Robbie Deans continues to hold firm to a front-row youth policy but his former coaching lieutenant, Michael Foley, has suggested it's time for a discarded veteran to help stabilise the outgunned Wallabies scrum.

Foley, the NSW Waratahs forwards coach since finishing with the Wallabies in 2008, wouldn't go so far as to demand the recall of Al Baxter or Matt Dunning but felt either would assist the development of Australia's novice props.

The Wallabies' most inexperienced front-row in 27 years were handed a set-piece lesson in Saturday night's 27-17 win over England when they conceded two penalty tries on the back of numerous scrum collapses.

The loss of Ben Alexander (knee) last week, on top of injuries to Benn Robinson and hookers Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau, has badly exposed rookies Ben Daley, Saia Faingaa, Salesi Ma'afu, Huia Edmonds and James Slipper - none of whom were Test players before this month.

Tighthead Baxter, 33, is Australia's most-capped prop of all time with 69 Tests while the versatile Dunning, 31, has played 45.

Wallabies forwards coach and selector Jim Williams last week admitted thought needed to be given to recalling Baxter or Dunning before Deans stuck to his youth policy.

Foley believed such a move would benefit the rookies, both on the training paddock and also on the field.

"I understand the push for development but selecting a senior player among junior players may actually assist that development rather than hinder it," he said.

Polota-Nau will return from ankle and shoulder injuries to play for the Australian Barbarians on Tuesday night and could replace Faingaa in the second Test on Saturday night

Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie and Reds scrum doctor Alec Evans have both endorsed Deans plans to stick with the youngsters.

While Deans said England were "cunning" in their scrum approach, McKenzie also felt Australia's scrum was sometimes an unlucky victim of referee Nigel Owens' interpretations.

England expect they can again gain the same scrum dominance in Sydney but hooker Steve Thompson admitted the taxing scrummaging work took its toll on their spluttering attack

"Sometimes it's a bit like the old rumble in the jungle and you can punch yourself out," Thompson said. "It's a bit like the old rope-a-dope. We were putting so much effort into the scrums.

"You tend to punch yourselves out a little bit."

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