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Star players back on deck for Wallabies as Springboks loom

(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

A confident Andrew Kellaway admits he’ll be envious of the punters drinking beers on the Adelaide Oval hill on Saturday but says he’s ready to put on a show for them.

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The Wallabies back injured his hamstring seven weeks ago, costing him a start in the hotly-contested No 15 jersey in the recent series against England.

Jordan Petaia – filling the role of injured fullback Tom Banks – lasted just minutes in the position in the second Test against England before being concussed, and has since returned on the wing with Tom Wright preferred at fullback.

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Petaia and Wright had days to forget in a record 48-17 mauling from Argentina in their most recent outing, leaving the position up for grabs in the side’s Rugby Championship return to home soil.

It begins in Adelaide on Saturday against world champions South Africa, who have lost their past seven Tests in Australia in a drought dating back to 2013.

Kellaway was coy about his positional movements, saying he’s been training at the Wallabies’ Gold Coast base as a winger and fullback, but made it clear he’s ready to roll.

“Yeah [the timing of the injury] was a tough pill to swallow; I was looking forward to playing fullback and it doesn’t come by often in this team with the depth we have there now,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

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“It was a slow process, at least it felt like that for me, but I ripped into it and here we are hopefully – touch wood – no complications. I’m ready to go and if I get the call-up, how good.

“I’m pumped. Adelaide Oval, what a place; would love to be on the hill having a beer … (it’s) one of the great cricket venues.”

Prop Allan Alaalatoa will also return after missing the last Test for personal reasons.

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He said there had been “an edge” to Australia’s training this week after the poor showing in Argentina that came a week after an impressive first-up win there.

“The boys have been pretty gutted after that last game,” he said. “There were some tough conversations yesterday in review and it’s all for us to get better this weekend. We had a sour taste in our mouth.”

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Alaalatoa said the set piece battle remained a focal point of the Springboks’ plan.

“All the games that I’ve been part of (against South Africa), we say the forward pack has to take it to them,” he said.

“It’s something they’ll try and go to a lot on Saturday.”

– Murray Wenzel

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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