THE Wallabies are banking on the mercurial attacking talents of Israel Folau and Quade Cooper to turn around their Rugby Championship fortunes against South Africa in Brisbane tomorrow.
Australia have lost both their opening Tests of the southern hemisphere series and with it the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand, while the Springboks are unbeaten in the tournament after back-to-back wins over Argentina.
Ewen McKenzie is looking to the return of playmaker Cooper and the switching of Folau from wing to fullback to ignite the Wallabies’ attack and kick-start their campaign as he seeks his first victory as Aussie coach.
The Boks have not won in their past eight visits to Brisbane and Heyneke Meyer’s men are looking for their first success in Australia in four years.
McKenzie recalled Cooper at flyhalf for Matt Toomua and shifted Folau from the wing, where he had limited chances against the All Blacks, to fullback at the expense of Jesse Mogg.
Nick Cummins comes onto the right wing for his seventh cap.
It is the first time Cooper, out of favour under previous coach Robbie Deans, has played at number 10 for Australia since the Wallabies defeated South Africa and Argentina in back-to-back Tests last September. McKenzie, who replaced Deans in July, is confident he has a potent mix with Cooper and Folau. “We have specific thoughts about how we want to play this game and Quade is best suited to carrying out,” he said.
“There’s an innate ability, especially one-on-one .
“If you can create one-on-ones, it doesn’t matter how good the guy is in defence. Even if he does get tackled, he gets the ball away, so he’s hard to contain.”
Meyer believes the Boks will take on one of the best backlines his team has faced.
“You look at this team and it’s full-on attack,” said Meyer.
“They know we travelled so they will try to run our forwards flat and tired. I think this is one of the best backlines we have faced, and not just this year.”
The Wallabies suffered a blow yesterday with the withdrawal of skipper James Horwill with a hamstring injury, making way for Kane Douglas to partner Rob Simmons at lock.
Scrumhalf Will Genia takes over the captaincy. — Sapa-AFP
Wallabies bank on their speedsters
Australia have lost both their opening Tests of the southern hemisphere series and with it the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand, while the Springboks are unbeaten in the tournament after back-to-back wins over Argentina.
Ewen McKenzie is looking to the return of playmaker Cooper and the switching of Folau from wing to fullback to ignite the Wallabies’ attack and kick-start their campaign as he seeks his first victory as Aussie coach.
The Boks have not won in their past eight visits to Brisbane and Heyneke Meyer’s men are looking for their first success in Australia in four years.
McKenzie recalled Cooper at flyhalf for Matt Toomua and shifted Folau from the wing, where he had limited chances against the All Blacks, to fullback at the expense of Jesse Mogg.
Nick Cummins comes onto the right wing for his seventh cap.
It is the first time Cooper, out of favour under previous coach Robbie Deans, has played at number 10 for Australia since the Wallabies defeated South Africa and Argentina in back-to-back Tests last September. McKenzie, who replaced Deans in July, is confident he has a potent mix with Cooper and Folau. “We have specific thoughts about how we want to play this game and Quade is best suited to carrying out,” he said.
“There’s an innate ability, especially one-on-one .
“If you can create one-on-ones, it doesn’t matter how good the guy is in defence. Even if he does get tackled, he gets the ball away, so he’s hard to contain.”
Meyer believes the Boks will take on one of the best backlines his team has faced.
“You look at this team and it’s full-on attack,” said Meyer.
“They know we travelled so they will try to run our forwards flat and tired. I think this is one of the best backlines we have faced, and not just this year.”
The Wallabies suffered a blow yesterday with the withdrawal of skipper James Horwill with a hamstring injury, making way for Kane Douglas to partner Rob Simmons at lock.
Scrumhalf Will Genia takes over the captaincy. — Sapa-AFP
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