Wallaby boot camp pays dividends
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:15
Australia are crediting a gruelling boot camp as the secret behind their newfound steel on display on the European rugby tour.
The Wallabies were put through series of conditioning-based drills and exercises designed to increase skill levels under physical and mental fatigue during boot camps prior to the tour.
"The work they've been doing physically with Pete Harding [boot camp instructor] is evident and I think they can feel that," Deans told rugbyheaven.com.au
"And that's a big part of it; when you line up on the start line, you've got to have a sense of having a full tank to be able to go the distance."
There was a lot of weight, speed and strength work plus miles and miles of running, but mostly with ball in hand to improve execution under the pressure of Test-match conditions.
The results have been there as the Wallabies put both Italy and England to the sword, doggedly winning back-to-back Test matches that were in the balance going into the final 15 minutes.
Lock Nathan Sharpe said the conditioning camps left him feeling "terrific" - and it showed as the 72-Test stalwart turned in one of his finest performances for the Wallabies on Saturday.
"They were pretty full-on," Sharpe said.
"Because we jammed it all into four days, it was pretty much as soon as you got into camp it was go-go-go until you left on the Friday.
"Plenty of hard work went into it and hopefully towards the end of this tour and at the back end of games it pays a big dividend."
