Wallaby coach Robbie Deans felt his team was not 'streetwise' enough and that is costing them in tight internationals.

Speaking ahead of Australia's Tri-Nations crunch match with South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday, Deans said his team has been at the wrong end of refereeing decisions because other teams are being too clever for them.

The Wallaby mentor was asked about Bok coach Peter de Villiers' claim that the Wallabies "manipulate" scrums by collapsing them rather than conceding possession.

Deans, who met up with his squad on Thursday after being on compassionate leave, declared his team "ready, willing and able" for the Boks.

However, the often repeated question of the Wallabies' suspect scrum and De Villiers' remark soon found its way into the spotlight.

"I have read with interest that he [Peter de Villiers] said we have manipulated others," Deans said, when asked if his team was guilty of deliberately collapsing scrums.

"I would suggest it is quite the opposite, I think we have been manipulated," Deans said, adding: "We certainly haven't had any benefit of any manipulation.

"I think we have to wise up a little, to be honest.

"We have been manipulated and suffered as a consequence.

"We have to master that, as oppose to leaving it in the hands of another [the referee], that's not a good idea."

Asked if the string of penalties and free kicks awarded against his team in their last Test - against the All Blacks in Auckland three weeks ago - was down to a perception that the Wallabies have had a weak scrum in the past, Deans said there is an element of that.

"You just have to look at the position of the referee, on the field, to get an indicator," he said.

The Wallaby coach said his team was probably "not close" to where they want to be.

"There are elements we took out of that game [against the All Blacks] where we didn't help ourselves," Deans said of the 16-22 loss in Auckland.

"But it is continuity [in naming an unchanged starting XV], so we get an opportunity to address those shortcomings and they have to be addressed."

Deans said one of the key aspects for his team on Saturday will be composure.

"I think we've rushed it on occasion and as a consequence lost the moment," he said, adding: "Experience is a great teacher and you look at the Bok team - look at their cap count [600 plus] and they're all at the peak of their power.

"They have the benefit of both [experience and power] and it serves you well.

"Experience is a good teacher if you heed the lessons along the way.

"We are on that path and we are getting better ... how far we are down the line we'll find at the weekend."

Deans said he was pleased with his team's preparations.

"They are in a good frame of mind and obviously travelled well [from Australia].

"They are just scaling down now [in terms of training intensity].

"There's been a good level of enthusiasm and every one was chipping in. At this stage I'll just add where I can, as opposed to distract.

"Most of that [the team's gameplan] has already been resolved before we even got here. Now its just a matter of presenting ourselves in the best way possible and that is pretty much mental.

"There's not going to be much physical output between now and Saturday."