Returning Wallabies prop Benn Robinson says conceding penalty tries from scrums isn't good enough, but insists Australia's young front-rowers will benefit from their tough initiation to Test rugby.

The scrum lynchpin missed the first four Tests of the year due to a fracture in his right arm, but expects to return for Australia's Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Brisbane on July 24.

With the Wallabies' other first-choice front-rowers Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander also out injured, coach Robbie Deans had to call upon a trio of international rookies - props Ben Daley and Salesi Ma'afu and hooker Saia Faingaa - for the three Tests against England and Ireland.

The vastly more experienced English pack gave the Wallabies' front row pups a lesson but Robinson was encouraged by the way they responded against Ireland last weekend.

After plenty of hard work in recent years transformed the previously maligned Australian scrum into a weapon, Robinson said it hurt him as much as the players out on the field when they struggled.

The penalty tries apart, the Wallabies' scrum was often shunted backwards and conceded several penalties - but Robinson felt they took some forward steps against Ireland.

"If you look at that first (Test) performance (against England), the penalty tries, it's not good enough is it, you can't be having that," Robinson told reporters on Monday.

"But it's one of those things that those guys got thrown into the deep end and you are going to learn from that.

"Our scrum over the past three or four years has been progressing well.

"It's tough to watch it out there, I felt it from the sidelines as well, because I've been a part of the squad for four or five years now.

"To see the guys struggle out there is tough, but you have to nut out those penalties because they can cost you the game."

Robinson, who has been doing plenty of running and weights sessions while waiting for his arm to heal, wants to play a club game on July 10 to get some match fitness before the Tri-Nations game a fortnight later.

Halfback Will Genia was optimistic he would also make Australia's Tri-Nations opener despite fracturing his hand against England.

"It's a lot better than expected. At this stage it's a realistic goal to be fit to play in the opening Tri-Nations game," Genia said.

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