The Wallabies banged their heads against the Scots' brick-wall defence for almost the entire second half in Newcastle without success.

After the match, Scotland coach Andy Robinson expressed surprise at the home side's reluctance to string more than two passes together, admitting Australia's conservative approach played into Scottish hands.

However, New Zealand-born Harris, who claimed the conditions at Hunter Stadium were the worst of his career, is adamant the Wallabies' game-plan was not to blame for the defeat.

"I think if any team tried to use it any more then you'd be turning it over after one or two passes," Harris said. "As you saw, the widest it got was into that 10 channel off set-pieces because two or three transfers takes a lot of time in those conditions. You've got to make sure you catch the ball and take it into the body. Throwing it as well, it can just slip out at any time . . . I thought we adopted the right tactics.

"It wasn't an option [to throw the ball around]. The only times we went wide were off kicks out to the wing."

Coach Robbie Deans said a lack of execution cost his side victory.

"It was obviously challenging and blokes make those decisions on the ground at the time," Deans said when asked if the Wallabies backs should have tried to go around the Scots.

"It was just the elements of cohesion. To use the ball effectively, you have got to have a greater understanding of direction and shape – and we lacked that."

Deans, meanwhile, has promised "fresh legs and a fresh mindset" when his team tackle Wales at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

"Wales are going to be very excited about what is coming up," Deans said. "It is a precursor to next year's British & Irish Lions series, they know their coach [Warren Gatland] is going to be the Lions coach and that if they do well out here it will enhance their chances of selection.

"Everyone wants to go on a Lions tour, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We're not thinking that far ahead yet, merely concentrating on Saturday's first game in the series.

"You will see fresh legs and a fresh mindset. We need to make progress around the elements of cohesion that we lacked against Scotland.

"There are no new injury worries, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Welsh adapt their tactics to make the most of us having played two games in a week."