Aussies accept attacking challenge
12 Oct 2011
Anthony Faingaa says the Wallabies won’t restrict themselves to a conservative game plan when they meet the All Blacks in Sunday’s World Cup semi-final.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that All Blacks coach Graham Henry has issued the attacking challenge, and the Wallabies have responded bullishly.
Faingaa told the media that while the Aussies won’t favour a one-sided approach, they will look to bring their dangerous backline into the game and score tries.
‘If you look at history in World Cups, not many tries have been scored in finals or throughout the tournament at all. So it’s making sure we have a really good defensive effort and stay disciplined, but we’re going out there not to keep the scoreboard close – if we can blow it out, we’ll blow it out.’
The All Blacks haven’t won the World Cup since 1987, and there’s a lot of expectation and pressure for them to take the title in a global tournament staged on home soil.
They will be without Dan Carter, who suffered a tournament-ending injury in the build up to the All Blacks’ final pool clash. As many pundits have noted, the All Blacks are a less complete side without Carter. Without the mercurial flyhalf, they are a less daunting prospect.
Faingaa suggests that all the hype, pressure and paranoia will help the Wallabies break a hoodoo of their own. Australia haven’t won at Eden Park since 1986, but will fancy their chances against a side sans Carter.
‘Obviously they have a lot of public expectation and that’s something that might work in our favour,’ he said. ‘They are under so much pressure that they have to win, regardless.’
7 Comments
12 Oct 2011, 03:42 am
Bring it on.
12 Oct 2011, 03:54 am
The Aussies wont win this one – too much against them and their form hasn’t been up to scratch.
12 Oct 2011, 04:46 am
Last time they won, Read, Thommo out injured – no Kaino, They had a week longer rest as a unit and Guildford had a dropper shocker.
This time round that aint gonna happen at Eden Park. Especially if Kahui, Dagg and Jane at back. Weepu is in good enough form to take the reins from Cruden.
The only way to failure will be if ABs lose the plot….fingers crossed but can’t see that happening this time. Aussies have got out of Jail for the last time.
12 Oct 2011, 04:52 am
Also, aussies have started getting cocky and trying on their mind games….which history shows always fires up the ABs. I hope they all eyeball QC in the haka
12 Oct 2011, 05:00 am
Shaping up to be an absolute cracker. Head tells me New Zealand and heart tells me Australia. The winner deserves the spoils, good luck.
12 Oct 2011, 05:57 am
Where due a good one, we’ve got the talent and the muscle, I think the AB’s are in for a shock, beating the most experienced Bokk team has been just the Tonic this Wallabies team needed
12 Oct 2011, 06:11 am
Oz are as unpredictable and as mercurial as France. That makes them a far more feared opponent than the one-dimensional metronomic Boks.
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