Brisbane - Graham Henry has used the controversy that Peter de Villiers has embroiled himself in to gently turn the screws on his Tri-Nations rivals.

De Villiers made the outlandish claim last week that the All Blacks' recent supremacy over the Springboks was part of a conspiracy aimed at generating support for next year's World Cup.

Henry on Saturday flew to Brisbane and watched the Wallabies open their Tri-Nations campaign against South Africa. But before he departed on his spying mission, he expertly distanced himself from the fuss.

''I can't really take anything [de Villiers] says seriously,'' Henry said. ''The penalty count in the two matches was in favour of South Africa. I appreciate they had a couple of yellow cards; one was very warranted and the other questionable. But I don't want to get into it too deeply for the reason I just outlined.''

He then landed a jab while sprinkling salt into South Africa's wounds. He claimed - rather more convincingly than de Villiers, whose credibility is at an all-time low - that the South Africans used illegal tactics while trying to match the All Blacks' scrum in both of the opening two Tests of the Tri Nations.

To question the South African set-piece is akin to questioning their manhood but Henry reckoned the South African props bored into the All Blacks in order to disrupt and destabilise his side's possession.

''It is part of the South African game,'' Henry said. ''It is what they do all the time. It is what they do in the Currie Cup and it seems to be an acceptable part of their game. But I think it is outside the law. OK, it wasn't as bad as it was in some other Tests. But it is still part of the deal.''

Wonky scrums have been a bee in Henry's bonnet for some time now and the set-piece is set to become a major talking point before his side's next match, against the Wallabies in Melbourne on Saturday.

Australia's scrum has been a laughing stock in recent years and was exposed in June by England but Henry believes the Australians won't be a pushover. ''They scrummed very well last year in the Tri-Nations,'' he said. ''Obviously this year they have had their issues with injuries leading into the Tri Nations … but they have got two of their senior front-rowers back so that should make a difference.''

Henry said he was looking forward to Saturday's match against the Wallabies. ''We like playing the Wallabies,'' he said. ''They are a totally different proposition to South Africa, which is good. It keeps us stimulated and after a week's rest, I'm sure the boys will be ready to go.''