Veteran flanker Phil Waugh says the onus will be on the Wallabies to adapt to New Zealander Bryce Lawrence's style of refereeing in Saturday's Test against Italy, rather than whinge and moan their way through the match.

In a performance widely condemned as pedantic and at times bewildering, Irish referee Alan Lewis caned the Wallabies in the penalty count during last Saturday's 19-14 Bledisloe Cup loss to the All Blacks in Hong Kong.

At one point, the Wallabies conceded seven successive penalties as they were punished most heavily at the breakdown.

While ARU chief John O'Neill has reportedly threatened to lodge an official complaint to the IRB over Lewis's performance, Waugh says the Wallabies need to accept whichever interpretation of the ELVs that Lawrence takes and get on with the game.

"It's (about) adjusting and reacting to how the referee is refereeing on the day," he said. "That's probably the biggest thing.

"Referees referee differently and on one particular day a referee might referee differently to another day.

"So it's about adjusting and adapting to how they're refereeing on the particular day and I think the sooner you do that, the more effective you become."

The 75-Test stalwart said there was little point in the Wallabies confronting the referee over unfavourable decisions

"I don't think words are the most effective way on the field. It's a matter of what's going on and actions more so," Waugh said.

While he felt that his side encountered some different law interpretations from Lewis last week, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans agreed that his charges simply needed to adapt quicker to the referee's style and take responsibility for their own actions.

"Ultimately, that's the key, as it is for players, to live in the moment and recognise what's happening. To see and do is the skill that's required," Deans said.

"It is a dynamic game, so it's not easy for any party.

"I certainly hope from a discipline perspective - it has been something we've talked about - that we don't want to be on the wrong side of that ledger again because it's very damaging."

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