The Wallabies, still smarting from their 16-22 loss to the All Blacks in the opening match of the Tri-Nations series, saw their first day back in training marred by an 'in-house punch-up'.

It was a fiery return to training in Sydney on Wednesday, with front row forwards Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander involved in a scuffle.

The two-and-a-half-hour session at Brookvale Oval threatened to erupt, when the Brumbies duo became entangled on the ground after crossing paths in a competitive training drill.

Senior Wallabies, including flyhalf Matt Giteau, tried to play down the scuffle, saying it was merely healthy rivalry.

"It's good isn't it, luckily I was nowhere to be seen I was on the wing," Giteau told the Australian media.

"I think that's good, it shows the fire's still there and training intensity's right up so I think it's a good thing."

Injured back row forward Richard Brown also played down the scrap.

"Anyone under fatigue gets a bit grumpy, I wouldn't want to be pushing 'Moorey' around so I'll leave it up to them," he said.

"I think a bit of that can be healthy... I see no problem with that."

However, there is little doubt, though, the entire squad is feeling the heat as they bid to keep their Tr-Nations hopes alive after a painful defeat which Giteau conceded hit harder than most.

"That one was certainly one we felt got away. And we were our own worst enemies so when that happens, it certainly hurts," he said.

"Every Test match you lose is devastating. But that one in particular, because of the history, it would have been nice to get it."

Meanwhile, Brown is confident he'll be fully fit in time for Australia's next Tri-Nations encounter against South Africa in Cape Town on August 8.

The versatile back row forward was forced from the field with what he first feared was a broken right ankle midway through the second half of last Saturday's loss, but he now expects to be back in full training early next week.

"The first thoughts were it was going to be pretty bad but all the x-rays and MRI scans [revealed] it was just a few bruised joints in my foot," a relieved Brown said.

Brown conceded the entire squad was still coming to terms with their first loss of the season which saw them surrender another half-time lead against the Kiwis.

"Everyone was pretty blue, pretty glum over the weekend, it's not something that I certainly didn't swallow easily, but I think hopefully we can use that disappointment to our advantage," he said.