The Wallabies are excited by new coach Ewen McKenzie’s game plan to end the All Blacks’ decade of Bledisloe Cup dominance and determined to start their new era on a strong note.
McKenzie has been careful to retain the element of surprise he enjoys as he prepares for his first game at the helm in Saturday’s clash with world champions New Zealand in Sydney.
Media have been kept well away from training to prevent disclosing his tactics to the All Blacks and the coach won’t show his hand with selections until naming his team on Thursday.
However the players have been quick to buy into McKenzie’s approach ahead of their back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks over the next 10 days that will go a long way to deciding the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup fate in 2013.
Brumbies skipper and incumbent Test loose forward Ben Mowen said on Wednesday squad members were impressed by McKenzie’s ideas and the thoroughness of his planning.
“I really do like the detail that he (McKenzie) puts in,” said Mowen.
“I like the strategies that he’s talking about putting in place.
“You can tell that he’s thought for a very long time.
“I’m sure he’s been looking forward to a chance hopefully one day to get this position and over that time he’s been adjusting his match strategy and game plan in his head.
“The guys as a whole I think are generally very impressed by him and excited and want to make sure that we start this McKenzie era off on the right foot.
“Whoever gets that role on the weekend has just got to make sure we execute that game plan, because we certainly believe we’ve got the talent and the players to win it, but it’s going to be a huge ask.”
Prop James Slipper has had plenty of experience of McKenzie’s coaching at the Queensland Reds and saw the Wallabies squad gaining similar confidence from their new mentor.
“He’s the type of bloke that really puts a lot of time in away from the boys,” said Slipper.
“He does his homework and comes to the team room prepared so I’m sure a few ideas have been floating through his mind over the past months.
“The players really feel that vibe and we’re really confident with what he’s saying.
We’ve got the skill and the talent with the players, it’s just a matter of executing that game plan he sets.”
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