Wallabies in USA: Australia to fine-tune World Cup preparations against Eagles
THE Wallabies will use a tricky outing against the United States on Sunday to fine-tune a disciplined gameplan for their opening World Cup clash against Fiji.
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THE Wallabies will use a tricky outing against the United States on Sunday to fine-tune a disciplined gameplan for their opening World Cup clash against Fiji later in the month.
Australia last played the Eagles in America almost four decades ago, when the Wallabies beat their hosts 24-12 in Los Angeles in 1976. Australia have won all eight of their Test matches with the USA, dating back to 1912, and the last few encounters at the 1999 and 2011 Rugby World Cups have been lopsided results.
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But the aspirational USA side, who now has about a third of its players based in professional European leagues, are determined to post two wins at the Rugby World Cup for the first time and see the Wallabies’ clash as a chance to test themselves against one of the best teams in the world.
“We did a little preview on them today and they’re definitely quite a physical side,” said Wallabies five-eighth Bernard Foley.
“They have quite big players in the back row and in the centres, who are good carriers. We know they’ll be very passionate and willing and up for the occasion. It is going to be a really good tussle, they have some good set structures in the halves and some definite genuine pace out wide.”
The American pack could feature two Aussie ex-pats locking up the scrum, with towering former Waratah Greg Peterson and Hayden Smith both in the US squad.
The Eagles lost to UK club side Harlequins at the weekend but beat Canada twice prior to that in the Pacific Nations Cup, and fought hard against a Samoan side who pushed New Zealand in Apia.
Australia should have way too much class for the world no. 16 ranked USA side but the challenge for the Wallabies will be dealing with a potentially scrappy game, where the temptation will be to ignore structure and instead toss the ball towards gaps out wide.
It is a timely challenge, however.
Australia’s first opponent at the World Cup 18 days later in Cardiff will be Fiji, and no team is more dangerous when a game loses structure and becomes all about broken play.
“That’s what we have to be disciplined at, playing our structures and don’t get lost in the occasion or the heat of the game,” Foley said.
“We just need to get stick to our systems and our structures. In these type of games you can find yourself playing a bit more ad-lib, or away from the structure which probably plays into their hands.
“A team like Fiji, who are very good at playing that ad-lib footy, will try to get away from a structured game and they’ll hurt you. For us it is a lot about that discipline.”
Though coach Michael Cheika is set to rest a few players, the match will also be a chance for some to press their claims for spots in the opening World Cup clash.
Stephen Larkham revealed last week that the Wallabies side to meet Fiji will be regarded as the “A” team, and will also take on England on October 3.
Foley is set to regain the Wallabies no. 10, after Quade Cooper had the duties against New Zealand in Auckland.
“Every time you get to play you want to be firing and this week especially, both individually and as a team, we want to click,” Foley said.
“It is our last time to impress I suppose heading into such a big tournament.”
Originally published as Wallabies in USA: Australia to fine-tune World Cup preparations against Eagles