Cooper misses training

Cooper has been restored to the team after being rested for last week's upset loss to Samoa and was expected to fire the Wallabies back to winning ways at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

A spokesman for the team said the 23-year-old was suffering from a stomach illness but captain Rocky Elsom said the New Zealand-born back should be fit to face the Springboks.

"If he's not feeling that well, it's probably a good move not to train but I think he'll be fine tomorrow," the flanker said.

Full-back Kurtley Beale stepped into the fly-half position in training and would be the favourite to take the number 10 shirt if Cooper does not recover in time.

That could also mean a surprise recall to the matchday squad for the experienced Matt Giteau, who had a poor game against Samoa and was left out of the team to face South Africa.

Another concern for the Wallabies is the continuing torrential rain falling on Sydney, which could reduce the game to a tight, forwards dominated contest and rob the home side of the advantage their backs would be expected to bring to the clash.

Elsom, however, said he was not expecting Sydney's wettest July in 50 years to be that much of a factor.

"We've got a gameplan we think can adapt to both," the 28-year-old said. "Obviously if it's as it is now, it's not going to be as free flowing but that's not necessarily a problem.

"Even then you're talking about perceived strengths and what happens when you get out there can be different."

After being routed at the breakdown by a bruising Samoa side last Sunday, the Wallabies have spoken a lot this week about improving that part of their game against an inexperienced but weighty Springboks pack.

"You're right they've got some pretty heavy guys," Elsom added. "But I guess every team is physical, it's who's the dominant on the night that counts."

In the wake of the Samoa defeat, a season that started with talk of a first Tri-Nations title since 2001 and a third World Cup title has this week become a quest for respectability.

"I think after the outing we had, our emphasis has been on us," Elsom said. "When you have a performance that didn't go the way you wanted, you want to get out and play the next day. It's only been six days, so we're pretty keen to get out there."