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Wallabies' 'Mr Fix It' wants to be 'Mr Consistent'
By AAP
Reece Hodge has been Australia’s Mr Fix It for a long time.
But after returning to the Wallabies’ starting side at fullback in Saturday’s Rugby Championship triumph over world champions South Africa he would like to be Mr Consistent.
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After a dismal 48-17 defeat to Argentina, Australia coach Dave Rennie brought Hodge back into his starting XV for the first Test against South Africa.
The Melbourne Rebels fullback repaid the faith with a solid showing in the 25-17 win at Adelaide Oval to move the Wallabies up to second spot on the competition’s standings.
Hodge, who earned his recall to the top side after starring for Australia A, played a cool hand when speaking to reporters on Monday, putting the focus on the team’s performance ahead of Saturday’s Test against the Springboks at the newly-rebuilt Allianz Stadium.
“I’m just happy with the way that I played my role,” he said. “We’ve got a job to do and back it up next Saturday.
“I don’t really like talking about myself too much.
“I’d rather just talk about the team win and if I can play a role in that and do my job, then I’m happy.”
Hodge may be a veteran of 58 caps but at Test level the Rebels man has floated between fullback, five-eighth, wing and a role on the bench.
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In the last year alone, Rennie has deployed Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Banks, Jordan Petaia and Kurtley Beale in the No. 15 role.
With a year to go until the Rugby World Cup in France, Hodge is clear on what’s required for him to become the first-choice pick.
“In the past, my accuracy has let me down a little bit in different aspects in my game,” the 28-year-old said.
“I’m almost as hard a marker on myself as anyone and I want nothing more than to be playing consistent Test rugby.
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“I strive to be better every day and perform and, more importantly, be someone that my mates can trust out on the field.”
Australia will need Hodge to be that player once more as they aim to score a ninth straight win over South Africa on home soil.
Victory could take them to the top of the standings but Hodge warned the Wallabies were predicting a fierce response from the South Africans.
“They’re going to come out with some serious fire in their belly in Sydney,” he said.
“We’re always expecting them to come out firing and we’re definitely not complacent in any sense of the word.
“I think everyone’s excited by that challenge and especially at a brand new stadium in Sydney that none of us have played at before in front of a parochial crowd.”
