Australia head coach Robbie Deans has described Saturday’s Tri Nations triumph over South Africa as ‘job done’.
The Wallabies were convincing 39-20 winners over a second-string Springbok side in the opening match of the southern hemisphere’s premier competition.
Deans saw his side run in five tries in Sydney as they bounced back from a shock defeat to Samoa in the same city less than a week earlier.
And the New Zealander, who looks set to be offered a new contract to lead his adopted country into the 2013 Lions tour, was happy enough with his players’ efforts at the ANZ Stadium.
"The boys got the job done well," said Deans.
"They adjusted their mentality, they adjusted their body position and we played some rugby this week.
"The set-piece was good, the scrummaging was good, and critically we got our shoulders down. Not only in defence, but in attack we got some momentum which these blokes enjoy.
"Obviously we had some combinations that came back together again and that all assisted. And those that were involved last week were better for the hit-out and these blokes probably got a bit of a shot over the bow as well to ensure that they came back in the right frame of mind. "
Next up for the Wallabies is a mouth-watering clash with the All Blacks as the world’s top two teams go head-to-head just a month before the start of the World Cup.
Deans takes his charges to Auckland on August 6, with the Kiwi born and bred coach fully aware that the Wallabies will have to raise their game if they are to secure a major pre-World Cup boost.
"It was a step forward but it's going to have to be another one again," added Deans.
"The good thing now is we get some time to regather, to recover and attend to a bit of detail and really hone in on the opportunity that we've got at Eden Park.
"The legs were better, the boys went the distance better, but it's going to go up another notch. And that's good, we're looking forward to that."
One piece of worrying news for the Wallabies, however, comes in the shape of injury to Kurtly Beale.
The star full back cut a strange sight at Sydney Airport thanks to the sling protecting his damaged left shoulder, a badly twisted ankle and the visible presence of four stitches to his face following a typical bruising encounter against the Boks.
If Australia were due in action this coming weekend rather than the one after then Beale would almost certainly be unavailable, but the two-week gap means Deans remains confident he will feature in Australia’s second match of four.
''He's a bit banged up. Of the group, he came out of the game in the poorest shape,'' was Deans’ assessment of Beale’s condition.
''We don't know as yet (if he’ll be fit to face the All Blacks), but hopefully he will recover.
"Kurtley twisted his ankle at the end there, you never like to presume because they can be a bit tricky but it didn't look too bad.
"He wanted to run it off but we've seen that before. We've seen Rocky Elsom play a whole game (with a serious ankle injury) and he was out for two months afterwards. The shoulder should also recover, but he is just sore right now.''
