Wallabies don't roll over, says Elsom

Long-serving Wallabies flanker Rocky Elsom says even the most selfish rugby player would not hoist the white flag and “roll over” during a Test match.

Elsom prickled when reliving the term used by furious coach Robbie Deans following the Wallabies brutal 33-6 loss to the All Blacks in Wellington last month.

An irate Deans accused the Wallabies of “departing the contest” and “rolling over” in the final minutes of the Test, and rubbing further salt into the wound, said his players appeared to lack pride in their national jersey.

Elsom denied the Wallabies rolled over but admitted their work ethic lagged during the final stages, when the All Blacks scored two late tries.

“No one would ever roll over,” Elsom told AAP on Tuesday.

“I just think that wouldn’t happen, even if you wanted to. That’s very difficult to do when you’re playing.

“Even the most selfish and disinterested player would find it hard to roll over.

“By the same token, there wasn’t the same work ethic (in Wellington) that we’d shown the week before and even in the games previous.”

Elsom believes the Wallabies should relive the anguish and watch a tape of the woeful Bledisloe clash – and use it as motivation for the Tokyo rematch on October 31.

“I think it would serve us well to remember how that went in Wellington because it didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” Elsom said.

“There are a number of things we should look at again heading into that (Tokyo) match to try and get the guys in the best frame of mind.

“Just watching that match itself would be enough to get you going.”

The Wallabies scored a breakthrough victory against the world champion Springboks in Brisbane just a fortnight before their capitulation in Wellington, where they also claimed the Tri Nations wooden spoon.

Elsom said the Wallabies need to concentrate on achieving consistency.

“That was a great game in Brisbane … but then to produce something totally different two weeks later is not really acceptable,” he said.

“We’re always a very confident side but as a group we need to embrace the concept of being able to perform every week.”

Elsom is managing a knee complaint and has been unable to train with the Wallabies, who are in a four-day training camp ahead of Friday’s 35-player squad announcement for the Tokyo Test and the grand slam tour.

Elsom was awaiting scan results on Tuesday and was unsure if he would be passed fit to play in Thursday’s “possibles versus probables” trial, which will decide which eight players are cut from Deans’ squad.

Deans also signalled the Wallabies captaincy would come under review ahead of Friday’s team announcement.

Elsom has been touted as Stirling Mortlock’s possible replacement.

“Everyone has their role in the side and I’m pretty happy with my role as it is,” Elsom said.

“I think there is always a leadership group (in a team) whether it is announced or not, that naturally forms.”

The Wallabies trial is open to the public and doubles as a fund-raiser for the Samoa tsunami victims. Kickoff is at 9.30am at St Ignatius College in Riverview, Sydney.