Dingo lays down law for Wobblies

Shallow back-up leaves him powerless
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has warned several players to get out of their comfort zone or their World Cup aspirations will be over.

Greg Growden, RugbyHeaven

After the Wallabies wasted a great opportunity to beat the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, when they squandered a 21-7 lead to lose 44-31, it was clear an agitated Deans had lost patience with several players – experienced and younger members of the starting line-up – who went missing at important junctures of the Pretoria Test.

Describing the Test as the ”one that got away”, Deans said it was crucial that certain players ”toughened up” before the team headed for Durban to prepare for Saturday’s Tri-Nations international against the Springboks in Bloemfontein.

Deans also stressed the need for ”everyone in the team to be harder on each other”.

He was referring to players disappearing in defence, unnecessarily putting pressure on team-mates with ”schoolboy rugby” cut-out passes, accepting mediocrity and not taking opportunities when they were provided. What they are learning on the training paddock is not being transferred to the playing field.

SHALLOW BACK-UP

What irritates Deans most is that he cannot penalise the repeat offenders because the back-up is so shallow. Some are holding on to their Wallabies spots simply because there is no one else available for selection.

But he warned that when Digby Ioane, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Peter Hynes, Rob Horne, Dan Vickerman and Rod Davies again became available, he would not be sympathetic to those members of the squad in South Africa who failed to lift their standards over the next fortnight.

World Cup spots could easily be determined by how some players fare in Bloemfontein and against the All Blacks the following weekend in Sydney.

Deans said he had not lost hope of former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock returning via the Melbourne Rebels next year, explaining that players who achieve high-impact performances would help transform this erratic line-up.

”What that loss came down to was unnecessary lapses,” Deans said on Monday. ”In the game, there were elements which were good, but some of the old elements of our play came back. You’ve got to put that down to the ability of the players to drive each other to keep their minds on the task. This team is not yet tough enough.”

However, there is unlikely to be dramatic changes to the Test team because there are not exactly many obvious alternatives. Nonetheless, Stephen Moore will pressure Saia Faingaa for the starting hooker position, and back-up prop James Slipper is expected to get more game time. Although second-rower Nathan Sharpe left the field with a rolled ankle, he is expected to be available.

Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom told the players that it was high time they picked up their act and took responsibility for wasted opportunities.

”I spoke about the fact that after several weeks off, we didn’t do what we were supposed to do,” Elsom said. ”Our system of attack works well and we have a general game plan that is effective. But we have to be more threatening and need to hold on to the ball more to ensure our plans work.”