Tuqiri ready for battle with All Blacks backline

Lote Tuqiri

BRISBANE - Damaged pride from a "slow death" in Christchurch and the feelgood factor from a South African rugby tryfest have the Wallabies backline offering a sting in their tail against the All Blacks here on Saturday.

But whether their beleaguered scrum can give the superstars out wide the victory platform is again the million dollar question.

Wallabies matchwinner Lote Tuqiri gave the side a cautious pass mark since the All Blacks' powerful 32-12 win in Christchurch on July 8, then Australia's 49-0 hammering of South Africa a week later.

"I thought we were pretty good at Jade Stadium going into it. I was quietly confident but it got knocked out of us. We certainly died a slow death there," Tuqiri said of the All Blacks forwards in Christchurch.

"The confidence is still there, particularly after the South African game... We're not scared of them (All Blacks), put it that way."

The Wallabies have spent little time dwelling on Saturday night's 35-17 win by the All Blacks over the Springboks in Wellington, with another raft of changes likely to the tourists' starting 15 making analysis pointless.

The focus is more on the Wallabies' state of mind which should be healthy as they prepare for another Tri-Nations test at Suncorp Stadium where they have won six from six since it was rebuilt in 2003.

They will offer a completely different game to the Springboks, a far more skilled approach and dangers all round the field if they can prise the ball from the All Blacks' mitts.

"We're trying to link well with the forwards and backs and give the forwards confidence to play and pass.

"We probably haven't done that in the past and it was telling in some of the tries against South Africa," Tuqiri said.

"If we get on the front foot hopefully we can showcase some of the talent in our backs."

The coaching staff of John Connolly, Michael Foley and Scott Johnson feel they have a good handle on the All Blacks' strengths and weaknesses, assuming the visitors select a similar lineup to Christchurch as predicted.

"There's obviously areas where sides are vulnerable, I'm not going to reveal where, but our coaching staff have done a bit of homework. If we come out with a plan and stick to it we'll go all right," Tuqiri said.

Clearly the All Blacks' lineout will come under scrutiny, especially if Australia's kingpin lock Dan Vickerman returns from injury.

The lineout giant trained well yesterday at Ballymore while the All Blacks debriefed their performance against the Springboks and were given the day off training.

With classy midfielder Matt Giteau back in the No 12 jersey after missing the Christchurch test then starring with two tries against South Africa, the backline has a more complete look to it.

Johnson is a key part of that, having shifted from the Welsh national team where he assisted current All Blacks coaches Graham Henry and Steve Hansen.

"He's very positive with a lot of new ideas. He's let the backs run free and express themselves at training," Tuqiri said.

"You're allowed to make mistakes and I think the skill level and our passing has really improved over the last 2-3 months."

Tuqiri, one of the form backs in world rugby this year, will have to pull out some of his instinctive best on Saturday and said it was already now or never for 2006.

"It's going to have to be a turning point if we're some sort of shot at winning the Tri-Nations. The All Blacks will kick to an unassailable lead if they beat us.

"We like winning on home soil and we don't want to disappoint our fans here. It's a fair bit of pressure but I think the boys can handle that."

- NZPA