Veteran Wallabies flank Rocky Elsom has hit back at coach Robbie Deans' claim that the team appeared to lack pride in the jersey following Australia's brutal 6-33 loss to New Zealand in Wellington in September.

An irate Deans accused the Wallabies of "departing the contest" and "rolling over" in the final minutes of the Test but Elsom denied the Wallabies rolled over.

He did admit that their work ethic lagged during the final stages, when the All Blacks scored two late tries.

"No one would ever roll over," Elsom told AAP.

"I just think that wouldn't happen, even if you wanted to. That's very difficult to do when you're playing.

"Even the most selfish and disinterested player would find it hard to roll over.

"By the same token, there wasn't the same work ethic [in Wellington] that we'd shown the week before and even in the games previous."

Elsom believes the Wallabies should relive the anguish and watch a tape of the woeful Bledisloe clash - and use it as motivation for the Toyko rematch on October 31.

"I think it would serve us well to remember how that went in Wellington because it didn't go the way we wanted it to," Elsom said.

"There are a number of things we should look at again heading into that (Tokyo) match to try and get the guys in the best frame of mind.

"Just watching that match itself would be enough to get you going."

Elsom has been unable to train with the Wallabies during this week's camp and he is unlikely to play in Thursday's "possibles versus probables" trial, which will decide which eight players are cut from Deans' squad.

Deans also signalled the Wallabies captaincy would come under review ahead of Friday's team announcement and Elsom has been touted as Stirling Mortlock's possible replacement.

"Everyone has their role in the side and I'm pretty happy with my role as it is," Elsom said.

"I think there is always a leadership group [in a team] whether it is announced or not, that naturally forms."