Respected All Blacks Mils Muliaina rates Australia’s exciting and emerging backline as a “pretty complete package” heading into Saturday’s final Tri-Nations rugby clash at ANZ Stadium.
The senior member of the All Blacks backline with 88 Test caps, Muliaina has been impressed by the attacking ability of the largely young Australian back division.
He said the inclusion in the back three of winger James O’Connor and fullback Kurtley Beale added excitement and the ability to counter attack from anywhere on the field.
“With Kurtley being there now, he’s stepped up from the Test in Christchurch and the way he played in South Africa was fantastic,” Muliaina told AAP in Sydney.
“O’Connor on the wing is just going to be a super star, because he’s been there at a young age.
“I think what they’ve shown is the ability to be able to have a crack and also it’s about their balance.
“They are pretty good kickers as well. I think they are only going to get better as a combination and as a team they are going to be definitely threatening on the weekend.”
Muliaina stressed the Wallabies backline threats weren’t limited to their back three and was wary of playmakers Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau.
New Zealand-born five-eighth Cooper will play his first Test against the country of his birth.
“He (Cooper) has come on in leaps and bounds, it would’ve been nice to keep him a bit longer in Tokoroa (in New Zealand).
“I think he’s been fantastic.
“You talk about the backs and you’ve still got guys like Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper, those guys are threatening ball runners and certainly game breakers.
“I think as a whole backline they’ve got a pretty complete package.”
Muliaina believed the different interpretation of the laws this year had assisted New Zealand’s natural inclination to run the ball.
He foreshadowed an exciting clash at ANZ Stadium following a more traditional and tighter last encounter in Christchurch between the two teams, which produced just three tries.
“We probably struggled a little bit in Christchurch when we played the Wallabies last time. For us it’s about getting the balance right, but certainly knowing in the back of our minds that we do want to get out there and attack,” Muliaina said.
Partnering him in the back three this week will be Cory Jane and Israel Dagg, both of whom are normally fullbacks for their Super teams.
Muliaina said if New Zealand can nullify the Wallabies up front they can limit the influence of Cooper by starving him of possession.
“He’s got to steer the ship and I think he’s going to be a constant threat, especially around the fringes with his footwork. When he shapes the kick he will jump up in the air and do some steps, so I think the unexpected factor is certainly something that is going to be a big threat.”
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