Wallabies boss wary of wounded Lions

Australia coach Joe Schmidt is confident the Wallabies can be competitive against the British and Irish Lions, but he will be wary of a side wounded by defeat to Argentina in a Dublin warm-up.

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Andy Farrell's squad arrive in Perth yesterday evening already feeling pressure after a slick Pumas exploited their lack of familiarity and cohesion in a rousing 28-24 victory on Friday.

While far from the ideal send-off for a nine-game tour, which includes Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, Farrell has time to fine tune.

He was without the bulk of his Leinster players against Argentina, and his options are a lot stronger now they are involved.

"We need to be a lot better than that. And we will. We'll dust ourselves off but that will concentrate the minds," he said.

The first Test in Brisbane is not until July 19 after five lead-in games, starting against a Nic White-led Western Force on Saturday before meeting the Queensland Reds four days later.

Clashes against the NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies and a combined Australia-New Zealand XV will follow.

Schmidt is intimately familiar with the Lions coaching staff, none more so than Farrell who was his right-hand man during a successful stretch as Ireland boss.

He will know how much the defeat hurt.

"I know a lot of those guys very well ... they'll be well coached, well organised and they have strength in depth,"