While no trophies are at stake in the final Tri-Nations match between New Zealand and Australia today, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will be seeking signs of greater consistency from his young side.
Deans, who was appointed in 2007 after missing out on the All Blacks coaching job, is in his sophomore year of a four-year plan to develop a team capable of lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy at Eden Park, Auckland in two years time.
After spending last year fixing their scrum, the Wallabies appeared to have stalled their progress this year, with some critics suggesting they may have even gone backwards when they lost their first four games of the Tri-Nations.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Deans shook up the team after the fourth loss, a 32-25 defeat to the Springboks in Perth, with the revamped side producing an impressive 21-6 reverse in Brisbane a week later.
Deans said he hoped the result would allow his young team to grow in confidence, not only for today’s match at Westpac Stadium but also as he continued his building for the 2011 World Cup.
“I think we are starting to turn in the right direction,” the former Canterbury Crusaders coach told reporters. “I think we as a group are treading better. We got a confirmation of that two weeks ago [by beating the Springboks] and we don’t want that to dissipate.”
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