They won’t show just how unplayable and aggressive Johnson’s two new-ball spells were.

This was frightening.

There arguably hasn’t been an Australian as intimidating with the red ball since Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee.

Others have generated Johnson’s plus-150km/hr speeds in recent years, but none as accurate and consistent.

None have so ruthlessly mauled a great team that had lost one of their past 19 Tests, a side renowned for its doggedness that did well to make it into a third session after Clarke declared 3.2 overs into the day.

None have lorded over an entire XI, even AB de Villiers who offered the most resistance but was twice dismissed by Johnson.

Short leg Alex Doolan clutched two sharp catches to hand Johnson wickets on Saturday, while Amla and McLaren were both felled by brutal bouncers.

“It’s a nice feeling,” Johnson said of the blows.