Mystery surrounds an Australian Rugby Union investigation into player misbehaviour as the Wallabies prepare for Saturday night's Test against France.

The ARU has confirmed it is conducting "inquiries" into a possible breach of a team's rule and the players' code of conduct.

But the governing body is remaining tight-lipped about whether the situation potentially involves the Wallabies, a Super 14 team or a lower level side.

Website reports have suggested four leading players are involved.

"We're currently conducting inquiries into potential breaches around team protocol and/or the code of conduct," an ARU spokesman said on Wednesday.

"At this stage those inquiries are continuing.

"We won't be commenting further or going into detail while we're doing that."

France on Wednesday named a formidable side, despite a host of changes, for Saturday night's ANZ Stadium showdown.

The Wallabies have put in extra work to try to nullify the lethal rolling maul of the French, but also signalled they would try to match the northern hemisphere sides in using the tactic as a weapon of their own.

That has becoming possible again after the experimental law allowing the maul to be pulled down was thrown out.

"Something we didn't have in that Test in Paris (last November) was the rolling maul and, as you've seen against the All Blacks, they've used that very effectively, so that's something that's going to be different for us now," Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore said.

"I thought we did pretty well to nullify that against Italy but I think France do it a lot better and it's going to take a big effort to stop that area of the game.

"It's probably an area we didn't work on much over the last couple of seasons for the reason that you could just pull it straight down.

"Now you can't do that any more we've had to dedicate more time to it at training, particularly against these blokes who do it very well."

Moore said the Wallabies had used a shadow pack to practice.

"It gets very heated at training and I think it's a good part of our preparation," he said.

"You know on Thursday if there's a bit of niggle in the session and guys are getting stuck into it that you're ready to go."

"The hard thing at training is trying to balance that time between defending the maul and your own attack in the maul as well so it's something that (coach) Robbie (Deans has) mentioned that we'd like to bring back in.

"These games are a chance for us to do that."

Meanwhile, Wallabies medical staff have begun assessing Australia's Tri-Nations stocks ahead of the naming of a squad for the tournament next week.

Rocky Elsom (leg), Wycliff Palu (hand) and under-20 World Cup star Rob Horne (hamstring) were checked on Wednesday, while Kurtley Beale (hamstring) is another who will be assessed.

Palu is expected to play club rugby this weekend, while doubt persists over when Elsom will be recovered from bone bruising.

"With all those boys, we're just in constant dialogue with them," Wallabies assistant Richard Graham said.

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