Rugby: Wallabies face huge task to bounce back

David Pocock says Australia must show immense character on Saturday night as they face a huge task to immediately bounce back from their deflating loss to Scotland. Photo / Stephen Barker

Wallabies skipper David Pocock says Australia must show immense character on Saturday night as they face a huge task to immediately bounce back from their deflating loss to Scotland against Six Nations champions Wales.

The Welsh are sensing a huge opportunity to end their 42-year drought on Australian soil as the Wallabies have been handed a terrible preparation for the first Test of their three-match series in Brisbane.

Coach Robbie Deans has made nine changes to the team which lost 9-6 to the underdog Scots in Newcastle on Tuesday night and only had them together for one training session before Friday morning's captain's run.

While Australia beat the Welsh twice within six weeks late last year, flanker Pocock knows the unbeaten Six Nations champions are the strongest northern hemisphere side to have toured Down Under in many years.

"It's a Welsh team that has a lot of confidence, they've been building for a long time," he said.

"We have to put (Tuesday's loss) behind ourselves quickly," Pocock said. "It's been a short but good preparation.

"It's going to take a lot of character to bounce back but I think we can do it."

In his first Test as captain, Pocock was among a number of players treated for hypothermia after the match in Newcastle, due to the atrocious windy and wet conditions.

"Even a few Scots on the field said it was pretty bad so it must have been cold," Pocock said.

Former Newcastle Knights NRL winger Cooper Vuna will make his Wallabies debut after replacing fellow league convert Joe Tomane, who injured his ankle in training on Thursday.

-AAP