Rugby: Wallabies aren't serious - Deans

Robbie Deans has warned his players to take their rugby seriously. Photo / Dean Purcell

Still smarting from a sixth straight loss to the All Blacks, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has delivered another rocket, saying the Australians were guilty of not taking themselves seriously.

The newly straight-talking coach, who drew a line in the sand when he accused his side of rolling over in the 33-6 thrashing in Wellington, also conceded the Wallabies at times lacked the mental toughness of their Kiwi counterparts.

Asked about the importance of overcoming the stumbling block of his home country as he named a 43-man training squad for a spring tour which will include a fourth Bledisloe Cup clash, Deans was blunt.

"Obviously it's important that we get it done but most importantly just taking ourselves seriously in the first instance would be a good start," the former All Black said.

"Until we do that, no one else is going to take us seriously.

"If we don't respect what we do, and the opportunity that we have, we won't produce anything that will demand a lot of the likes of the All Blacks in Tokyo."

Deans said that was the difference between the two sides in Wellington.

"You had an All Blacks side that didn't want to bear the cross of being the worst in the history of the game domestically and you had the Wallabies side who would like to have won but didn't have the same degree of want or desperation," he said.

Deans was also asked about the mentality of the Wallabies and said -- on occasions - it was more fragile than that of their trans-Tasman rivals.

"You can't generalise because it pertains to each outing and you saw both extremes, you saw Brisbane (a 21-6 win over South Africa) and you saw Wellington," he said.

"In Brisbane the answer was no, in Wellington the answer was yes."

The Wallabies have not been afraid to talk up their preparation for test matches, but Deans is now looking for actions rather than words.

"Personally I think confidence is overrated," he said.

"Personally I think a toughness and a resilience is more important.

"It's not about how you feel, it's about what you do and we have an opportunity to do something significant."

Deans' no-more-Mr-Nice-Guy routine continued as he announced a squad with 10 uncapped players, including 21-year-old Sydney University back-rower Ben McCalman, who is yet to play a Super 14 game, and Australian under-20s halfback Richard Kingi from Queensland.

The squad has been shaped by injury and depth issues, particularly with several locks sidelined and Nathan Sharpe (shoulder) still not a certainty for the grand slam tour.

Captain Stirling Mortlock (knee) has begun running, while powerhouse back Digby Ioane (shoulder) has begun contact work and both should be right for the trip.

Deans said the new faces in the squad, which will assemble next Monday before a final 35 are chosen later next week, could force their way onto the tour.

But Deans is now calling a trial to be played next week "elements of competition" after a proposed possibles-probables match created controversy over player payments.

"There will be elements of competition where they get the opportunity to present themselves as best they can in the hope of pressing to the extent that they get on the first flight," he said.

Squad members will also have two midweek tour matches to aim for, with the the first against English club side Gloucester announced on Monday for November 3.

- AAP