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WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans is hoping Saturday night’s breakthrough win over South Africa will give his playmakers the confidence to stop being kick-happy for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
Deans said anxiety is the main reason why Australia look to kick possession away as their first instinct, instead of looking to keep the ball in hand.
The coach was angry at grubber kicks being a regular go-to move against New Zealand and South Africa and insisted the high-risk manoeuvre was not part of the game plan.
Defensive determination handed the Wallabies a much-needed 26-19 win over the Springboks in Perth, but Deans admitted poor options coming out of their own end almost cost the home side victory.
Deans said he might have to rethink how the likes of Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale prepare for their kicking duties at training.
“We made our job a lot more difficult last night, our exits in the first half weren’t good enough and that’s an area we’ve put a lot of work into so we need to keep going or find another way of approaching it,” he said.
“Hopefully confidence does make a difference.
“Some of our kicking was the result of anxiety. That performance last night would have alleviated some of the anxiety and hopefully we’ll be a bit clearer in our decision making as a result.”
Outside centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, who was outstanding against the Springboks, said the last thing the Wallabies wanted was for their playmakers to become indecisive.
The experienced back said the team was kicking too much and warned Argentina, like the Springboks, have the game to make them pay if they continue to execute poorly.
Ashley-Cooper praised the defensive resolve of the Wallabies in coming from behind against the Springboks and believes success in that area can rub off on other facets of their game.
The Wallabies determination was best summed up by a remarkable double tackle from Ashley-Cooper in the second half where he managed to fell Springboks flyers Lwazi Mvovo and Jean de Villiers at the same time and shut down a try-scoring opportunity.
“It was the last 20 minutes that won us the game. Fitness got us over the line in the end,” he said.
“And desperation in defence is something we can really build on moving forward into next week and for the rest of the Championship.
“We gave the South Africans too much easy ball when it came to exiting our 22 … and Argentina play a similar style of football in kick receives.
“It’s up to us to react and hopefully get a few more results next week.” - AAP
[ Source: Australian Times ]
