Soul searching for wounded Wallabies
Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:47
Never afraid to bleed for the cause: Rocky Elsom makes for a good Barbarian.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans said there would be plenty of soul searching as Australia head into camp at their Durban base this week.
Following their demoralising 31-44 Tri-Nations loss to South Africa in Pretoria, Deans is planning an intense week of training in the coastal city, Durban, before the return Test against the Springboks in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Wallabies twice let slip 14-points leads after making a near-perfect start at Loftus Versfeld.
"We've got to start with ourselves obviously and each and every one of us has to start with what part we played in it," Deans told AAP.
"If we don't start there then there will be no change."
Injuries to lock Nathan Sharpe (ankle) and loose forward Scott Higginbotham (back) will be assessed this week with Higginbotham in more doubt for the Mandela Plate decider.
Australia have an opportunity to finish the Tri-Nations series on a high with a first win at altitude in South Africa in 47 years and another crack at champions New Zealand in Sydney the following week.
But captain Rocky Elsom said the focus was firmly on breaking the Highveld hoodoo.
"The challenge is right in front of us with South Africa," Elsom told AAP.
"If it wasn't before, particularly now after the way the game went [at the weekend], we can't be thinking about anything further than our game on the weekend."
The Wallabies will train at the soccer World Cup venue Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
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