More pain for the Wallabies after a big loss

HAVING suffered a record defeat against the All Blacks at Eden Park, downcast Wallabies players now face nearly two months without seeing family members after the Western Australian government rejected applications for them to join the team.

The Wallabies fly to Perth on Sunday, following their 57-22 defeat in Auckland, and coach Dave Rennie revealed that NSW players in the squad now face nearly four months away from loved ones while they play in the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship tournaments.

“Some of our boys from NSW haven’t seen family for seven weeks, we could end up in Perth for another seven weeks,” said Rennie, as the option looms for the entire TRC to be played in the western city.

“Rugby Australia has been doing all they can to keep the families (together) and move people around, quarantine, we were hoping to get a few people, family members, into Perth, but we’ve been knocked back for that.

“So it’s difficult. But we’re actually a really tight group, good men, we will get an arm around each other because chances are we’ll get another seven weeks together.”

Rennie rejected the notion his team should play a more dour style of rugby – like that of world champions the Springboks – to beat the All Blacks.

“If we can reduce them to 20 points or less, they lose more than they win. That was certainly a goal heading in,” Rennie said.

“I think we’ve got to keep building on our attack.

“Our ability to make smart decisions, and play what’s in front of us, that’s an area we need a lot of development.

“It’s a balance, we want to kick more.

“It’s not a natural part of the DNA of Wallaby players at the moment, so it’s trying to get a balance and trying to find space and apply pressure through that.”