By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Sydney, Aug 13 NZPA - A training ground scuffle and a positive medical report on Rocky Elsom highlighted the Wallabies' first pre-Bledisloe Cup rugby training session today as they vowed to show more "mongrel" against the All Blacks.

Veteran flanker Phil Waugh and newcomer James O'Connor went toe to toe and had to be separated during a torrid physical session as the Wallabies regrouped from their 17-29 Tri-Nations defeat to the Springboks in Cape Town.

While there were no punches thrown, Waugh and O'Connor looked keen to continue the stoush before two teammates dragged them apart during the opposed session here at a sun-drenched Coogee Oval.

O'Connor, the teenaged whiz kid likely to start fullback in a reshuffled backline without injured skipper Stirling Mortlock here next Saturday, said he relished the confrontation.

"It's good, we're getting pretty competitive and I don't think either of us wanted to back down. It was all in good fun," O'Connor said.

"Our approach is, we've got to bring a bit more mongrel to the game and step up our physicality. That's what we brought to training today, and it was pretty intense."

First five-eighth Matt Giteau sat out the session with a bruised thigh suffered in last Saturday's match but coach Robbie Deans said it was purely precautionary.

Poor discipline and the fact they were outmuscled by the Springboks were two must-improve areas for the Wallabies as they look to repeat their comprehensive Sydney victory of last year against the All Blacks.

Deans bemoaned an inaccurate start to today's session with plenty of dropped ball, but had no issues with the Waugh-O'Connor clash.

"The fact it's a bit testy at training's not a bad thing, because it'll be no holds barred come game time," he said.

Elsom emerged from training with an ice pack on his right knee, but there was confidence he would be fit to bolster the Wallabies' loose forward trio.

The combative flanker has not played since suffering deep knee bruising in his man-of-the-match performance for Leinster in their Heineken Cup final win over Leicester six weeks ago in England.

Deans said the injury was more sinister than first thought, and it had been a frustrating comeback for Elsom, who is being considered at No 8.

"He's enjoying being back out there and he's upped the ante in terms of the amount of work he's done.

"He's very confident at the moment, so as long as there's no setback between now and next week I'd imagine we'd be considering him.

"He was a big part of our game last year when he was fit, (but) it won't be easy for him because it's been a while since he's played."

Said Elsom: "Everything's fine at the moment, I'm pretty happy with it and I didn't have any problems."

Meanwhile, 101-test flanker George Smith said he had had no indication whether he would assume the captaincy in Mortlock's absence.

Deans appears likely to move Adam Ashley-Cooper to centre and start O'Connor at fullback after a strong game off the bench in Cape Town.

Deans said both sides "have everything to play for" next weekend after defeats to the dominant Springboks.