The reality damage the Wallabies this week in an honesty session pushed by a management group determined to avoid wasting Australia’s Rugby World Cup marketing campaign.
Shock 22-15 losers to Fiji, the Wallabies don’t have any selection however to beat Wales in Lyon on Monday morning (AEST) to have any hope of advancing to the knockout levels of the event.
Vice-captain Tate McDermott, who is ready to return to the group after lacking the loss to the Fijians due to concussion protocols, mentioned whereas the main focus had switched to beating Wales, there was some particular soul-searching earlier this week.
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“The leadership boys took the group aside and we had a couple of honest admissions around the boys putting their hand up admitting that’s not what we stand for, that’s not good enough,” the Queensland halfback mentioned.
“The honesty in the group was awesome to see because it was a tough watch.
“We had to call that out, we had to put everything on the table so we don’t fall into the same trap.
“We’ve seen a big shift from the hangover from that performance against Fiji. We had to throw that in the bin as quickly as possible because of the importance of this game (against Wales).
“I’ve been really happy with the response on the training field.”
McDermott mentioned Australia’s coach Eddie Jones had additionally been “really good at driving the mindset” of the Wallabies.
“We’ve got a real clear plan of how we want to go into this game,” he mentioned.
“We definitely don’t want to play footy in our own half. We’ve got to be a lot smarter with those (long) kicks because against a team like Wales, all you’re doing is giving them possession, so you’ve got to make it a contest.
“They’ll definitely go to the breakdown considering what went on (against Fiji) at the weekend – they’re going to come hard there.
“They’ve got good back-rowers that will put pressure on us there. We’ve got to move the point of attack. We’ve got to win that physicality and that mindset battle at the breakdown in order to do that.”
Despite captain Will Skelton set to overlook one other match with a calf damage, McDermott wasn’t positive if he can be named as skipper for Monday’s match after hooker Dave Porecki led the group in opposition to Fiji.
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“We’ve got a strong leadership group, so anyone in that group is capable of taking that role,” McDermott mentioned.
Wallabies scrum coach Neil Hatley mentioned it wasn’t a “massive thing” for the Wallabies in needing a daily captain.
“That leadership group, which still includes people like ‘Skelts’, ‘Slips’ (James Slipper), Tate … they sit down, they work along with the coaching group, how we want to play, what we want the game to look like,” Hatley mentioned.
“We’ve been in enough games now and lost people in important positions to know that it’s not just one person.”
The Wallabies have misplaced Max Jorgensen for the event after the uncapped teenage winger broke his leg at coaching.
Jorgensen could be changed within the squad however his alternative is not going to be eligible to play in opposition to Wales.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
