WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans believes his team has the chance to prove it is not a "flash in the pan" outfit by being as brutal against France on Saturday as they were against England.

Deans is keenly aware his team's form can fluctuate dramatically - as shown in August, when, after achieving their first win on South African soil in eight years, they followed up seven days later with their biggest ever Test loss when the Springboks embarrassed them with a 45-point win in Johannesburg.

Deans said the players needed no reminder of what occurred in South Africa, and would be mindful of it this week in the lead-up to the Stade de France showdown on Saturday night.

Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock backed up the sentiments of his coach by explaining that this tour was the chance to show they were no longer world rugby's rollercoaster team.

"The five Test matches on this tour, week in, week out, gives us a chance to address our lack of consistency," he said yesterday. "We've already spoken about it. But now we have to show it against France at Stade de France. It will be massive, and we'll be coming off a pretty physical, tough match against England. It's a big test for us, but one the whole group is very excited about."

What it will require is relying completely on their own game, because it is near impossible to anticipate what France will do.

"France is not a team which thrive with structure, and they don't care too much for structure when they are playing at home," Deans said. "So this week is more about us than them. The key to denying or limiting the influence of the French is to focus on what you do yourself."

The Wallabies are expected to select close to the same line-up as that which won at Twickenham, with the only injury concern No.8 Richard Brown, who suffered both finger and knee injuries against England.

Deans was unsure whether Brown would be available for the France game.

"There was initially a concern he may have had a break, which he doesn't have," Deans said. "That's good for him, but he still has an ongoing dislocation problem. There's no instability with his knee, so it's not grave. But we have to monitor it."

If Brown is forced out, Waratahs No.8 Wycliff Palu is the obvious replacement, especially after he played such a dominant role at Twickenham after coming off the bench in the 44th minute.

"Wycliff was always going to do that, because he has been training really well, and been waiting for that opportunity," Deans said.

Winger Lote Tuqiri, recuperating from a knee operation, is also in contention, but it will be difficult for him to dislodge either Peter Hynes or Drew Mitchell, after both enjoyed error-free matches against England. Each were especially effective in the defensive line.

"Lote is training well and he is some chance off the back of that," Deans said. "But it essentially means he is now going into his first week of rugby training. It was a significant injury and significant operation that he had, but he is now training fully."

¡ Halfback Piri Weepu has been handed the All Blacks captaincy for their game against Irish province Munster on Tuesday (early tomorrow, Sydney time).