France are wary of the Wallabies "machine" ahead of Saturday's one-off rugby Test in Sydney.
Fresh from claiming a split two-match series against the All Blacks in New Zealand on points differential, France end their Australasian tour against Australia at ANZ Stadium.
At least two of the French coaching panel have said Australia are probably a better side than New Zealand at the moment.
"New Zealand were without (five-eighth) Daniel Carter, (flanker) Richie McCaw, (lock) Ali Williams, (winger) Sitiveni Sivivatu, I think it's quite a young team," said France forwards coach Didier Retiere in Sydney on Tuesday.
"Our team was quite young (but) it was maybe easier for us and we can see that Australia with all these players ... I think it will be very hard.
"I think that New Zealand are maybe more instinctive (than Australia), they like to play in the gaps.
"I think Australia is more structured with very talented players but it's like a machine.
"They keep moving, you do your best and suddenly they go faster and they score a try.
"The problem with the Aussies is you always have to beware.
"Mostly they will play slowly and sometimes they can go fast very early."
Retiere was optimistic France could summon enough energy against the Wallabies after a gruelling 10-month domestic and international campaign.
"To have a good game and to finish the tour on a good moment, it will have a good effect on the players' minds," Retiere said.
"It's always the work of the coach to try to push the players to give their best and that's what we are doing now."
Retiere didn't believe the loss of five players through injury would adversely impact on his team's prospects against the Wallabies.
"We've got a good group of 30 players and the difference between all the players is not so important and I think we will have a very good team on Saturday," Retiere said.
"We have a lot of players with the same quality."
Among the players who have returned home early is talismanic forward Sebastian Chabal.
Asked if he hoped France would still have the spirit of the "Cave Man", as Chabal is known, Retiere quipped: "I hope so. I hope we will have a few cave men on the pitch, but cave men with a lot of brains."
France A prop Luc Ducalcon will join the squad in Sydney on Wednesday as the team has only one other specialist loosehead after the injured Thomas Domingo returned home.
Retiere anticipated a good scrummaging battle on Saturday and said the Australians now possess a powerful scrum.
"I think there will be a good fight next Saturday in that area," Retiere said.
"We had a hard time two years ago because a lot of players retired and it was difficult to build a good scrum.
"We've done really well since the beginning of the season and the scrum is really improving."
SYDNEY AAP
