AFTER developing various aspects of their play in the first three matches of the year, captain Stirling Mortlock will demand Australia produces the "whole package" in the Test against France at ANZ Stadium in Sydney tonight.

Coach Robbie Deans has teased out strands of the team's play for special attention. The Wallabies have successfully developed a strategy of playing for field position, using twin playmakers Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes to kick for the corners.

They have worked on their set piece, particularly the scrum, and placed renewed emphasis on the breakdown. And there have been flashes of attacking brilliance in the 10 tries the Wallabies scored in the two Tests against Italy. But we are yet to see them produce the total rugby they are striving for. If they are to beat France, they will need to put their whole game together.

"From an overarching theme it has been really positive," Mortlock said of the start to the season. "Our set piece is really growing and giving the backs the opportunity to have good ball.

"They will be able to use that at stages and, likewise, there have been some quality advancements on our ability to take field position and our kicking game. What is in front of us now is trying to get the whole package together."

France, coming off a drawn series with the All Blacks, poses the greatest threat the Wallabies have faced in an inbound quality Test since Clive Woodward's England defeated Australia in Melbourne in 2003 on the way to winning the World Cup.

Since then the Wallabies have thrashed a series of understrength European teams during the June Test window, with the exception of the Irish who always send a reasonably strong squad.

But this French side is as close to full strength as you could expect of a side at the end of a long and demanding season, breathing new life into the moribund inbound schedule.

The French have already achieved their tour goal of winning one Test in Australasia, but now they have a chance to achieve a rare double of wins against Australia and New Zealand. The French have everything to gain and nothing to lose, which makes them exceptionally dangerous, particularly as they are looking to rediscover the Gallic flair that once distinguished Les Bleus from the rest of the world of rugby.

"It's a massive Test match," Mortlock said. "We are preparing for a massive game. The challenge that this French side poses at the set piece and at the breakdown is massive.

"Combined with that they seem to have regained some of their confidence and attacking flair you are used to seeing French sides have.

"They will test us across the pitch also. We go into this match under no illusions that it is going to be a big Test for us.

"They are extremely dangerous when they have that confidence and do throw caution to the wind. That's when they are capable of easily beating the world's best on their day."

The lopsided Italian Tests did not really tell the Wallabies too much about themselves, but the French would provide them with a true measure heading into the Tri-Nations tournament.

"This will be a fair barometer of where we are at as a group given the fact the French have come off a significant series against the All Blacks," Mortlock said. "No doubt it has been great for the French to perform so well over there on the back of a Six Nations campaign where they probably weren't where they would like to be with their results.

"That just reinforces our mindset that they are dangerous and they will have a fair amount of desire to finish their season on a high."

The French have complained about being tired, but the Wallabies will not be lulled into a false sense of security. "I think they are more dangerous because of the fact it is their last game of the season," Mortlock said. "They have a good lay-off after this so they are going to throw everything into this game."

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