Rugby World Cup 2015: Wallabies accidentally reveal strategy notes - Kieran Read targeted

Name: All Blacks: Hansen 'we will see running rugby'
Uploaded: 2015-10-31T05:36:28+13:00
Duration: 132 s
Description: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen thinks the battle of the back rows will be won by the tight five's, and 'getting good front foot ball'. He is also hopeful that weather permitting 'we will see running rugby' but maybe the pressure will mean not too many tries.

Herald online

30 Oct, 2015 05:44 PM2 mins to read

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen thinks the battle of the back rows will be won by the tight five's, and 'getting good front foot ball'. He is also hopeful that weather permitting 'we will see running rugby' but maybe the pressure will mean not too many tries.

The Wallabies have embarrassingly revealed part of their game plan to take down the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final.

In a massive blunder on the eve of the final at Twickenham, Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika and the side's forwards coach Mario Ledesma were pictured walking around the match venue with print-outs of their strategy.

Michael Cheika, Head Coach of Australia (r) talks with Nathan Grey, Defence Coach of Australia during the Australia Captain's Run. Photo / Getty.

The all-too-public airing of tactics - including on how to "rattle" No 8 Kieran Read from the kick-off - occurred during the Wallabies' captain's run at Twickenham early Saturday morning (NZT).

"Kickoff receipt #4 Kieran Read (get him rattled)," the notes read.

Other All Blacks the cocky Aussies hope to knock off their game in the final include the dynamic try-scoring wing combination of Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder.

"Lineout attack gain front foot speed," the notes read. "Expose Milner Skudder [sic] and Savea under ball or in backfield."

The game-plan, which featured several spelling mistakes, also highlighted to the Wallabies what to expect from first-five Daniel Carter and second-five Ma'a Nonu.
"Carter running left to right," one line read. "Nonu steps back on the inside when linespeed against".

Aside from one kick-off option looking to negate Read, another option stated: "Own the air space, catch everything, chace [sic] everything, escort wingers!!!"

Cheika oversaw Australia's southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title triumph this year - a campaign that included a win over New Zealand.

The rivalry between the two teams is such that some observers said the papers could have been a deliberate ploy with Cheika playing "mind games" with his opponents.

New Zealand have been extra careful about their own plans ever since a British journalist accessed their London team room before a Test against England at Twickenham two years ago and reported on the motivational messages on a whiteboard.

One of the messages read: "We are the most dominant team in the history of the world." All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said at the time the team had learnt that "we've got to be a bit smarter and make sure the security's right".