'Content' Deans considers body count
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:34
Winning habit: Wallaby coach Robbie Deans
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans was quietly content about his team's performance after their 27-15 win over the Springboks in Durban, despite a raft of injuries to his squad during the bruising Tri-Nations encounter.
The win gave the Aussies their first win in eight years in a Test in South Africa, but Deans felt that the game was very physical, and that his team had much improvement to make ahead of next week's encounter.
"I'm smiling inside," said Deans. "The circumstances that the Springboks were under, and how desperate they were, needs to be taken into consideration."
Things did not go all Australia's way in the bruising encounter though, as the visitors suffered various injuries to key members of the squad.
Centre Berrick Barnes went off early with a shoulder complaint, with lock Dan Vickerman also capitulating later in the clash to a shoulder injury.
But things got worse for the Aussies, and they could well have a second row crisis on their hands ahead of the Johannesburg Test, as Vickerman's lock partner James Horwill left the field near the end of the match with what appeared to be concussion.
"I think the state of the bodies is an indicator [of the tough contest]," said Deans, referring to the spate of injured players.
"It was great to get up [against the Boks]. Again, you have to look at the history books to see how rarely that happens, but we'll recover well now.
"I guess it's all very well winning one [Test], but we're very keen to back it up now.
"There's lots of scope for next week. The desperation of both teams means that it wasn't an error-free contest.
"We'll look at that, and we'll be better next week, because there's no doubt we'll have to be," Deans said.
Australia now move into second spot on the International Rugby Board (IRB) world rankings after the win over the Springboks.
The Tri-Nations title will now rest on the final match between Australia and New Zealand on September 13 in Brisbane, regardless of what happens next week between the Boks and the Wallabies.
South Africa are now also guaranteed of finishing last in the Tri-Nations log standings.
