Former Bok coach believes Wallabies loss is already water under the bridge

South Africa arrived in Western Australia off the back of a hat-trick of victories over the All Blacks in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series but were undone by Les Kiss' Wallabies who clinched a 42-38 win in Perth.

The team that fell to that defeat was vastly different to the one that beat the All Blacks in Baltimore with Erasmus making 13 changes to his starting XV with the head coach rotating his squad and giving many of those who didn't face New Zealand an opportunity to impress.

It's because of that fact that ex-Springbok assistant coach Gold, who is now part of Eddie Jones' Japan coaching team, believes that it is a good thing that South Africa lost to Australia.

"In the bigger picture, I can't see the Bok management team being too worried about it," the former USA head coach said on the Boks Unpacked podcast.

"It's a good thing to happen. Strength and depth has been tested.

"There are a couple of guys that I think really put their hands up, and that you know down to maybe third or fourth choice, we've got some great strength and depth going on, but there were some guys who maybe also showed that they are not up to it yet. That's also a good thing."

Still, he did identify a concern for the Springboks but added that it will be something that the coaching team addresses in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup.

"The one overall thing that, if there is anything to be slightly concerned about, is that we've got a very strong plan A, the best in the world by a country mile, and that is our scrum and maul. The first scrum came on our own ball where we were able to dominate them, in the 63rd minute," he explained.

"Australia actually had really good parity against us with their starting front-row. They did really well. They got their ball in and out quite quickly. That was obviously their plan, but I mean there was no scrum dominance for the first three quarters of the game and then obviously when we did turn the screws on and that's the result of it. You're going to get yellow cards; you're going to make silly decisions.

"What Ryan [Lonergan] did at the base of the scrum was ridiculous. It's a double whammy: to get a penalty try and get a guy sent off. That's our strength, and it's a real powerhouse.

"There'll be a few plans that are going to be made in terms of us being able to have a plan B as well."

Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote also appeared on the show and agreed with Gold but also highlighted the taxing schedule South Africa have navigated recently.

"Our depth now is incredible, so we didn't get the win, but it's not something that I think the coaches will worry about," the former Melbourne Rebels head coach said.

"Remember Sacha got injured, so then he got his first game back against Argentina away, and it was a long game; it was emotional. At the end, they passed the ball into touch for us to win it.

"Then there was Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, flying to Baltimore, then to Australia; it's a long time on the road. For all those players, they've had to be selfless; not get selected, then the opportunity didn't go their way, but they're all very good players, and just building those combinations will be the most important thing."