The Wallabies are refusing to be lulled into a false sense of security as the French continue to lay on the charm ahead of Saturday night's keenly-awaited rugby international at ANZ Stadium.

Les Bleus have spent all week talking up the Wallabies, declaring inspirational captain Stirling Mortlock the premier centre in the world, flanker George Smith the best in the business and Australia's forwards superior to the vaunted All Blacks pack.

But Mortlock and Smith were having none of it on Friday, insisting the French compliments can't disguise the fact that Marc Lievremont's men are fresh off an impressive drawn Test series with the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Mortlock says the smooth talking "reflects everything you like about a quality French outfit, on and off the pitch".

"They're saying the right things off the pitch and certainly on the paddock their forwards are doing the job, their backs are showing some enterprising flair with the ball in hand and everything about them reflects the vintage French outfits that you're used to seeing over time," he said.

Some French players have also complained of being weary at the end of a long Test campaign which kicked off last November.

"I actually think they're more dangerous because of the fact it's their last game of the season," Mortlock said.

"They've come down under knowing full well they had three Test matches in front of them and they were looking forward to hopefully doing well.

"They've done just that, having won the trophy against New Zealand (on aggregate points scored over the two Tests).

"So they come here to play us tomorrow night with nothing to lose, everything to gain.

"And they've got a good layoff after this, so they're going to throw everything into this game.

"This will be a fair barometer of where we're at."

Smith says the Wallabies pack learned long ago that the French lovey dovey ceases at kick-off.

"I guess we enjoy the stroking of the ego but the boys don't really buy into it," he said.

"We always expect a tough encounter against them and it's always been like that.

"We're going to be battered and bruised, as we are whenever we represent our country.

"The boys are looking forward to this game because they know it's going to be a contest around the field and especially at the breakdown area.

"Across the forwards, they attack that area pretty hard and we'll definitely have to be on our game in that area."

After hardly being tested against the Barbarians and two five-try routs against Italy, a showdown with the world's fifth-ranked team is the perfect preparation for the looming Tri Nations series with the All Blacks and Springboks.

"The preparation's been really positive because we know full well this is going to be a significant Test for us, and hopefully a magnificent one as well," Mortlock said.

"No doubt it has been great for the French to perform so well (in New Zealand) on the back of probably a Six Nations campaign where they probably wouldn't have been as happy as they would have liked to have been with their results.

"I guess that reinforces our mindset that they are dangerous and they'll have a fair amount of desire to finish the season on a high."

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