Rugby: Wallabies urged to play smarter

srael Folau of the Wallabies is tackled by JJ Engelbrecht and Zane Kirchner of the Springboks. Photo / Getty Images

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie doesn't want his side to abandon their expansive style, but he does want them to play smarter.

McKenzie considered dumbing down his tactics after last week's 38-12 hammering at the hands of South Africa in Brisbane.

The Wallabies' bid to unleash their backs backfired in that game through a host of unforced errors and lack of fight at the breakdown.

McKenzie is confident his team have the ability to unleash a razzle-dazzle style of play.

But he concedes the forwards need to set the platform first before swinging the ball wide.

"Rugby's a highly technical game and it's got lots of moving parts. You can play 1000 different ways," McKenzie said ahead of tomorrow night's clash with Argentina in Perth.

"Our mission is to play with the ball in hand and challenge the opposition and play with skill. None of that's changed. Our philosophy hasn't changed at all.

"There are little areas of the game where we can tweak things. We've made some minor adjustments.

"If you change big things, you actually don't know what makes the biggest influence.

"So with small changes - which is what we've been doing for the last few weeks - we'll get there."

Brumbies forwards coach Laurie Fisher felt Wallabies players just needed a clearer picture of what they were expected to do.

"Dumbing down poor choice of phrase," Fisher tweeted.

"Wallabies just need a bit more structure and clarity around roles. Less decisions, better communication."

McKenzie dropped a selection bombshell when he relegated star scrumhalf Will Genia to the bench for the match against Argentina.

Back-rower Ben Mowen will captain the side, while scrumhalf Nic White earns his first test start.

Prop Ben Alexander returns to the front row as the Wallabies attempt to improve their scrum work and competitiveness at the breakdown.

- AAP