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MONTPELLIER - The tries just aren't coming for charismatic winger Lote Tuqiri but he's trying do his bit for the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup cause by lifting his work-rate and coach John Connolly is impressed.
The dreadlocked crowd favourite, reputedly the highest-paid Wallaby, is in the midst of a lean try-scoring spell with his last two tries coming in Australia's 49-0 win over the Fijians in Perth on June 9. Overall he has 27 tries in 56 Tests.
But that doesn't alarm Connolly, who has been impressed with Tuqiri's work-rate and has named him vice-captain for Saturday's match with Canada in Bordeaux.
"Lote deserves it," Connolly said. "He is training very well, leading from the front and he has been a good influence on the team."
Tuqiri remains under a midnight curfew imposed on him and prop Matt Dunning by Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill after they went on a drinking binge in Brisbane following the Wallabies' pre-Cup bonding camp.
Tuqiri, his position assured in the team by Connolly, has immersed himself in doing extra in games to help the Wallabies.
"I've been trying to get myself involved in different areas of the game and it's not seen," Tuqiri said Thursday.
"But all those one and two per centers get a team over the line and we work as a team within the squad and you have to do those things.
"They're not flashy, but they certainly go towards making the team a success and if everyone's doing that then we'll go all right."
Tuqiri claims the media is more concerned with his barren try spell than the team, but he's confident things will work out.
"I don't want to think about scoring tries. It's probably more you guys (media) asking me these questions and putting the pressure on me," he said.
"I've said that if the team's going all right and we're winning, I don't really mind if I we win the World Cup without me scoring, that will be sweet.
"It's always nice to get a try but something is around the corner."
The 28-year-old Fijian-born flyer, who scored 10 tries in 12 Tests in 2004, has endured a frustrating year.
Tuqiri was rested from both home Tests against Wales, played the next three against Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand before he was disciplined and suspended from the last two Tests against South Africa and New Zealand.
"I think I've only played six games in the last three months so it's been quite tough," he said.
"I've had to get used to it and try whatever I can to be game fit and if I can stay on the field it will be better for me rather than training.
"I like playing footy. Once I start I don't like having a rest, I like to play all the way through.
"It was mooted last week that I might get a week off so I had a chat with the coaches about wanting to play and luckily I'm getting another game and hopefully I can keep improving as the tournament progresses and the knockout stages."
- AFP
