The wounded Wallabies came out second best on the injury front against France but have been warned they ain't seen nothin' yet.

While pleased with a 3-0 start to his tenure, Australian coach Robbie Deans emphasised his men were braced for a far more "brutal" challenge in the Tri-Nations.

In watching just the first half of New Zealand's 19-8 win over South Africa, Deans said he was struck by the physicality and intensity of an edgy tournament-opener in the wet at Wellington.

The aggression in the Tri-Nations Test was highlighted by Deans' former Crusaders lock and ex-Brisbane Bronco Brad Thorn who was suspended for next week's return match in Dunedin.

Thorn's spear tackle on Springboks captain John Smit forced the influential hooker from the field in a no-holds-barred first half.

Deans admitted injury-hit Australia's dressing room looked like a casualty ward after their 40-10 win over a depleted France but said the Tri-Nations would be at "another level" entirely after France were "looking forward to their vacation".

"It's really evident it's a totally different arena and different contest but that's fine and the boys are excited about that," he said.

Deans believed the Springboks and All Blacks laid more on the line at the breakdown under the experimental law variations (ELVs), which sees less full-arm penalties, being used in the Tri-Nations.

Ruck and maul infringements are punished with short-arm free kicks under the ELVs, preventing three-point penalty goal attempts.

"It was pretty brutal, it wasn't just around the ball either," Deans said.

"Obviously it's going back to the ELVs and free kicks.

"The willingness around the collisions and the opportunity there to get a broken-arm sanction (free kick) was evident as teams were piling numbers into that (tackle) area.

"Whether it was the weather or the laws who knows but the intensity was the thing that really stood out.

"We've made great growth in that area and it's not something that we can't deal with."

Australia meets the world champion Springboks in their first Tri-Nations clash in Perth on Saturday week.

Assistant coach Jim Williams believes South Africa will hold the advantage of having two Tests together against the All Blacks but Deans viewed the positive of the Wallabies being fresher.

"You can look at it two ways, the Springboks have been Test hardened but we've had three Test matches under our belt," he said.

While Australia lost fullback Cameron Shepherd (broken leg) for the Tri-Nations, lock James Horwill (eye socket), centre Berrick Barnes (shoulder) and Al Baxter (eye) should be right to play the Springboks.

Horwill declared the younger pack was up to the extremely physical assignment against the World Cup champions who will be smarting after being dominated by the NZ scrum.

"South Africa's Super 14 sides get stuck in and try to bash you around the field and I'm sure they'll be no different as a Test side, we expect that and certainly won't take a backward step," he said.

Deans was delighted with his side's improved discipline and handed out special praise to his reserves, led by Hugh McMeniman and Ryan Cross who scored a double.

"The impact of the blokes off the bench was pivotal and I think that's an area where we've made some growth," he said.

"The blokes off the bench maintained momentum and that's something that we hadn't been aiding."

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