'I was asked to calm down': Wallabies vow to ramp up physicality for final test
Bashed up front in Brisbane, the Wallabies are promising to bring more physicality to the deciding Test against England in Sydney on Saturday as they look to clinch a rare series win over their old foe.
England set the tone at Suncorp Stadium in game two when prop Ellis Genge ran through Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper and they dominated the early forward battle to set up a match-winning lead.
Wallabies halfback Nic White, who was also roughed up by Genge, said his side would look to match the visitors’ ferocity from the opening whistle.
“We knew they were going to come out with a bit of edge and that physicality and we were just pretty disappointed with our physicality, our edge, so there’s a fair bit for us to look at,” White said on Tuesday.
“Both games they’ve come out firing; they’re big men and we’re going to have to be better up front as they got us in the contact areas.
“That will be a focus for us, fronting up physically at the start, as I feel like both games we’ve come home pretty strong so it’s about arresting those 20 minutes.”
The veteran No.9, who will bring up his 50th Test cap in the SCG match, said he had been surprised by the niggle between the two teams.
He expected more of it from England this weekend and said the Wallabies needed to walk a fine line between defending themselves and their home turf and being penalised.
They lost lock Darcy Swain for the entire series after he reacted illegally when baited by his opposite England lock Jonny Hill in the Perth Test win.
Owen Farrell’s boot then proved decisive in the Brisbane Test, booting six England penalties in the 25-17 outcome with four in the first half.
“You have to be careful around these areas in how you retaliate,” White said.
“With the Genge one I was asked to calm down but I thought I was pretty measured … and then the penalty went the other way.
“Certainly, you don’t want anyone running in but there’s a fair bit of niggle and we won’t be buying into that.
“We’ll be doing our best to just concentrate on the rugby side of things.
“At the end of the day, it’s a game of rugby and the only thing that matters is who wins.”
White felt Australia’s second half rally, to close the margin to five points before Farrell’s last penalty goal, boded well for the deciding encounter with momentum with his team.
Australia won the opening Test in Perth 30-28 while the last time they won a touring series against England was in 2006, when it was played over two Tests.
“I felt like we were coming back with tails up (in the second Test), we just didn’t execute a few of those moments in the second half and we executed those in the second half in the first Test,” White said.
His Brumbies teammate Nick Frost, who came off the bench in Brisbane, is in line for his first Test start after fellow lock Cadeyrn Neville joined a bulging injury list.
“Big Frosty is very athletic, he’s very quick and has got a huge engine – there’s so much to like about him,” White said.
“He brings a whole lot of energy so it will be exciting if he gets the nod.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments