Wallabies upbeat as losses pile up

WILL Genia has an unshakeable belief that the Wallabies are on the right track with their game style despite the knockers, skill lapses and spluttering try production since his last visit to Argentina a year ago.

The Wallabies scored five tries when they toppled the Pumas 37-20 in Mendoza but such precision has been elusive since even when winning 65 per cent of the ball as they did against South Africa last weekend.

It is frustrating and a result-killer, but the 95-Test halfback could still see progress despite the disappointment of the 23-12 loss to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth.

Genia was the trigger in the two tries that the Wallabies did score, with a long pass to Reece Hodge for the first and then with two touches in his own try after a wonderful blindside, kick-return strike that unfolded over 75m.

“We showed a lot of good things in terms of the heart, character and determination to fight back from 14-0 down but more specifically in the way we want to play the game,” Genia said.

“There was some good interlinking between forwards and backs and big discipline in sticking to our shape but execution errors let us down, passes going slightly behind or pushing an off-load.

“Copping a loss is very disappointing but there were a helluva lot of positives and we’ve a lot more to build on for this Argentina Test than in weeks before.”

The Wallabies face a huge challenge against the Pumas in Salta on Sunday morning (Australian time) after three draining flights just to get to this high-altitude city 1152m above sea level in the foothills of the Andes.

The Wallabies have averaged just two tries a Test through this year of just two wins from eight starts.