The Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has conceded they have to adapt and learn quickly ahead of this weekend’s Rugby Championship test against the Springboks in Perth.

On Saturday, the Springboks broke their Brisbane hoodoo with an impressive and convincing 33-7 win against Australia. In all fairness, this was the Wallabies’ biggest Test since Schmidt took over as head coach, while for the Springboks it was their first win in Brisbane since 2013.

Have to take the defeat on the chin

The Boks were slick in most aspects of the Test, and it was clear to see that the back-to-back world champions were prepared to throw the ball around. While the Springboks were ruthless in their execution, there are some work-ons such as their discipline in the latter stages. The three yellow cards at the backend of the Test were just not good enough by the Springboks.

Schmidt said to topple the Boks you have to take the defeat on the chin and learn from the experience.

“That’s probably a benchmark for us,” said Schmidt. “We’ve had three tests prior to that, but that’s really a starting point against the big boys. I said during the week that they’re at a different stage of their evolution.

“They have so much experience, some very mature players who have played at the very top level for a long time and very successfully. So we have quite a youthful side and a side that are still coming together, but we’ve got to come together better than we did today and we’ve got to accelerate some of the learning.

South African conundrum

“There’s obvious learning from today. But you don’t suddenly solve the South African conundrum.”

Saturday’s second Rugby Championship test between the Wallabies and Springboks will be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth, and kick-off is at 11:45.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mc/cg