Captain Rocky Elsom is adamant the Wallabies' wobbly scrum can be improved for Saturday's Test rematch with England - just don't ask him what Australia has in store.

An otherwise impressive Australian performance in the 27-17 first Test win in Perth last Saturday was marred by a shaky scrummaging effort, which culminated in England being awarded two penalty tries.

Australia fielded one of their most inexperienced front rows in recent memory but coach Robbie Deans insisted the young pups would learn from their fiery baptism in Perth.

Powerful Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is expected to beef up the Australian scrum provided he makes a successful return from injury for the Australian Barbarians against England in Gosford on Tuesday.

While acknowledging Polota-Nau's return would be a big boost, blindside flanker Elsom hinted at other improvements Australia could make to counter England's dominance in the scrummaging department.

"There are things we can do, that's what we will be working on this week," Elsom told reporters on Monday.

Pressed for more information, Elsom said "there's a few things there, I'll let you know after the game".

England coach Martin Johnson acknowledged Polota-Nau's likely return could have an impact, but doubted whether a week was a long enough period to make a substantial difference in the scrummaging area following such a bruising first Test encounter.

Southern hemisphere teams trumped their northern rivals in three Tests last weekend and Johnson, England's 2003 World Cup-winning captain, acknowledged the touring sides needed to lift their intensity.

"The step up in intensity and quality of the game on Saturday was definite, we saw what the other two (northern hemisphere) teams (France and Ireland) did in the southern hemisphere.

"The way the game is being played down here is a little bit different right now and we need to get with it pretty quick."

Johnson said while his team's effort in Perth was tremendous, they needed to be "a little bit smarter and that little bit better".

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