Deans using France Test as Tri-Nations yardstick

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says tonight's second Test against France in Brisbane will be the perfect preparation for the Tri Nations series.

Australia won the opening Test 34-13 in Sydney last Saturday night, but Deans expects a tougher contest from the French this time around.

"I suggest that they'll come out and be really physical and aggressive and challenge us first before any thing else," he said.

"They didn't enjoy the first outing and you know they're going to have to get on a plane at the end of this one."

Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock says France will be highly motivated and out to seek revenge for last week's loss.

"We've got a mindset that France is going to come out with nothing to lose and try to dominate us physically," Mortlock said.

"So the challenge for us is to try to match that intensity from the beginning."

Mortlock says the Australian squad is still evolving and has yet to cohesion under Deans's coaching style.

He says the Wallabies were happy with their performance against France, but must go to another level to match New Zealand and South Africa.

"I guess the cohesion of the combinations is coming as well," he said.

"But having said that I don't think we've seen that in a Test match yet so the challenge for us is to start bringing that continuity and that cohesion out in the matches."