Wallabies ready for French ambush in Paris

Halfback Nick Phipps is adamant the Wallabies have learnt from past mistakes and are still scarred from a nightmare trip to France two years ago.

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre has already declared his team is seeking "triple revenge" to make amends for losing all three Tests in Australia earlier this year.

But still hurting from a 27-point loss in Paris in 2012, Phipps said the Wallabies would not fall into the same trap again.

"I was here in 2012 and we got absolutely ambushed there, we were well and truly beaten around the park," Phipps said.

"That wasn't a very pleasant experience, it shocked us a little bit. It was the first game of our spring tour that year and we managed to do quite well in the other four games.

"But you can expect [France] will be a completely different team to the one that came out in June. It would be pretty hard to draw comparisons to now, the French are such a passionate team.

"They're phenomenal at home, the psyche [coach Michael Cheika] has talked about them having is that they never lose at home. They'll throw a lot at us."

With Ewen McKenzie as coach, the Wallabies completed a clean sweep of the series against France in June, thumping the visitors 50-23 and 39-13

"We have to take triple revenge," Saint Andre said. "What struck me was the third Test where we collapsed too quickly. That's unacceptable when you represent a country, a history, an identity."

Cheika has been drilling his team about its work ethic and ability to shut down games when they're in front.

Cheika left no questions in his players' minds about what they should do if the game is tight this week, passionately telling them to hold on to the ball and kill the game.

"We made some errors, we'll learn from that. Cheik made it clear that it's not what we'll be doing from now on and everyone will be towing the line," Phipps said.

"It's good that it's happening now instead of the World Cup next year, we can use this time to fine tune things and mature as a squad to adapt."

Phipps was on the bench in the three Test series in June, fighting for game time behind ACT Brumbies' No. 9 Nic White.

But the tables have turned and Phipps has a hold on the Wallabies starting spot with Will Genia and White trying to wrestle it from his grips.

Phipps is refusing to get comfortable in his position with Genia impressing from the bench and White trying to force his way back into the Test side.

"There are a few guys knocking on the door, we'll look at the different opposition," Cheika said.

"We've got three good halfbacks, Will Genia closed the game out really nicely, Phipps played well at the start and then there's a guy with the quality of Nic White, it's not easy."

Phipps, 25, has enjoyed a stellar year which also includes a Super Rugby title with the NSW Waratahs.

"Being on the bench, I was shocked to be even there with Will [Genia] being left out [of the squad] and me being in there," Phipps said.

"I grew in confidence from there and that really helped me. Times have changed, but you never get comfortable or believe compliments people give you.

"A couple of games and you're out the back end again. I always feel the boys breathing down my neck, White and Will are great competitors and I love that. It's a selfless job, we're all working together."