Deans moves to fire up Wallaby forwards
By David Beniuk, 24 Jun 2009
- Tagged:
- David Pocock, French rugby, George Smith, Luke Burgess, Phil Waugh, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is far from impressed with his side’s work at the breakdown after three internationals so far this season.
Deans has challenged his forwards to improve every aspect of their work at the contest, including their enthusiasm, as the Australians prepare to take on the physical French at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.
“The French will target our breakdowns, it’s not difficult to see that coming and they exposed the All Blacks in that area,” Deans told reporters on Tuesday.
“It’s not at the level that we’d like yet on all fronts, to be honest, on technique, on understanding of role play and on general enthusiasm.”
Deans’ comments came as he unusually named two openside flankers, young gun David Pocock and veteran Phil Waugh, on his bench for Saturday’s Test.
That move will boost the Wallabies’ breakdown capability but is also partly so starting openside George Smith can cover No.8, the position he played in last Saturday’s second Test against Italy.
Halfback Luke Burgess said he was confident of his forwards winning clean ball.
“They’ve been training hard and we’ve made improvements, especially against European sides,” Burgess said.
“It’s obviously against one team so far, against Italy, but we’re expecting France to be really tough at the breakdown and our forwards have been doing well there, well they’ve been improving.
“We experienced some difficulty against them last year in France but if you’re aware of it then you can deal with it so it’s all about being aware of it.”
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The Crowd Says (4) | Page 1 of Comments
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- David Pocock, French rugby, George Smith, Luke Burgess, Phil Waugh, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
June 24th 2009 @ 8:31am
Even looser said | June 24th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
” The French will target our breakdowns, it’s not difficult to see that coming and they exposed the All Blacks in that area,” Deans told reporters on Tuesday.
He would also be thinking ‘The French will target our breakdowns as they see us as soft there’.
Solution: greater urgency, arrive in numbers, cleanout, provide Burgess with quick clean ball. Do this and the Wallabies will not only win against the French but be in the hunt against the AB’s & the Boks.
June 24th 2009 @ 11:43am
retired rucker said | June 24th 2009 @ 11:43am | Report comment
Even,
Hear Hear.
I don’t like enthusiasm as a word, sounds like pc drivel. How about hard at the ball controlled aggression.
June 24th 2009 @ 4:38pm
joeb said | June 24th 2009 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
Burgo: “… but if you’re aware of it then you can deal with it so it’s all about being aware of it.”
Yeah, absolutely agree.
June 24th 2009 @ 5:03pm
Justin said | June 24th 2009 @ 5:03pm | Report comment
Fark you’d hope they are aware of it. They should be doing the same thing against every team they play. See the man at the ruck you want to move and move him with aggression and technique…