AUSTRALIA LOOK FOR BALANCE IN ATTACK AGAINST ALL BLACKS
WELLINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The Wallabies will still be encouraged to “have a dig” in their Rugby Championship
clash
against New Zealand on Saturday but have been reminded they need to make better decisions in attack, captain James Horwill said on Friday.
Horwill had told the Australian players to attack if they thought they had an opportunity last week at Sydney's Olympic Stadium, but the all-out attack plan misfired and they were soundly beaten 47-29.
Flyhalf Matt Toomua attempted to get the ball wide as quickly as possi- ble in the hope the Wallabies loose forwards would provide quick ball to exploit the All Blacks' fringe defence and create gaps in the backline.
The tactic played into the hands of the All Blacks, however, who shut down their options and fed off their mistakes to score six tries, necessitating a change in approach this week. “We still want guys to back themselves if they feel there is
something on. We don't want to temper that in any way,” Horwill told reporters on Friday.
“But it's about getting the balance right between running and kicking and putting the ball behind them and playing a bit more field position than running everything. “That's something we have spoken about this week.”
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie said their game plan had been
Horwill had told the Australian players to attack if they thought they had an opportunity last week at Sydney's Olympic Stadium, but the all-out attack plan misfired and they were soundly beaten 47-29
“skewed” a little too much towards shifting the ball and running, rather than seeking field position before building pressure again.
On Saturday therefore, Toomua is more likely to play the game he had used to great effect with the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby this season, ensuring the team get out of their own half before they unleashed their attacking options.
“He's obviously a great kicker of the ball and you saw during the Brumbies season he was able to put them in great field position and get them out of trouble,” scrumhalf Will Genia said.