Faessler reveals ‘huge focus’ behind clinical Australia A shutout win

Australia A captain Matt Faessler has revealed the “huge focus” behind the team’s shutout 52-0 win over an Eagles-heavy USA XV, with the men in gold piling on 113 points across the two-match series in the United States.

Coach Stephen Larkham selected a dozen Wallabies in the initial 27-man group, which was made up of players from Australia’s four Super Rugby Pacific clubs. Former NRL star Zac Lomax and recent Wallabies debutant Harry McLaughlin-Phillips were later added to the rep squad.

Faessler was handed captaincy duties ahead of the first match in Nashville, and the front-rower got on the scoresheet in a 61-12 win. Australia A were just as emphatic six days later under Friday night lights, even with Larkham making changes to the starting XV.

Capped Wallabies lock Nick Frost raced away for the final try of the final half, as the visitors took a 33-point lead into the sheds. McLaughlin-Phillips received Player of the Match honours after steering the team to a comprehensive result, having scored a try himself in the second term.

Faessler spoke post-game about how working hard for each other on and off the ball was a major focus for Australia A, and the skipper was pleased to see those efforts keep a new-look USA XV scoreless across the 80 minutes.

“Really good reward for the hard we’ve put in over the last two weeks. Really happy that the boys didn’t rest on their laurels on the back of last week’s win,” Faessler said.

“We prepared well. The U.S. had a fair few changes in their forward pack, a fair bit bigger, and a really strong ball-carrying 12, and I think that really showed. They were quite physical in contact.

“Really happy with how our set-piece turned out this week. Touch patchy in the second half but quite patch, very rewarded.”

Tane Edmed got first crack in the run-on side at fly-half, wearing the No. 10 jersey a week ago opposite Chicago Hounds playmaker Chris Hilsenebck. Edmed slotted a few shots at goal before coming off for ‘HMP’ around the 60-minute mark.

Those two swapped places in the matchday 23 for the series finale, with McLaughlin-Phillips getting a run less than one month after debuting for the Wallabies. The 22-year-old steered the Western Force to a Super Rugby AUS title before debuting at Test level in Bledisloe II.

“We came together as a team over the last two weeks and gelled really well,” McLaughlin-Phillips said post-game.

“Coming from all four Super club, just a connection piece that we drove really hard really delivered for us on the field. It was a really good two weeks.

“We just really drove the emphasis on doubling down on our performance,” he added.

“Holding them to nil, they’re a good side and not giving them any points is really good for us as a team. Really proud of that performance.”