Ben Alexander is the first to admit the Wallabies' scrum has creaked in some recent big matches.
But the 28-year-old tighthead prop insists they've started gaining traction ahead of the dead-rubber third Bledisloe Test in Dunedin on Saturday.
The Wallabies were thoroughly outgunned by the All Blacks at scrum time when the trans-Tasman rivals last locked horns in the Wellington Test match back in August.
It cost them dearly, with the 27-16 loss not only sealing a 11th straight Bledisloe Cup loss, but effectively ending their chances of winning the Rugby Championship in just the second round.
Alexander says the Wallabies initially struggled to adapt to the new scrum laws introduced by the IRB at the beginning of the tournament.
"The gaps are a lot smaller, so that affects a lot of people's foot positioning," he said.
"The opposition knows when the ball is being fed, because the ref is calling 'nine now', so different sides are attacking around that."
But he insists the Wallabies' scrum has trended in the right direction in their most recent outings, which has included two losses against South Africa and two wins against Argentina.
"We were up against as good a scrummagers (South Africa) in the world, and managed to hold our own," said Alexander, who flew into Queenstown on Wednesday as part of the Wallabies' 24-man squad.
"And we scrummed well against Argentina, minus about three or four scrums in that second half where we let them get ascendancy."
However, he admits it will take more than "just talk" before the Wallabies tight five irons out their creases.
"I don't think we'll really silence our critics until we perform well in a big game," he said.
"A lot of perception around our scrum is that it's creaked in really big games."
One of those big games was the third and deciding Test against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney back in July, when Alexander was yellow carded in the 24th minute before being hooked from the field.
"It's by far the most disappointing loss I've ever been a part of," the 57 Test capped Brumbies front rower said.
"But you've just got to use it as fuel for the fire. Next time it could be a World Cup, Bledisloe or Rugby Championship decider. We'll be better for that experience."
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