Rod Macqueen backs Wallabies to beat British and Irish Lions

LIONS conqueror Rod Macqueen can see the Wallabies repeating history if they’ve done their homework properly.

LIONS conqueror Rod Macqueen can see the Wallabies repeating history if theyÂ’ve done their homework properly.

Macqueen, the man who coached the Wallabies to a series victory against the Lions from exactly this position 12 years ago – 1-0 down heading into the Melbourne Test – is adamant Robbie Deans’ side can do the same if centre Christian Leali’ifano stays on the field and they heed lessons from the loss last week.

“Invariably when you’ve had the opportunity to sit down and study where you went wrong, you go into the next game with more confidence,” Macqueen told News Limited Newspapers. “We just weren’t ready for it in that first Test in 2001, it’s no secret we were taken by surprise.

“It’s like no other series, they are not a team you’ve got a lot of time to prepare for because you don’t have as much footage of them as you do other normal Test touring nations.

“The biggest thing was understanding the intensity of the game.

“Hopefully [the Wallabies] this time around will be able to play the game plan they practiced a lot more – they picked a ball-playing centre last week and lost him straight away [to a concussion injury].

“The biggest thing is that they will be able to play a lot more of the game plan they intended to in the first Test.

“The thing I would guess they’ve been working on most this week is to retain huge pieces of possession.”

Macqueen addressed the Wallabies squad before the series, and spoke of its unique nature.

Meanwhile, Lions playmaker Jonny Sexton revealed the tension within the tourist camp, who are on the verge of winning their first series in 16 years.

“Obviously the nerves would build throughout the week, it kicked in this morning (Friday),” Sexton said. “Just talking about how everyone is on different wavelengths. The guys that aren't involved are a million miles away from where we are mentally.

“It's strange being in that environment where some lads are so relaxed, and some lads are torn up with nerves already.

“We spoke about it being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, in Australia, to try to win a test series. We've got the chance to do it on Saturday.”

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