Wallabies rue lineout failings
Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:40
Boks steal another Wallaby throw. (c) Gallo
Wallaby lock Nathan Sharpe has admitted his frustration that the Australian lineout fell apart during Saturday's 31-44 loss to the Springboks.
Australia lost four lineouts on their own throw, which proved to be a crucial factor in the defeat, as lineout supremo, Victor Matfield, showed once against why he is the best in the world at the set-piece during his 100th Test match at his home ground, Loftus Versfeld.
The Springboks were able to steal the lineout ball when the Wallabies were in attacking positions in both the 66th and the 71st minute, when a converted try was all that separated the two sides on the scoreboard.
"That's the worst feeling in the world because obviously you realise how crucial position and possession are," said Sharpe told AAP.
"There'd been things that had been working well for us during the night in the lineout and unfortunately we just dropped off towards the end there."
The Australian lineout general, Sharpe, was off the field for much of the second half after rolling his ankle, and was forced to watch helplessly as Australia squandered their lead and missed out on the chance to win at altitude for the first time in 47 years.
"At the end of the day the Springboks have a good lineout and you've got to be on your toes whenever you play them, so it was just the way that the game turned out," Sharpe explained.
"It's just pressure from them."
Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom was equally full of praise for the Bok lineout and realises that it is an area where the Australians will need to improve drastically ahead of Saturday's Test match in Bloemfontein.
"It was very loud so there was an element of... communication there," Elsom said.
"They are an excellent defensive lineout, there's no doubt about that, they get up in the air more than anyone and they steal more ball than anyone, there's daylight second.
"They are factors but it just comes down to our drilling and drilling isn't just how you lift and jump, it's a whole lot of things.
"It's not the end of the world if you lose a lineout like that at the end of the game but I just didn't feel like we got enough out of our set piece stuff."
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