Vice captain Samu Kerevi is demanding an end to Australia’s shambolic starts if they’re to reach their potential at the Rugby World Cup.
Both Wallabies pool games in Japan have mirror images in terms of Australia’s uncertain, error-riddled early output followed by storming second-half fightbacks.
They over-ran Fiji 31-19 in Sapporo after trailing by nine points soon after halftime.
However, the men in green and gold couldn’t quite haul the 18-point margin they ceded to Wales in Tokyo, eventually going down 29-25.
Kerevi’s said his team were guilty of poor early execution and admitted he was a prime culprit against Wales with some uncharacteristic turnovers of an admittedly slippery ball in humid conditions.
He wouldn’t criticise Australia’s expansive early tactics in both games, even though they backfired against the more conservative Welsh in particular, who feasted on mistakes.
“You saw in the first half we created a lot of opportunities but just didn’t finish them off,” Kerevi said.
“I was guilty of losing the ball at crucial times. It’s something I’ve got to work on and be better at.
“As a team, it’s just little setbacks as we were making real inroads, whether that’s a penalty or a dropped ball or whatever it is, we’re hurting ourselves.”
Kerevi, who leads the tournament with 16 defenders beaten, said it was important Australia’s players don’t go into their shell attack-wise.
The remaining pool games against lower-ranked Uruguay and Georgia will provide a chance to fine-tune their starts ahead of a likely trip to the quarter-finals.
“It’s making sure we have those concentration levels from the get-go,” Kerevi said.
“The boys’ efforts are there, no one is intentionally doing that (mistakes) so we’re just making sure that we finish off opportunities we do get.”
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Bobbles, there was once a 10 that Samu really liked to play with. Who was it?
Bobbles
Guest
Samu needs a proper 10 to unleash him Foley is F $#in Useless .
Puff
Guest
In some respect Kerevi, is correct about the Wallabies. The fact remains; we have a team of journeymen not superstars. Therefore playing to our strengths is the only way the Wallabies will burrow deep into this WC. Trying to play the fast expansive open game places all our inconsistencies on display, we can be one dimensional and not difficult to read and Wales welcomed the cheap points Once we plugged the leakage in the second stanza and changed out a couple of key components, the traditional balanced game returned. With Wales unable to match the physical intensity and started to labor in the humidity. Their game management forwards the end was the critical winning element. What made me smile; when Cheika was asked about future matches, he responded by saying, "I look at one day at a time". Well, if I was the coach, I would be seriously looking at England and Jones, prospects. Because, Cheika’s preparation to date has been ordinary and England are exceedingly hungry.
Old Bugger
Guest
Not only start better but also play better and finish better. Too many errors brought about this loss - errors with holding the pill, passing and catching the pill, errors of pass and drawing in the defence - all of these are errors that can be fixed but, it's whether the team want to make the effort to fix them, that will make the difference. Oh and btw, errors with the coach's selections of players and tactics.....in both instances, I suggest MC finished with a C-.
Aiden
Guest
Be more clinical but don’t criticize the expansive play? In other words, learn nothing. The WBs forwards are finally firing. We looked great in both games when we kept it tight, made safe metres and then unleashed the backs at the right moment. We look dumb wasting field position with stupid pushed passes. You can talk about needing to take the catch, but why throw the pass? Has not worked two games in a row, just puts us under pressure with turnovers. Come on guys, use your brains!!