Wallabies assistant coach Stephen Larkham wants more accuracy in attack, Israel Folau and David Pocock expected to return against Pumas
STEPHEN Larkham reckons new playmaking combination Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua did a fantastic job putting the Wallabies in a position to score last weekend. While David Pocock and Israel Folau are both expected to be fit for Saturday’s Test.
STEPHEN Larkham reckons new playmaking combination Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua did a fantastic job putting the Wallabies in a position to score last weekend.
It’s now on everyone else to finish their work and make sure the ball goes over the line.
Australia are in the midst of one of their worst seasons in decades when it comes to attack, with an average of just 17.2 points per game across their six Test matches so far in 2018.
That’s markedly down on last year’s average of 31.1.
But Wallabies attack coach Larkham believes they are on the right track with Beale and Toomua running the show at five-eighth and inside centre, a new-look pairing that will get another run together in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against Argentina.
They had a tentative start in Saturday’s 23-18 win over South Africa in difficult, slippery conditions.
“We didn’t score as many tries as we would have liked to,” Larkham said on Tuesday.
“We got into their 22 a number of times, but probably a lack of patience in that area (cost us) maybe three or four times.
“If I look at the playmaking roles in the team, I think they did a fantastic job of getting us into the 22 and then I think as a whole team we can do a better job (of finishing).”
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The Wallabies look set for a big boost in that regard with Israel Folau, one of the world’s most potent try-scoring threats, in line to return from injury alongside David Pocock.
Folau (ankle) and Pocock (neck) were both late scratchings from the Springboks clash but were due to partake in contact work at training on Tuesday afternoon, putting them on course to feature against Los Pumas at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.
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Larkham said a firm decision on them both would be made later in the week.
For his part, Dane Haylett-Petty anticipates Folau will play - meaning a shift from fullback to wing to accommodate him.
“I’m expecting he’ll play,” Haylett-Petty said.
“It’ll be great to have Izzy back, one of the world’s best players.
“We know where Izzy’s good - he’s a great finisher, he can make something out of nothing, he’s amazing in the air.”
There is no word yet on second-rower Adam Coleman, who was also named to play against South Africa but flew out on match day to be with his pregnant wife Tonia in Melbourne.
The couple has since celebrated the birth of a baby girl.
Originally published as Wallabies assistant coach Stephen Larkham wants more accuracy in attack, Israel Folau and David Pocock expected to return against Pumas