Asked if there is a risk oppositions will see the Wallabies as predictable unless they introduce a willingness to kick, Phipps said: "Yeah … especially with the last two games, it has been miserably wet so it has been quite difficult when we want to play the attacking style 'Link' [coach Ewen McKenzie] has been trying to implement."

In reference to the Wallabies' coming Tests against the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday week and the Pumas in Mendoza, Phipps said: "We always want to change the point of attack.

"We don't want to give the same picture to the opposition teams. I am sure people smarter than I am are working that out now and will be over the next two weeks, and we'll hopefully have a pretty good game plan for South Africa."

Speaking on Tuesday while watching the Sydney Stars National Rugby Championship side train at St Joseph's College, Phipps said he was aware of the scrutiny of the Wallabies.

Foremost among that criticism has been the lacklustre way they responded to their 51-20 thrashing by the All Blacks in their second Test at Eden Park with ugly wins against the Springboks in Perth and last Saturday against Argentina at the Gold Coast.

"But end of the day we are one loss out of 11 games, and I know how hard everyone has worked in the squad," he said.

"Those tough wins are important for us. If we can get the tough wins when we don't play with our most polished performances, when we do get wins when our performances are polished off a bit more, it is going to be something special."

Phipps said the Wallabies scrum will have to lift in coming weeks, despite its improved showing in the first hour of Saturday's Test.

"Our scrum was pretty good the first 60 to 65 minutes on the weekend. I was really proud of them," Phipps said.

"It's up to them now to not just be content with it, but build on it.

"A lot has been made of our pack the last few years, but seeing them stand up to one of the best packs in the world was pretty indicative of how much work with [set piece coach] Andrew Blades and the pack there – even with a few rotating hookers."

Phipps has also not forgotten the last time he played Test rugby in South Africa – in September 2012, in Pretoria, when he started for the Wallabies and they were "absolutely flogged" at Loftus Versfeld, losing 31-8.

But Phipps believes this time the Wallabies can use the hostility of a South African crowd when they play them on Saturday week at Newlands Stadium, although he recognises that the Springboks have improved since this year's Rugby Championship began, as their Test loss to the All Blacks last Saturday showed, and that they will lift again at home.

"We have a lot of work to do to nullify their massive forwards and quick backs. We have to do a lot of work there and stifle their attacking raids," he said.

"It's a good 'us versus them' mentality – eing in that group and knowing the only friends you have is us.

"It's a good opportunity to tighten up as a group … to tough it out, get over there and show everyone at home we are doing well and mean business."