Wallaby hits back at Haden

Wallabies hooker Michael Foley has defended his young props against claims by former All Black Andy Haden that they will be Australia's weak link today.

The veteran Foley, aged 34, is considered Australia's best scrummaging technician. He said the Wallabies were disappointed with their set-piece performance in the 15-20 loss to South Africa in Pretoria.

However, familiarity with the All Blacks' front row would be a major advantage to young loosehead prop Nick Stiles, of Queensland, and inexperienced New South Wales tighthead Rod Moore, he said.

"In Pretoria we came up against an opposition they hadn't faced many times.

"We weren't at all happy with how we scrummaged but [Springbok prop] Cobus Visagie hadn't played for a couple of years and we didn't know much about the hooker [Lucas van Biljon].

"As young guys, I'm very pleased with how Nick and Rod are going, but I think they realise that at test level the changes you have to make are far greater than probably the next level down.

"We're definitely looking for an improved performance [at Carisbrook]."

Haden told the Australian newspaper that he was surprised the Lions did not use their best scrummaging front row in the recent series.

"The Wallabies front row is hanging on by its fingernails ... New Zealand will target them there," said Haden, who believed the All Blacks would be unbeaten this season going into the Tri-Nations final match at Stadium Australia on September 1.

"People who say the All Blacks have lost an edge up front haven't seen what I've seen in 2001.

"They've got a hardness and resolve about them that they didn't have last year, and it comes from having had enough of coming second. They've been through their darkest day."

Foley, the second-most-capped Australian forward behind John Eales with 43 caps, will turn to coaching next year but wanted to ensure he left the Australian front row stocks in a healthy state.

"We've got a lot of promising young players, but there isn't a lot of experience there. For now, it's a matter of these guys trying to learn as much as possible in every game they play."

Foley predicted that the All Black lineout, which rarely contested South African throws in Cape Town, would be out to make his life miserable today.

"Norm Maxwell stands out for me as one of the best defensive lineout forwards going. He's a guy who will be a factor.

"New Zealand has the personnel there. [Reuben] Thorne's very good at the back and [Troy] Flavell is competent at winning his own ball.

"From game to game a lineout may not function, but that can only be because of small things."