Rugby: Elsom sticks up for team

Pack enforcer Rocky Elsom believes the battling 2009 Wallabies are better equipped to avoid slipping into the huge messy hole which cost coach Eddie Jones his job in 2005.

While Australia have slumped to their fourth straight defeat, their worst losing streak in four years, Elsom felt the outfit could dig their way out of their Tri-Nations rut.

The flanker was in his inaugural season of international rugby when the Wallabies lost eight of their last nine tests of 2005 which resulted in Jones' axing.

Jones battled against a horrendous injury toll that year but also a string of internal problems off the field as other battles were fought behind the scenes.

Robbie Deans' 2009 Wallabies have also lost four consecutive tests against South Africa and New Zealand, including three by less than seven points.

But it's a rebuilding outfit with a greater purpose of direction.

"I think we had some pretty big problems then which helped to get to that big hole, and we don't have the same problems now," Elsom said yesterday.

- AAP