Rugby-Wallabies prepare for Perth rain and another Springbok storm

Captain Allan Alaalatoa believes the Wallabies learned a lot from last week's 33-7 loss to South Africa in the Rugby Championship and will look to build on the few positives when they meet the world champions again in Perth on Saturday. Australia were blown off the park by the rampant Springboks in Brisbane last Saturday, dousing the cautious optimism that had sprung from the wins over Wales and Georgia that the Wallabies registered in July in the first three games with coach Joe Schmidt in charge.

"It was obviously a tough game for us and it was a tough learning," tighthead prop Alaalatoa told reporters in Perth on Friday. "But we've focused on the positive glimpses that we showed in our game and the opportunity that it created. We probably weren't consistent enough throughout the whole game to deliver that for 80 minutes.

"We've taken ownership in our own game and making sure that tomorrow that we go out there and do everything we can to execute the plan that we have put forward." Alaalatoa will play in an otherwise entirely new front row on Saturday along with loosehead Angus Bell, who is returning from injury, and hooker Josh Nasser, who has been promoted from the bench.

The Wallabies were monstered at scrum time last week and Alaalatoa conceded that was one area where there will need to be vast improvement if they are to compete with the Springboks on Saturday. "For us in terms of the front rowers, it's just technique," he said.

"We want to transfer the weight from behind and to do that, you've got to be in the best shape possible. It was a tough learning for us in the set piece but we're looking forward to that challenge tomorrow." Alaalatoa was not reading too much into the fact that South Africa had made 10 changes to their team, pointing out that they would still field 14 World Cup winners.

Up to 40 millimetres of rain is forecast for Perth on Saturday, which is likely to make handling the big South African forwards even harder. "That's something that the boys are ready for," Alaalatoa said.

"For some of our boys it was the first time playing them last week. Now they understand that feeling and understand where we need to be better."

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