Wallabies coach Robbie Deans launched a withering retaliatory strike against his Springbok counterpart Peter de Villiers as tensions simmered on the eve of Saturday's Tri Nations showdown at Newlands.

The Wallabies had been on a charm offensive all week, heaping praise on the high-flying Boks, before Deans took aim at de Villiers for branding the Wallabies cheats who deliberately collapse scrums to milk penalties.

"I did read that comment with interest where he suggested that we had manipulated others. I'd suggest it's probably quite the opposite," Deans said.

"I think we've been manipulated (by opposition scrum tactics). We certainly haven't had any benefit of manipulation, put it that way.

"We have to wise up a little bit, to be quite honest. We have been manipulated and suffered as a consequence.

"We've got to master that. It's not a good idea to leave that in the hands of another."

Clearly fed up at his side being bluffed and bullied, Deans is anxious to avoid a repeat of the Wallabies' experience last month in Auckland, where South African referee Craig Joubert awarded a series of penalties to the All Blacks, essentially blaming Australian tighthead Al Baxter for scrums collapsing.

Deans was hoping to meet Irish referee Alain Rolland to clarify what he requires from both front rows in scrums at Newlands.

"I understand there is an opportunity (to meet Rolland). Those regulations seem to change from year to year with paranoia and other things," Deans said.

"We'd certainly like to know if he has some areas of concern, particularly if our opposition meet and there's something that surfaces out of that, because we'd like to know and be forewarned.

"It's always good to know if a referee enters a game with a preconceived idea of what he thinks he'll experience."

Gaining parity at the set piece is one of the many great challenges facing the Wallabies as they strive to triumph where both the star-studded British and Irish Lions and the once-mighty All Blacks failed on four separate occasions over the past six weeks.

The Wallabies also need to counter South Africa's formidable lineout and, by extension, stop the Boks' notorious rolling maul - which lock Victor Matfield on Friday described as a "key weapon" for the world champions - and match the home side in the physicality stakes.

The Australians must also win the battle at the breakdown, where Heinrich Russow has proven such a revelation for the Boks this year, and compete in the all-round kicking department.

That involves Matt Giteau - and probably also long-shot merchant Stirling Mortlock - having their goalkicking radars functioning at close to 100 per cent, plus Giteau, Berrick Barnes and Luke Burgess winning good field position with their tactical kicks and also Australia's back three successfully negotiating South Africa's aerial assaults.

The Wallabies' most difficult assignment, particularly if the parochial Newlands crowd gets its way, will be stopping superboot Morne Steyn from nailing one penalty goal after another.

Little wonder coach Deans says a victory over this outstanding Springboks line-up would be quite some achievement.

"They clearly are is a side that would have probably succeeded in any generation," Deans said of the world champions.

"You look at teams and you look at players that can play in any generation and this group's got a number of players who would have played in any generation."

Deans, though, says playing in such a Test match is the kind of rugby experience his Wallabies dream about.

"It just doesn't get any better," he said. "It's fantastic.

"They're the top side in the world and these blokes love to play in those occasions, played at Newlands - one of the best venues in the world.

"These blokes are just really excited about the opportunity that they have."

South Africa: Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit (capt), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.

Res: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Andries Bekker, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar, Adrian Jacobs

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Richard Brown, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.

Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Will Genia, Peter Hynes, James O'Connor.

The Wallabies suffered a minor scare during Friday's captain's run with centre Berrick Barnes colliding with prop Al Baxter.

Barnes required treatment but Wallabies medical staff said he is in no doubt for the Test.

Lock James Horwill was given a day off training to recover from a virus and is also expected to play.

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