The French have scrummaging in their blood but Wallabies forwards boss Michael Foley says it's Australia's mauling which needs the biggest improvement in Saturday's Test at ANZ Stadium.

Set-piece guru Foley, the only assistant to survive from the John Connolly era, knows the French treat scrums as seriously as wine, cheese and baguettes but said his focus had been elsewhere since Australia's lucky 18-12 win over Ireland in Melbourne 10 days ago.

"Probably the biggest thing we've looked at is our mauling game," Foley said.

"We felt our mauling was down in the first Test and there's probably some clarity around that that's helped in this second Test but there isn't one area that we don't want to improve on.

"We were good in patches but there were other times where we felt those inconsistencies let the opposition have opportunities, and to be a side going forward that's going to be number one in the world we need to be able to try and close those opportunities for the opposition down."

Wallabies staff have been busily researching the French players but insist they won't be underestimating the tourists, whose trademark unpredictability will be enhanced by them leaving players from their top four domestic sides at home.

"The guys that we obviously didn't know about were a couple of the props that they've picked, but having done the research and looking at some of their (domestic) Top 14 games, you can certainly see why they have been picked and in particular that's for their scrummaging," Foley said.

"They're French so scrummaging for them is a way of life and (hooker Sebastien) Bruno and (Lionel) Faure the loose-head have had combination at (English club) Sale and they'll have (Sebastien) Chabal packing in behind them who's also with them at the same club so there's combination there for them.

"Both locks are big physical guys and certainly with the captain (Lionel Nallet) in the tight five it suggests the approach that they'll have to the game."

Meanwhile, Foley revealed it was the Wallabies players themselves who had identified the need to up the protection for rookie halfback Luke Burgess, who copped a hammering at the hands of the physical Irish at Telstra Dome.

"The nice thing about that was it wasn't something that was necessarily identified by the coaches to the players but more from the players to the players," he said.

"They were unhappy with how we performed in that area and there's been statements made by them and I think the players are going to address it.

"I think they've addressed it in terms of their mentality and that's the most important thing.

"The great thing about Luke Burgess being a young guy is he's unfazed, he has a high expectation of himself but he's unfazed in the game."

Flanker George Smith said the side had analysed their breakdown defence and cleaning out in a bid to make their No.9's life easier.

"We know that we'll be playing under the old laws and have to continue to make sure that we continue to keep that area clear so the halfback can get that ball out," Smith said.

"We'll definitely be aware of that and also be working on our processes and our systems at the same time."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP