Robbie Deans optimistic about Wallabies’ chances in South Africa
Australia’s coach Robbie Deans is confident that his side will leave disappointments of recent defeats behind them and will give a much improved performance against Springboks in the Tri-Nations’ match. Wallabies come into this match after losing back-to-back matches against their Trans-Tasman rivals All Blacks. Also defeats at the hands of in-form New Zealand cost them the Bledisloe title.
Australia will be boosted by the return of their star player Quade Cooper before their first match on South African soil. However, Deans is wary that uncertainty of Cooper’s future may indirectly affect concentration of his player and may adversely affect their chances against the home side. Australia will meet South Africa on Saturday for a Tri-nations clash in Pretoria. Cooper returns to starting 11 after completing his suspension and is the only obvious change in Australian line-up which participated in their last match against All Blacks. Wallabies will be looking to extend Springboks’ pathetic Tri-Nations campaign. However, Deans is wary that pursuit of Cooper by the Parramatta Eels may affect his star player’s concentration for the match and hence affect his team prospects against the hosts.
Australian rugby has been under media frenzy since last week when news regarding Eels’ offer to Cooper came to surface. Eels made a lucrative offer to Cooper to abandon the Australian Rugby Union for them. With just one year before World Cup, this news gripped Australian rugby like a storm. However, Cooper has decided to remain silent and contemplate on it. On the other hand, Deans wants to focus on winning Mandela Challenge Plate and to keep Springboks’ misery continued in this year’s Tri-Nations. Commenting on it, he said, “If any of the peripheral stuff is in the forefront of his mind, it will bite him and it will bite the team. Hopefully, that is not the case. Being here is advantageous because there is less profile and less interest.”
On his return, Cooper will resume the No.10 role while Matt Giteau will be shifted to inside-centre in place of Anthony Faingaa. This will be the only change to the side that lost to All Blacks 20-10 in Christchurch. Cooper will be hoping to bring back his national team to winning ways after he missed both of Australia's Bledisloe Cup defeats as a result of suspension which was awarded to him after he committed a dangerous tackle in Wallabies’ win over Springboks in Brisbane. Nonetheless, Deans believes that Cooper will struggle against Springboks as he comes with little match practice. He said, “It won't be easy for him against the Springboks because he hasn't been in rugby for a few weeks. So to go from nothing into the Tri Nations fixture where there is a lot of intensity and a lot at stake will be hard. The Springboks won't make his life easy either. They've got the background of playing against him in Brisbane.”
Robbie Deans has also dismissed altitude as a determining factor in the match. Wallabies do not enjoy a healthy record at South Africa's high veldt. They have not won a single match there since 1963. Commenting on the venue, Australian coach said, “We don't have a great history at altitude. But to be frank, it's not the issue many people make it out to be. Our recent Super 14 performances also show that it's not such a big deal.” Wallabies and Springboks will be battling to secure second position in the Tri-Nations after All Blacks claimed the Tri-Nations title with their fifth straight victory in the tournament, last week. Wallabies are hoping to win this clash as they have already defeated Springboks this year in Brisbane. Commenting on it, Dean said, “It was a good performance but we've seen in the Springboks response at the weekend that we'll have to be even better. There are many objectives from this tour, and there's a lot more than meets the eye.”
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